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There were footsteps upstairs.
The posters on the walls had clearly stated Techno lived here. The two did not have the best relationship. If the pig found him he no doubt would not only kick Tommy out, he’d kick his ass. The kid was in no condition to fight. If it had been literally anyone else Tommy would be fine. But, nope. The universe fucking hates him.
Tommy tried to stay quiet, hoping to not alert the pig. If it was Techno. Fuck, it better be. Did Dream find him already? Chests are being opened and closed, several times just two floors up. Whoever it is, they aren’t quiet. But they are getting closer. Tommy’s heart races as the ladders creak under heavy feet. The room he made is far too small for comfort, clutching the iron sword he had made from the shit he stole close to his chest.
It had been months since he last held one. The weight was unfamiliar, Tommy just hoped he could still swing it, given how weak he was. Skipping meals was not allowed, so he was well fed. It was the lack of sleep, afraid he’d be used in the middle of the night. It was the lack of exercise, not being allowed to do anything physically active unless Dream was in a very good mood. Or, in a very bad mood.
The journey to the little lonely cottage was no walk on the prime path. Dodging hostile mobs, weaving between trees, being absolutely fucking soaked and having to walk through the freezing biome. Tommy was sure he was going to die, which he had already accepted. Just a different method, at the wrong time. Later was better than never.
That changed when he saw the lights, welcoming him. A new spark lit within him. Maybe he could escape, maybe he could live.
A muffled voice is right above him. Shitshitshitsh- The sound of stone breaking, followed by new light flooding in. Maybe if Tommy is quiet enough they'll just leave. A childish notion, but he could hope. "What the- What is this?!" He had hidden himself so well, how the hell did someone find him already?
Thank Prime, it’s Technoblade. The loud and higher pitched voice at his question was recognizable. Tommy stays in his corner, sitting on the bed and wishing the pig will just go away. But Techno climbs down. "Tommy? Why are you under my house?" Last word emphasized, Techno walks further into Tommy’s safe space. "Aren't you supposed to be exiled?"
Trained to answer, "I ran away." Simple, but words laced with fear, sword still tightly held in his hands. "Found your house and just… I needed to hide." Tommy knows that's not really an acceptable answer.
Technoblade takes in the sight in front of him. Tommy hasn't seen himself in a long time, but he knows he has eyebags so bad that they'd have to be checked by security. Skinnier than before he was sent away, he hadn’t gained all that weight back. “I don’t think hiding under the base of a wanted criminal of the very country that exiled you is the best place… Is that my sword?”
Deeply sighing, Tommy hates begging, “Please… I can’t- I can’t- I-” Shit, he’s hyperventilating. If the pig won’t let him take refuge, Dream will have no problem finding him. Hell, Dream might find a corpse, by the wild taking him or his own hands.
He’d prefer neither. “Techno, I can’t go back- please, just for a little while?” Eyes pleading alongside his request.
“Tommy, you break into my house, steal my things, and ask me to keep you here to continue to break and steal my things? I’m not-” The man stops, confused by the sight unfolding in front of him.
Tommy sits on the edge of the bed and empties his inventory, everything. “Heh? ...Wait- Tommy, not all this is mine.” But he doesn’t stop until every item is on the ground. “Tommy.” He’s not ignoring Techno, he’s just completing the task.
Making sure to give eye contact and sit up straight, “Just for a bit? I promise, I won’t touch a thing. I’m a- I- I can be good, please.” Tommy waits in agonizing anticipation, watching Techno’s face contort with slight disgust. It turns into a smug smile.
“Tommy… I don’t think you’ve been good once in your life.” The man laughs, a sign that Techno isn’t as mad as he seemed. The kid flinches back when Techno moves to pick the stuff, leaving some behind. Tommy lets out a shaky breath as he’s not hit, and the man didn’t even notice the act.
Dream would have been pissed.
Technoblade tilts his head side to side as he thinks. Rolling his eyes, “Take your stuff back…You can stay for the night. Dream was overseeing your exile right?” Tommy hesitantly nods, not sure he likes where this might head. “Alright, I’ll let him know-”
“NO!” Both of them are stunned by the boy’s volume.
You think it’s okay to yell at me? Scream again Tommy, and I’ll knock your teeth out. I’ll fuck your mouth without worrying about you biting me. Is that what you want?
Correcting himself, “Wait! I’m sorry- I’m sorry for yelling. Please don’t tell him, I’ll do anything.” Tommy holds back the tears he feels building. The thought of being turned in after the courage it took to leave, it makes him nauseous. “He’s… He’s the person I’m hiding from,” admitting quietly. All this effort just to be forced back to that hell.
The hybrid looks around the tiny, cold room Tommy made in a frenzy. His eyes land on Tommy and the kid flinches from attention he’s received. Obviously Techno is weighing his options. Being allies with Dream, to take Tommy in is a bad move. Yet the man turns around and beckons the boy over. “You look awful. Come on up, I have potatoes cooking.”
Whatever reason Techno has doesn’t matter at the moment.
