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He was running. For his life, for his freedom, for his fucking mental state.
Well, it might be too late for the last one.
Tommy had lived through so much, too much, in his short sixteen years.
Wars.
Betrayal.
Exile.
And then a certain white masked man pushed him too far. To do this.
Run.
To the North.
To a cabin in the woods.
To somebody he was sure was going to either kill him, or turn him away.
Technoblade was his last chance. The only other person he could think of to save him.
Tommy had betrayed his brother before and he knew how Techno worked.
So he would deserve what was given to him.
And Tommy swore to himself that he will not beg. He would deserve it.
Tommy kept running.
Dream would be following him, close behind, ready to pull him back, kicking and screaming, to exile.
Or he would see the tower and assume that Tommy was gone. But the bitch wasn’t dumb. Dream had shown Tommy that. He would look for the teen until he had brought him back under his control.
A branch behind him snapped. He didn’t turn to look, adrenaline pushing him forward.
He’s behind me. He's coming. Fuck, fuck, FUCK.
There was probably a logical explanation for the sound. The snow that had been falling for a good couple hours now, piling up. Or an animal, maybe.
Or him.
His breath was coming in pants and each one stabbing into his ribs. His legs felt heavy and his bare feet were numb. He had lost his shoes when he jumped.
Tommy was almost there.
Hopefully.
He didn’t actually know where Techno’s retirement cabin was. He assumed it was north by how his brother had just vanished.
Tommy’s foot caught on a root sticking out of the snow, tripping him. He lay in the cold for a moment, trying to catch his breath. He was tempted to eat some of it, but knew it was a bad idea.
His body shivered violently. It was time to keep going.
Soon the spruce trees thinned and he was met with gray sky, swirling snow, and a rustic cabin.
Tommy nearly collapsed in relief as he stared at it. But then he reminded himself that Techno could still turn him away.
That was almost enough to make him go back. Almost. But Tommy had always been known for being stubborn.
As he took another step forward, he tripped again, frozen feet not able to carry him any further.
He cried out as he hit the icy snow, the shock almost too much for his frail body. He tried to push himself up, only to collapse again.
Tears froze to his face as he broke the only promise he had made.
He begged.
“Please! TECHNO! PLEASE! TECHNOBLADE!” He screamed through the black fuzzy cone of his vision.
I don’t wanna die.
“PLEASE! I’m SORRY!” He tried one more time as black crashed over him.
This was it. This was how he was going to fucking die.
/.\/0\/.\
Techno had been reading by the fire when he heard it.
“TECHNOBLADE!”
A voice, barely louder than the howling wind outside.
It could have been his imagination.
Or the voices in his head.
He should still check that nobody found his home anyway. He was in retirement goddamnit and he didn’t need more conflict.
Techno pulled on his cape and boots and walked out into the snow, sword in hand, ready to face any enemy.
He stood in his yard for a moment, looking around. Nobody… was there. At least not at first glance.
He had then spotted a dark shape curled up in the snow. The wind was doing its best to cover the person as Techno walked over, sword out.
He cautiously stepped closer, waiting for an attack.
The figure in the snow cried feebly, a kind of whimpering that set him on edge.
It’s dying.
He shuddered and knelt down, trying to identify who it was.
Techno’s eyes widened as he recognized him.
Tommy.
It was Tommy, laying there in the snow.
Tommy was dying.
How the hell did Tommy even get out here?
Exile, the voices whispered, Exiled from home.
Techno wasted no time in scooping the kid up and hurrying back inside.
He wasn’t sure how long his little brother had been outside in the oncoming storm. He didn't know why he had even been out here in the first place. Phil’s last letter hadn’t told him of Tommy coming to try and find him. Besides, the kid wasn’t even appropriately dressed.
He laid the kid down on the couch and bundled him up in the blankets. Then he ran to get the potions he had been working on.
“Regen, health… What else? Strength? If I gave him fire resistance and throw him in the fireplace, would that warm him up?” Techno paused and looked over his workbench, “Do I have a potion of ‘Unfreezin’?”
A moment later he had grabbed all the potions he had deemed helpful and walked slowly back to Tommy’s side.
The kid didn’t look much better when he returned, and was still freezing to the touch. Techno frowned and tried to wake him up.
Tommy’s eyes slowly opened and he tried to scoot himself away from Techno even before he knew who he was with.
The kid blinked a couple times and he seemed to shrink further away from Techno.
“H-Hey Big man. F-fancy seeing you h-here.” Tommy stuttered, eyes wide and terrified. Techno sighed and held out a potion. “Yeah, you’re in my house.”
Tommy flinched and looked away, as if expecting to get hit. Then when nothing came he slowly looked back and saw what Techno was offering.
