Chapter Text
The next few months were awkward at best. Sally was over more often than not, Wilbur and Phil were away during the day, and Ranboo went god knows where around 4 every evening and didn’t return until 6 the next morning. Tommy and Technoblade spent more time together than Tommy had spent with his own brother those few months. The night was when Technoblade trained with father and son, with Phil early morning and Wilbur at midnight. Technoblade wished it were a struggle to pull off training twice at night and taking care of Tommy and Sally during the day.
They were training like usual under the dim backyard light. Wilbur was really harnessing his skills and though he couldn't take down Techno, Wilbur was ready to take down the common foe. They spent hours blocking and swinging at one another and although they'd moved on to real swords, sometimes Technoblade got lazy.
Techno pulled back his sword, resting it against his shoulder for stability he didn't need. As Technoblade swung it down to clash against Wilbur's sword once again, there was a burning sting on his shoulder. Technoblade dropped his sword.
Wilbur jumped out of the way of the falling weapon as Technoblade stood still in shock. He moved his hand to his shoulder, feeling the sting worsen as he set his hand down for a second, and when he pulled it back in front of him he locked eyes with his own blood. After all these years, Technoblade made himself bleed.
The voices screamed at him to get Phil, to rejoice, to panic, anything that would get Technoblade to move from his frozen state. Wilbur noticed the blood and dropped his sword just as suddenly, rushing into the house calling Phil's name.
Technoblade knew he was bleeding badly by the state of his hand, but he could do nothing until Phil arrived.
Phil ran in front of him and pressed a wet cloth on Technoblade's shoulder, releasing him from shock and making him hiss in pain and bend habitually out of the way. Phil shushed him, murmuring words of encouragement while cleaning the wound Technoblade gave himself.
“What’s going on?” Wilbur hushed Tommy, stood at the doorway in his pjs. Phil cleared his throat and Wilbur sighed, walking over to Tommy and ushering him back into the house. “What’s wrong with Techie?” Wilbur led Tommy to his room and settled Tommy into bed, tucking him in and sitting on Tommy's bed with him.
"He just gave himself a little cut is all. He'll be fine, now go to sleep." Wilbur messed Tommy's hair and stood. Tommy grabbed Wilbur's wrist before he could retract his hand.
"Is dad mad at you for training with him? Since, he got hurt?" Wilbur stared at Tommy in the soft glow of his nightlight. His little brother looked so young and innocent in the dim light.
"I'm not sure. You don't need to worry about that though, everything will be ok." Tommy nodded and let go of Wilbur's wrist. Wilbur smiled at him and walked out of the room, softly closing the door behind him.
Wilbur walked into the kitchen and sighed upon seeing his father wrapping Technoblade's shoulder in bandage. Technoblade looked more alive on that island stool than he had since Wilbur met him awake, despite the shoulder of his white collared shirt being dampened by his own blood.
Phil turned his head to Wilbur, though still staring at his work. "Come." Wilbur's throat closed on him and he silently cursed himself out as he walked towards the duo. Phil pinned the bandaging together and turned to face Wilbur. Technoblade smiled at him from behind Phil's shoulder.
"Father," Phil put his hand on Wilbur's shoulder, an interaction interesting for Technoblade to watch. He'd expected anger from Phil, but then again Phil was always the less reactive one. Wilbur looked as nervous as Technoblade felt. Getting dizzy from looking at his blood was interesting but nerve wracking. He was usually fine with blood, what difference did it make that it was his own?
"Thank you for coming to get me. I'm not happy with you working and training, you should be sleeping right now. But, I'm sure Techno would've gotten in this mess by himself anyways. I'm glad you were there." Wilbur smiled and Phil patted his shoulder.
𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘋𝘐𝘌
Technoblade smiled at the panic in the voices. Of course it wasn't that, Technoblade wanted peace, he wouldn't be nervous about finally getting it. Though, he felt more hesitant than he expected. He thought he'd be so relieved he'd say goodbye to Phil and meet Death moments after finding him, but he wasn't sure. He cared for Phil, he always had. At any point since they'd reunited Technoblade could've asked him to finalize his story. Why hadn't he?
"Is Techno going into another coma?" Phil waved his hand in front of Technoblade's face and shook his head. Why couldn't Technoblade do that now? He could make himself bleed, he didn't need Phil to do it for him anymore. He could just write a note goodbye and leave to kill himself somewhere.
"No, he'll be fine. He must be listening to the voices. Off to bed now, we'll discuss this as a family in the morning." Wilbur sighed and walked to his room, leaving the two immortals to their company.
"Phil," Phil looked at Technoblade. "I never hurt you when we used to train, did I?" Technoblade couldn't leave the family anymore. Maybe at first, when he cared for Phil alone, but he was too involved now. He'd watched the boys age, helped shape them into who they were. If Technoblade left, he'd never meet Wilbur's offspring.
"You didn't. I don't know how, I've always cared about you, but it never hurt." Technoblade hummed and yawned, his eyes unfocusing. Phil sighed and pulled Technoblade off the stool and walked him to his room. Technoblade had managed to hurt Phil a while ago, but if Phil was honest, it was because he let him. Phil himself wanted to know if Technoblade could hurt him after he realized he hadn't been hurt in the past.
"We should invite Sally's family to dinner.” Phil looked at him like he had lost his head, which Technoblade couldn’t act surprised if he had. Phil helped Technoblade sit on his bed, sitting next to the other. The atmosphere was too somber to find peace in the quiet night, but Technoblade was sure it was something short of it.
"I thought you didn't like them?" Technoblade didn't, but Sally would be having their grandchild soon, and he still owed them one for bringing Tubbo to Ranboo.
"It feels right." The room filled with silence once again. Technoblade leaned on Phil's shoulder and sighed, forcing himself to try and relax. "Sometimes I miss my white hair. Then I dye it again. The voices like this better." Phil ran his fingers through the other's hair, hand habitually finding it's way to the top of Technoblade's head.
"It feels like I let myself go. I know I'm still me, but it's like something's missing. I can't even fight the same anymore" Technoblade covered his lower face with his hand, staring off at the ground. "I'm not angry anymore, about anything. I.. I don't want it to end." Technoblade managed to surprise Phil once again. Had his quest to die finally come to a good end?
"What are you saying?" Phil moved closer, and Technoblade shuddered.
He whispered the truth like it was a horrid secret. A great burden he was bestowing on Phil and his deadliest sin.
"I don't want to die."