Following immediately behind, Tommy walks to the center of the room. Techno pays him no mind. Taking a cautious step forward, “Can I watch?” He’s met with the pig giving him a quick glance before he nods. “Thank you,” not forgetting his manners. Watching as a pot of carrots are being steamed and stirred, Tommy is grateful that he’s allowed to hover.
“Tommyinnit thanking someone, “being good”? I must have walked into a different dimension.” Techno thinks he’s hilarious, even though to Tommy this behavior is normal. Unless… Did Techno have other rules? Ones Dream hadn’t taught him yet?
A wave of anxiety rushes through the teen. “Do- Do you not want me to?” He can change, again. Anything to be safe. Anyone but Dream. Tommy is handed a bowl, going to the table as he watches Technoblade sit. “Do you have other rules?” Cautious, maybe he’s expected to know the rules already. Tommy just hopes the man will be patient as he learns.
Techno is not picking up on his inner monolog, checking the few books on the surface as he places them to the side. “Rules? Uh…” Pausing as he skims the pages before bookmarking. Looking up at Tommy like he’s remembered, “Yeah, don’t steal, don’t break, and don’t hit any of my pets.”
He waits for the list to get longer. “Okay… Is that all?” Surely there was more than just those three.
“Do you want more rules? Tommy,” shaking his head, “You’re acting weird… er.” Before the boy can answer, Techno spots the untouched food. “If you’re not hungry you could have said so.”
Tommy tries to still the need to fidget. “Of course, I fucking starving… But it’s rude to eat before you.”
“You’re my guest, for now, I don’t care who takes the first bite,” Techno sounds a little agitated by all the reminders. Dream was Tommy’s guest in Logstead… Here Tommy is the guest. Are the rules different now? He is really hungry, and the man said it was okay.
Past lessons have his mind screaming to sit still and wait for his turn. Tommy may be the guest, but he still has manners. Huffing, “Fine.” Techno takes a few carrots and chews through his words. Bad manners. “There, now will you eat? You’re practically a bag of bones.”
Tommy is being difficult, it’s just food. The teen takes a careful bite. It’s delicious, the vegetables are soft, and the baked potatoes are well seasoned. Much better than Dream’s cooking. Smiling, “Thank you Techno, it’s good.” The hybrid hums in response, giving a small smirk, quickly fading.
Shit. Tommy said something wrong. Why else would Techno’s face drop like that? The kid doesn’t have to wonder for long. Slowly, “Tommy? Why are you- I don’t know- not acting like Tommy?” Tone light, joking.
He swallows before speaking. But he doesn’t even know what to say. The truth was not coming out, regardless of the punishment. Tommy would not admit how he let Dream use him. Didn’t want to give another hybrid any ideas. “Being respectful is something good boys do. I told you I’d behave.”
Techno stopped eating. “I don’t like how that’s worded. Doesn’t feel right- doesn’t fit you.” Scowling, the man continues. “Besides, I didn’t expect you to actually behave. Kinda concerning that you are.”
“Do you want me to misbehave?” Quickly, confused beyond belief. Dream spent so much time teaching him to be good. Did Techno want him to be bad on purpose? Was this a test?
His question is met with the man shaking his head no. “That’s not what I was saying at all. It’s just mildly offputting is all.” Techno pinches the space between his eyebrows. “Just be yourself Tommy. Minus the stealing and burning.”
It’s been a while since he was himself, whoever that was. “Okay, I’ll try.” It’s the wrong answer because Techno stands up. “I mean, I will,” correcting even if it’s too late.
“We’ll talk in the morning. I don’t have the energy for this.” With that, Tommy is left alone as the man retreats upstairs. He doesn’t know how to please Technoblade.
The damn pig is both breaking the routine and encouraging Tommy to break the rules. It’s confusing and aggravating, his head hurts. There are still dishes and food out. Maybe being helpful will better the mood, it’s worth a try.
It may sound silly to others, but Tommy is almost happy to do the chores. Hands having something to do, mind having something else to focus on. Dream would be furious, but Techno was clearly not liking what appeased the goat hybrid. New rules to follow yet he wasn’t being taught them. Not even being punished for upsetting the pig.
Head hurting again, Tommy returned his attention to stacking books neatly.
After cleaning, he would try to recall how he used to act before exile. Hating how mean and bad he was in those memories. Did Techno really want that person back? A naughty, aggressive, loud, annoying kid? It would be hard. So used to being who the masked man wanted him to be, crafted him into. Tommy left because in many ways, he didn’t want to be that person anymore.
Dream had hurt him. Didn’t like who Tommy was, or acted. Used him for his own pleasure. Had stolen what was left of his innocence, not that he had much anyways.
Dream had loved him. Showered him with attention and gifts. Made him feel good. Tommy left the person who stuck around, without a word, without a goodbye.
Guilt was clawing at him, wanting to go back to what he knew, even if it hurt. Even if the punishment waiting for him would nearly kill him. That Dream would forgive him like he’d forgiven the man.
Hope was begging him to hold out. Learning new things won’t be so hard. The man didn’t want a good kid, he wanted something else. Tommy would figure out what that was. Getting closer to freedom would be worth any price Techno listed.
He’d fabricate a soul to sell to get Techno’s help.