The potion was out of his hand and gone before he could blink.
“Thanks big man, but now I have to go and… go.” He tried to get up but was gently pushed back on the couch by Techno. The teen’s eyes widened and his breathing skipped.
“Tommy…” Techno said, coming to kneel by the couch.
“P-Please? I-I won’t stay and you can go back to y-your quiet retirement and-” Tommy pleaded and Techno was horrified to see the tears in the kid’s eyes.
“Wait-” Techno said, placing a hand on Tommy’s shoulder in an attempt to be comforting.
“I’m sorry!” Tommy said, flinching and eyes shut tight.
“What are you sorry for? You weren’t doin’ anythin’.” Techno asked, head tilted in confusion.
“I-I betrayed y-you? A-and I came back h-here and Dr- he’s gonna come after me?” Tommy muttered, eyes still shut tight. Techno pretended not to hear his slip up. Dream.
“I forgive you.”
“W-What?!” the teen’s eyes flew open. Techno nodded.
“I forgive you.”
“B-but I came back here!”
“You said somebody was chasin’ you.” and you’re still my brother, no matter what you’ve done.
Tommy shuddered violently and Techno was worried that he was coming down with something.
“I can leave,” he said quietly. Techno shook his head.
“No. The storm’s pickin’ up. You’ll freeze to death before you get back into the woods. Besides whoever’s out there isn’t goin’ to find you here.” Techno said.
Tommy sobbed and curled in on himself. Techno paused for a moment, unsure of what to do. Then he stood up and pulled Tommy into a tight hug. The kid cried into his shirt and Techno let him.
/.\/0\/.\
Tommy was so, so tired.
Tears took a lot out of him.
So did running from phantom fears.
And faking his death.
He was currently hugged close to Techno’s chest, feeling drained and exhausted. His brother had made no move to let him go and Tommy was tempted to think that he had fallen asleep.
Techno shifted and Tommy stiffened.
“You should try and get some sleep, runt.” Techno rumbled. Tommy untensed and wilted. He didn’t have the energy to get up and walk anywhere. His feet still felt heavy and his chest was tight from crying.
Tommy blinked and they were suddenly in the guest bedroom. He whined as the changing light seemed to stab at his brain.
“Tommy? Are you okay with sleepin’ here?” Techno asked gently. Tommy just buried his face into Techno’s shirt. As exhausted as he was, he couldn’t sleep. Sleeping meant he was vulnerable and he would get nightmares.
Techno rested him in the bed and he sunk into the soft mattress. Tommy closed his eyes, only to open them as he heard Techno leaving the room.
“W-Wait! Please-” Tommy pleaded as he broke off in a coughing fit. Techno turned and gave him a deadpan look.
“Please don’t let me die alone.” Tommy whispered, trying to grab weakly for his brother. “Are you delirious right now?” Techno asked, raising an eyebrow, “Because-”
“Techie, please.”
Techno sighed and walked back over to the bed. He bundled Tommy up and he snuggled into his brother’s warmth.
“There. Now you won’t die alone, kid.”
“Thanks… but I don’ wanna die, Techie.” Tommy mumbled. He felt Techno’s arms tighten around him, and he whimpered. It was too tight and it hurt to breathe.
It wasn’t bad enough to keep him from sleeping though.
Nightmares were a common thing Tommy experienced. It was an occupational hazard of living through all that shit.
But… they never got any easier to deal with.
Especially when the people around him left him.
Alone…
So alone…
Wilbur was still in the distance. Tommy could still reach him if he ran.
His fast steps echoed across the white snow and through the spaced out trees.
“Wilbur!” he called, “Wilbur wait up!”
Wilbur’s back continued to retreat, never turning to look back. Tommy tripped and fell into the snow.
When he pushed himself up again Wilbur had vanished. Instead, standing over him, offering a hand was Tubbo. Ranboo was hovering nervously a little further behind him.
“Tubbo?” Tommy asked. Tubbo smiled and Tommy grabbed his best friend’s hand. Tubbo and Ranboo pulled him into a hug.
“I’m so sorry Tommy. I shouldn’t have sent you away.” Tubbo whispered.
Tommy had wanted to hear those words for a long time.
Tommy smiled as their warmth wrapped around him.
“You know, they never loved you.”
Tommy opened his eyes to find Tubbo and Ranboo gone. He fell to his knees in the snow and looked around.
“Hello?” He called. His voice echoed through the quiet forest and he winced.
“They never loved you.” Dream said, stepping out from behind a fallen tree, “I was the ONLY one who loved you Tommy.”
Tommy cried out and tried to scramble away, but found himself pressed against a wall. Dream was suddenly in front of him.
“And what did you do? You fucking left me!” Dream roared, louder than he should be able to.
Tommy crumpled and cowered against the base of the wall. “Please Dream,” He whimpered, “I’m sorry-”
“You don’t get to say sorry. You broke my heart and left me to find you dead!” Dream said, voice curling in Tommy’s ears, trying to tear apart his brain.
“Did you wonder what I thought when I found that tower?” Dream asked, hands curling around Tommy’s shoulders, forcing him to look into the blank smiling mask.
“I thought I had broken you. But where do I find you? In Technoblade’s house!”
Tommy’s eyes widened and suddenly he was in Techno’s warm cabin as a storm raged outside.
“All nice and cozy in here, while I try to find one of my best friends.” Dream whined. Tommy glared at him, pushing the cold hands off his shoulders.
“I’m not your friend, dickhead. You are trying to manipulate me to get me to come back to you! Well, I won't. Go cry about it.” Tommy said, crossing his arms and turning away from him.
He gasped in fear as he felt cold hands around his throat and he cried out, trying to pull away.
“Theseus, chill! I’m tryin’ to help!”
/.\/0\/.\
Techno could feel Tommy’s body burning up through the blanket he had wrapped around him. The kid didn’t look too good either.
His scars stood out against his flushed face and his eyebrows were furrowed in pain. Techno felt Tommy’s forehead, staying in place as Tommy pushed against his hand.
Another thing worrying Techno was the shallowness of Tommy’s breathing. Techno decided to gently slide Tommy onto the bed and run and grab a couple potions and some medicine. Maybe a cool rag too.
When he got back Tommy was thrashing around and shivering alternatively. Techno rushed over and gently brushed Tommy’s hair off his forehead and placed the damp towel across it.
Tommy stilled and Techno picked him back up. Tommy curled into his warmth but continued to shiver.
I probably shouldn't let him sleep too long. I don’t know if he has a concussion and I need to give him this medicine.
Techno gently rubbed at Tommy's back to wake him up.
He quickly stopped to dodge a fist as Tommy flailed violently .
“Theseus, chill! I’m tryin’ to help!'' he cried as the kid’s breathing hitched. Tommy stopped thrashing and stilled, exhaustion weighing him down.
“T-techno?” He whispered, a question more than anything.
“I’m here, runt.”
Tommy’s eyes filled with tears.
“You weren’t hurting me?” he asked. Techno shook his head. “I wasn’t. I was wakin’ you up because you need to take some medicine.”
Tommy eyed the small white bottle. “Is it the gross grape shit?”
Techno laughed. “Yep.”
Tommy groaned and thudded his head against Techno’s chest. “Ew. I don’t want that one.”
“It’s the only one I have, kid.”
“Only you would like the taste of artificial grape in fucking medicine.”
“I live far from civilization. This is just the last one I have.” Techno said, pouring out the right amount.
He handed Tommy the tiny cup. Tommy tried his best to grab it, but his hands spasmed and he nearly dropped it. Techno sighed and held the kid’s small hands to help guide the cup to his mouth.
Tommy’s eyes drooped after he had swallowed the last of it and he swayed heavily.
“Hold on, you can’t fall asleep quite yet, I need to know if you have any injuries.” Techno said. Tommy’s eyes lazily trained on his face. Drinking the medicine had to have been the last of his energy.
“J’st s’me cuts ‘n my arms… and my ches’ is t’gh’ an’ i’ hur’s.” Tommy slurred. Techno nodded and Tommy rested his head back against Techno’s chest.
Techno did his best to pull off Tommy's dirty t-shirt. Tommy whined as it went over his head, but relaxed when it was gone.
Techno sucked in a breath at the burns and cuts dotting Tommy’s arms and chest. “T’ch?” Tommy asked, an eye squinting open to stare blearily at him.
“Nothin’ kiddo. Go back to sleep.”
Tommy hummed and Techno continued to stare at the injuries dotting Tommy’s torso. How did any of this happen? He should have been with Phil and Tubbo in L’manberg!
Tommy’s exile, the voice whispered again, Far from home.
Techno reached for the first aid kit and got to work cleaning Tommy’s injuries. Every so often the kid would flinch at an alcohol pad or a bandage, but Techno paid it no mind.
Thankfully none of these need to be stitched. They're all small enough to be covered with a bandaid, Techno thought.
Techno rested his head against the backboard and stared up at the ceiling. “I need to write a letter to Phil tomorrow. There has to be a reason you’re up here in the middle of a snow storm.” Techno muttered.
He watched the light of the fire in the fireplace dim and Tommy slept on. He was almost ready to drop off to sleep as the flames became embers.
“Dream… no-”
Techno blinked and stared down at Tommy. The kid’s face was twisted into a grimace as he curled further into Techno’s arms.
He watched as Tommy’s face smoothed out and when he was sure the kid wasn’t in any danger of waking up, he went back to staring at the ceiling.
He was tired, but he was too high strung to sleep. The way Tommy had cut himself off earlier and his nightmares… Techno wasn’t happy with what his brain was coming up with.
Something bad had happened to Tommy, and he could guess who had done it to him.
He might have a green teletubby to visit soon.
/.\/0\/.\
Tommy did not wish to be awake right now. Everything hurt and he was sore and cold.
But Techno was a bitch and he forced Tommy to get out of bed the next morning.
“You know, you can continue sleepin’ without me here.” Techno said as Tommy pouted from the bed.
“No.”
“I’m just going to be writin’. It’ll be very borin’.”
Tommy continued to frown and Techno sighed.
“Fine. You can come and rest on the couch.”
Tommy smiled and Techno scooped him and half the blankets off the bed.
Techno had been right, though, and Tommy was pissed about it.
He was very bored and all he could do was try and sleep as he listened to the scratching of Techno’s quill.
It didn’t help that his head felt like it had been stuffed full of cotton. His chest still hurt and his feet were cold.
Well, one of those was easily fixable.
Or it should have been.
Tommy tried kicking the blanket back over his feet. That only ended with the blanket around his calves and he sighed as he sat up to pull the blanket over his feet.
Which should not have ended up with him on the floor.
“Tommy?! Wy- no, how did you end up on the floor?” Techno asked incredulously. What a great question.
“My feet were cold.” Tommy said. Techno rolled his eyes and reached down to pick him back up.
“Tech, I’m hungry.” Tommy whined. His head hurt even more now and he couldn’t tell if he wanted to eat or throw up. He decided he should probably eat something to throw up, as unpleasant as it is.
“Okay runt. What do you want?”
Tommy blinked up at Techno, mind completely blank.
“I… can choose?” He asked quietly. Techno nodded and sat him on a stool.
“I don’t know what I want.” Tommy said truthfully. His brother snorted and got to work.
“How does some mashed potatoes sound?”
Tommy wrinkled his nose. “For breakfast? What kind of maniac are you?”
“One that likes potatoes. Yes or no.”
“Yes.”
“M’kay.”
Tommy watched in a content silence as Techno worked. His head was fuzzy and he ached all over. He could just… fall asleep right here. Techno wouldn’t mind.
He had only been resting for a couple minutes when something exploded against the window.
He gasped and tipped off the stool.
Why was he on a stool? Wasn’t he in that little lonely cabin?
He hit the floor, hard, and curled in on himself. It was the best way to protect himself from any explosions Dream had caused.
This was just… a lot closer than normal.
“P-Please Dream- I’m sorry. I-I shouldn’t have hid it from you- I-I just wanted to h-have something- p-please-” He whimpered, head protected by his arms.
“Tommy-” His mind twisted the word into an evil thing, something to hide from, to run from.
“J-just please don’t blow u-up my house. I-it’s the only thing l-left-” He cried.
A warm hand descended on his shoulder and he yelped. He tried to scramble away but found his legs too weak to push him anywhere.
His blurry vision saw somebody approaching, and in his delirium he saw acid green, rather than warm red.
“PLEASE-” He yelled, arm over his face to protect from any blows.
“Tommy- just-... It’s not Dream-”
“I-I don’t believe you, son of a bitch!” Tommy screamed, tears streaming down his face.
“It’s Techno. I’m not gonna hurt you, Theseus.”
The calm voice broke through the haze in his mind and he blinked.
Standing in front of him was Techno, not Dream.
Who looked extremely worried.
“Kid? You back with me?” Techno asked. Tommy nodded, shivering on the cold wood floor.
“M’kay.” Techno said. He bent down and scooped Tommy up and put him back on the stool.
“W-what happened?” Tommy asked shakily. “Snow hit the window while you were sleepin’. You woke up and panicked.” Techno said.
“T-Tech?”
“Yeah?”
“I-I don’t think I’m hungry anymore.” Tommy watched Techno warily. His brother just sighed.
“Alright. I’ll go put you back on the couch so you can rest.”
Tommy hummed a nonverbal thanks as Techno carried him back to the living room.
/.\/0\/.\
Techno cleaned up the mess from his meal and sat back at his desk to reread the letter to Phil.
Phil,
Tommy showed up on my doorstep last night. There’s a storm approaching and I have no clue how he got out here.
He’s injured and traumatized.
You also didn’t tell me anything about Tommy getting up here to visit me. He shouldn’t have been able to find my house.
The voices are saying that Tommy was exiled.
What is going on?
Sincerely,
Technoblade
/.\/0\/.\
He sat back and let his mind wander.
The nightmare Tommy had the night before.
“Dream…no-”
Tommy’s freak out in the kitchen.
“P-Please Dream- I’m sorry. I-I shouldn’t have hid it from you-”
It all left a bitter taste in Techno’s mouth.
The voices were calling for Dream’s blood and it took all of the self control he had trained into himself to not run out the door and track down the homeless teletubby.
After Tommy’s better. He promised himself. I’ll find him after Tommy’s better.
A quiet sniffle pulled him out of his head and he glanced at the teen sleeping on his couch.
The kid’s face was glistening with tears again and his face was screwed up in pain. Techno got up and walked over.
“Tommy?” He whispered, unsure if the kid would even hear him. “Runt?”
Tommy’s eyes opened and he looked into Techno’s face.
“T’ch?” He slurred, “h’rts”
Techno’s eyes widened and he kneeled at Tommy’s side.
“What hurts, kiddo?” he asked.
Tommy just paled and Techno knew what was going to happen. He hurriedly picked Tommy off the couch and rushed into the bathroom.
Techno patted Tommy’s back as he heaved into the bowl of the toilet.
“It’s ok, kid. Let it out.” Techno said soothingly. Watching Phil take care of them all was actually really handy in this situation.
Eventually Tommy was done and Techno could tell the kid was drained. So he picked Tommy back up and decided to end the day.
He laid the kid on the bed after wrapping him in a comfy blanket. Then he went to gather a bucket, a glass of water, and a couple books.
The letter from the desk in his living room taunted him with the unknown answers, but he ignored it in favor of grabbing a book he knew Tommy had loved when he was younger.
He stomped back up the stairs and changed into pajamas. Then he relaxed on the edge of Tommy’s bed. He didn’t feel like leaving his little brother alone in his room at the moment.
He listened to the howling of the wind picking up outside. The fire flickered in the fireplace and it seemed like it was going to be another peaceful night.
Then Tommy woke up. Very loudly.
Techno hid a flinch as Tommy shrieked himself awake. The kid broke off in a coughing fit, struggling to breathe.
“Theseus, it’s ok. You’re safe. Just breathe.” Techno said. Tommy’s hand searched the bed wildly and Techno grabbed it.
The kid’s grip was surprisingly strong for being so sick. He managed to pull Techno closer to him and curled up under his arm.
“I thought you were sick, runt.” Techno said, amusement coloring his voice. Tommy whined and poked his side.
“Alright, shuttin’ up now.” Techno said. Tommy sighed contentedly and his breathing became steady, if not a little raspy.
Techno counted each breath before managing to doze off himself.
The next morning was no different from the last, other than the fact that Tommy refused to get out of bed and wouldn’t let Techno go either.
Techno reluctantly condemned himself to his fate. It was still storming out and no crow would make it through that snow alive. His letter would have to wait.
As the day progressed Techno was able to identify the times Tommy’s mind was clear, the times his eyes were bright and he talked loudly and slept peacefully, and when he thought he was back with Dream, the times his eyes were dull and he protected his head.
Techo’s heart hurt to see the person his brother was shaped into.
He had been with Techno for nearly two days and Techno could already tell he was not letting his baby brother near the others again.
He could find a nice village for Tommy to settle into, a place with therapy and no connection to Dream or his people.
Tommy would get the fresh start he needed and he would be able to heal.
But the kid needed to get better before Techno talked with him.
So he spent the day in bed, reading out loud and giving the kid medicine when he could.
The next couple days weren’t any different. Tommy would wake from a nightmare, Techno would comfort him, and they would spend time together.
/.\/0\/.\
Tommy could tell that the illness was starting to loosen its hold on him. He woke quietly and looked around the comfortable room.
The fire was low, but warm and Techno was snoring beside him.
Tommy shuddered and laid back down. He wasn’t sure what Techno would do now that he was getting better.
Would he kick him out? Would he have to run again?
Better sooner rather than later…right? Tommy thought as he slid out of bed. He pattered around the room, for a moment, getting dressed.
He decided that he probably shouldn’t risk any frostbite again and dressed in warm clothes.
All of it was too big and didn’t fit, but Tommy didn’t mind. He felt warm embers of emotion curling in his gut at the thought of wearing Techno’s clothes.
He quietly opened the bedroom door, glancing back at Techno, who was still sleeping soundly, before quickly padding down the stairs.
Tommy had his hand on the door when someone cleared their throat from behind him.
“Where do you think you’re goin’ Theseus?”
Tommy hesitantly turned to face the cold eyes of Techno. His brother’s long hair was all messed up and he was still wearing pajamas.
“Leaving.” He said shortly. Techno’s eyes widened a miniscule amount before his brows furrowed.
“Why?”
Tommy hesitated before looking at his feet to answer.
“‘Cause it’s better to leave before you kick me out, now that I’m all better.” Tommy muttered.
“Kid…”
Tommy flinched.
“Theseus, I’m not goin’ to kick you out. And you’re barely better.”
That… wasn’t the answer he was expecting.
He looked up and opened his mouth to say something, but Techno stopped him.
“Look, we both just woke up. How about you get changed and I make some pancakes or somethin’ for breakfast.”
Tommy nodded and walked back upstairs.
He opened the door to the bedroom and waited for a moment, making sure Techno hadn’t followed him.
When Tommy was absolutely positive he dropped to his knees and cried.
He was trapped in this house and Techno wasn’t going to let him leave. He had made that clear. Tommy didn’t know how this was going to go for him.
On one hand Techno had done nothing to him, actually it was the opposite. He had helped Tommy while he had been sick.
But Tommy had also betrayed his brother’s trust.
Techno treated others the way they treated him.
So Tommy sat and felt the tears slip down his face.
/.\/0\/.\
Techno was getting worried. Tommy had gone up to his room ten minutes ago to change. He didn’t want to barge in on the kid, who was obviously going through something, but he also wanted to make sure his brother was ok.
He forced himself to focus on the breakfast in front of him. He only needed to wait a couple more minutes…
What if he hurt himself?
Techno tried to shake off the unpleasant thought and continue flipping the pancakes.
He lasted five more minutes before he found himself walking up the stairs, calling Tommy’s name.
Techno stopped at the closed door. He tried not to listen as the kid sniffled pitifully from behind the door as he knocked.
“Theseus? Are you comin’ down for breakfast?” Techno asked.
“No.” Tommy’s voice was scratchy and slightly muffled by the door.
“Tommy, I’m here if you need to talk.” Techno said softly.
“I’m f-fine.”
“Kid…”
Techno took a startled step back as the door was wretched open. He looked into Tommy's face and found his younger brother’s eyes red and puffy.
He’s been crying.
“If you really want to know, Technoblade, I don’t know why you’re keeping me here. I can just leave and you’ll be able to go back to your retirement!” Tommy shouted.
“Tommy, I don’t mind you bei-”
“But you will!” Tommy yelled, “You will care! I’m loud and impulsive and you’re only gonna hurt me when I annoy you too much!”
Techno didn’t say anything for a long moment. Tommy took a deep breath and watched him warily.
“Uh… Techno?”
“I’m not gonna hurt you.” Techno said firmly. Tommy’s eyes widened. “You’re my baby brother and I’m never goin’ to hurt you. You are goin’ to be annoyin’-”
Tommy flinched.
“But that’s in your job description. And I want you to be loud and impulsive because that’s what I grew up with.”
Tommy looked down at his hands as Techno continued.
“I never hurt you then and that won’t change now. I’m not goin’ to kick you out into a ragin’ snow storm because you’re not bedridden anymore.” Techno finished.
Tommy didn’t look up at him until Techno placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Do you understand Theseus?”
Tommy threw himself into Techno’s arms and let out a strangled sob. Techno blinked then hugged him back.
Tommy’s worries weren’t going to be solved in one conversation, but it’s a good start. Hopefully.
“Do you want to eat some breakfast now?” Techno asked. Tommy nodded into his shirt and he didn’t even try and bother hiding his smile.
“Alright. Come on.”
/.\/0\/.\
The days passing slowly turned to weeks, then months until the snows had let up and the sun came out to shine.
Tommy healed and grew stronger. Techno sent his letter and waited patiently for Phil’s response. They learned to coexist together.
But Tommy was starting to notice something about his brother.
Techno was getting antsy. He would spend days in his study and would only come out when Tommy begged him.
He would have nightmares frequently and Tommy could only guess the cause.
Tommy did find that getting Techno out of the house and taking care of the land helped. He enjoyed following along and watching as Techno did his chores.
Tommy sat in the sun warmed grass as Techno worked on his farm.
He closed his eyes and smiled, a feeling of peace falling over him. He finally felt free of the need to run.
“Theseus?” Techno called.
“Hmm?”
“Can you bring me the bag of potato eyes please?” His brother called from the field.
“Sure!” Tommy yelled back as he got up and wandered to the shed. He rifled through it looking for the sack.
You would think finding potatoes would be easy…
“Hello Tommy.”
He froze, fear crawling up his spine.
That voice…
Was one of his nightmares.
Tommy turned slowly and smiled shakily.
“Hey Dream~ nice to see you here-” He said.
Dream’s face was hidden by his mask, as always but Tommy had developed a sense of telling the older man’s emotions.
And right now he was pissed.
“Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?” Dream hissed.
“N-no-,” Tommy said, eyes widening as Dream took a step forward.
“And now I’ve found you. Good thing I knew where Techno lives.”
Tommy shuddered as he remembered a nightmare from the storm.
‘But where do I find you? In Technoblade’s house!’
Tommy blinked and Dream was suddenly grabbing the front of his shirt.
He screamed.
Dream laughed as he threw an ender pearl out and away.
As they landed in the woods far from Techno’s house, Tommy couldn’t help but wonder.
Where was Techno?
/.\/0\/.\
A scream echoed across the clearing and Techno dropped his shovel.
“Tommy?!”
He started running as he saw an ender pearl fly out of his shed.
“TOMMY!”
He knew it was pointless, but he looked through the shed.
Tommy wasn’t hiding like he often had.
Tommy hadn’t tripped and cried out.
Tommy was gone.
The voices, which had been getting louder recently, roared in his ears.
Tommy’s missing
The raccoon child had it coming
Dream took him!
E
Blood for the blood god
After Dream!
Come on guys, who’s with me?
Blood
We want BLOOD.
Techno winced as the voices crashed into him like a wave. Why did they have to like Tommy so much?
“How am I supposed to find them when I don’t know where Dream had even come from?” Techno asked.
Exile
“Thanks,” Techno sighed, “Very helpful, chat. Now where do I find Tommy’s exile?”
South
Hurry
Dream will hurt Tommy!
Blood
“That was actually helpful. Sorta,” Techno muttered as he stomped back to his cabin.
He really wanted to make himself believe that he didn’t care about what had happened to Tommy and that he was completely calm.
In reality he was panicking. Tommy had woken screaming from enough nightmares to give him an idea of what had happened.
Techno hurriedly grabbed bags from around his house and saddled Carl up.
And he needed to get his brother back.
He wasted no time in setting out.
/.\/0\/.\
It was a short trip back to the TNT marked beach Tommy had made his home, but it felt like it had taken years.
Tommy had completely withdrawn from the world. He could distantly feel Dream’s crushing grip on his arm, and the words he spoke, but he couldn’t make himself care.
He just wanted it all to be numbed away when Dream inevitably left him again. Maybe he’d climb the tower again…
Except… Dream didn’t seem to be leaving.
The man had built a quick house for them, having blown up Tommy’s last one in a fit of rage, but he didn’t leave.
Why wasn’t he leaving?!
The sky slowly darkened into night before the silence was broken.
“Why aren’t you sleeping Toms?” Dream asked sweetly.
Tommy glared at him. “You have no right to use that nickname.” He hissed.
“Oh, I don’t?” Dream said, a sickening joy in his voice.
You gave him a weakness.
“No. You don’t. Only people that are my friends can use that nickname.” Tommy said, turning away from Dream.
He shuddered as a hand grabbed his shoulder.
“Why don’t you consider me a friend? I’ve done so much for you.” Dream asked, a fake sadness pulling at his voice. Manipulative bastard.
“No! I fucking don’t! You’ve hurt me and my friends over and over! You drove Wilbur to fucking insanity and you clipped Phil’s wings! You try and weasel out every attachment I have just so you can fuck up my life again!” Tommy shouted, throwing off Dream’s hand.
He ran out of the small hut and over the beach. He could hear Dream’s fast footsteps behind him.
But Tommy had spent his whole life running and he had no place to go this time.
He looked through the things he still owned, thankful that Dream hadn’t taken everything off him.
Steak
Grass blocks
Feather
Sword… Sword!
He pulled out the iron sword Techno had given him to spar with and turned to face Dream.
The man in green tried to backpedal as Tommy swung the blade.
Dream was far more experienced than him, but Tommy had burning fury on his side.
“Tommy! What do you think you’re doing?!” Dream screamed as Tommy swung his blade down on Dream’s arm.
“Fucking finishing this.” Tommy hissed.
Dream leapt up and forced him to spin in a tight circle to keep the man in view.
And in a blink of an eye, Dream was trapped and struggling under Tommy’s blade.
“Please, Tommy, let's talk about this! I-if you kill me- I can bring Wilbur back!” Dream pleaded.
Something in Tommy’s heart tugged and he wished he could take that offer.
He knows your weaknesses. He will never forget them.
Tommy’s hesitation gave Dream an opportunity to lunge up and tackle him back. Tommy hit the ground hard and all the air was knocked out of him.
“You are an upstart little brat aren't you.” Dream hissed as Tommy struggled. Tommy bit down the pleads fighting to spill from him and glared the green man in the eyes.
“But I will break you. One way or another. The longer you struggle, the harder I push.”
Tears burned Tommy’s eyes, but he refused to let Dream see them.
/.\/0\/.\
Techno let Carl rest for a couple hours by a stream, far from his house. It had already been two days since Dream had taken Tommy and Techno’s head was filled with voices.
He looked up at the blue sky and couldn’t help but think of how similar it was to Tommy’s eyes.
They had been nearly gray when Techno had found him in the snow, but they had gradually gotten lighter.
Why are you thinking like he’s dead already? He is defiant, he won’t give up yet.
But how much can one teenager go through before it gets to be too much? How long can Theseus keep running until he hits the edge?
Techno sighed and turned to look at his horse. Carl looked up at him with his beautiful sad eyes and snorted.
“Alright. Let's get movin’. We can’t be too far now.” Techno said softly, rubbing Carl’s nose. The horse nudged at his hand, as if he agreed.
In all honesty, he should have figured that Dream would come.
Why was I so stupid?
Techno jumped on Carl’s saddle and the horse took off again, earning his name as one of the fastest horses on the Esempii.
The sun was setting on the third day when Techno spotted it.
A tall tower rising high into the sunset.
Techno pulled back on Carl’s reins and the horse slowed to a stop.
“Stay here.” Techno whispered as he jumped off. The horse nudged his face and he patted it softly.
Then he walked in the direction of the tower.
It didn’t take long for him to catch sight of a beach covered in TNT damage and bits of items. The base of the tower was in the middle of it all, like a monument or symbol.
This has to be Tommy’s exile.
Techno looked around for any sign of Tommy or Dream.
A small hut was built on a hill not far from where Techno was standing, overlooking it all.
Looks like a logical place to start.
Techno sighed and trekked up the hill to the hut. He knocked three times before taking a half a step back to wait.
The door was pulled open slowly and Dream’s white mask came into view.
“Oh, hello Techno! Fancy seeing you here!” The man cried. Techno raised an eyebrow, unamused.
“What brings a person like you all the way out here?” Dream asked, an uncertain waver in his voice.
“I think you know what I want Dream.” Techno hissed, eyes narrowing. Dream gulped and shivered.
“I-I don’t have any more countries to conquer and Phil is still in L’manberg-”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it. Where is he?” Techno snarled.
“He? Like I said Phil is in- a-and Ghostbur is with him-” Dream stuttered, nervous energy pouring off him in waves.
“Tommy, jackass. Where is my little brother?”
Dream shook his head sadly and tried to close the door, but Techno stopped it with his foot.
“Answer me.”
“I don’t know.”
Techno snorted and forcefully pushed the door open. Dream squeaked in surprise and tried to stop him, but Techno was stronger. He always had been.
Inside there were two beds.
One of them was unoccupied.
The other…
“Tommy!” Techno cried, kneeling at the bedside. Tommy’s face barely peeked out of the blanket covering him and from what Techno could see, it was covered in dark bruises.
“Tech?” Tommy muttered, his breath rasping in his throat. Techno tried to gently pick his brother up, but was stopped by a sudden weight on his back.
Dream.
“Get off!” Techno roared, trying to shake Dream off his back.
“I can’t let him go back to you!” Dream yelled back. Techno threw himself out the cabin door, landing heavily on the pest.
“Why? Because I’m good for him?” Techno asked. He got up to reveal a slightly crushed Dream.
“No! Because…”
“You have no fuckin’ reason.” Techno hissed. Then he pulled out his axe and struck Dream across the chest. The voices reached a crescendo before finally, finally, calming.
He turned away from the man and ducked back into the little hut. Tommy was still on his bed and there were tears streaming down his face.
“Hey, hey- Theseus, it’s ok.” He whispered, picking his brother up and cradling him close.
Tommy didn’t say anything and buried his face in Techno’s shirt.
“He’ll never hurt you again.” Techno said as he stepped over the body on the ground.
“You’re not mad?” Tommy muttered, barely audible through Techno’s shirt.
“What?”
“You’re not mad about the tower?”
Techno tilted his head as he looked down at the teen in his arms.
“What do you mean, Theseus?”
“Wanted to jump.”
A cold shiver went down Techno’s back and he hugged Tommy closer. “No kid. I’m not mad.”
He quickly walked back to the clearing where he had hidden Carl. Techno smoothly climbed into the saddle and nudged Carl away from the beach.
/.\/0\/.\
Tommy turned to look at his brother. Techno was holding a letter with a bright joy in his eyes.
“What has got you excited bitch?” Tommy asked, closing the book he was absentmindedly looking through.
“Phil finally answered!” Techno cried. Tommy smiled and opened his book again.
“That’s great, big man. Go read it. I’ll be fine here.”
And he would be. A lot had changed in the year since Techno had saved him.
Theseus could finally stop running.
Because he was just looking for a safe place.