Chapter Text
For the longest time, not a word was exchanged between the two. Techno had moved to sit on the literal End table, making it just that much harder for Phil to ignore him. Phil could just walk away. He knew that. But he just… couldn’t, really. It was as if his feet were rooted to the ground, as if his muscles had been frozen. His face was taut, not betraying any real feeling of anger or pain, but just pulled tight.
And Techno hoped he was alright.
He’d never seen Phil like this before, not like anything close. Phil, who had always kept a relaxed demeanor and anything other than that close to his chest, didn’t seem like the man standing before him, rigid and avoiding his gaze. Maybe it was the lighting, but his friend looked paler. Maybe it was the lighting, but his hair looked greying. Maybe it was the lighting, but Phil looked so tired, so high-strung, so much like he was bottling everything up and so much like it had all spilled out.
It probably wasn’t the lighting, actually.
Techno kept a watchful eye on him but he didn’t move. It was sort of… well, it was really upsetting to see, honestly.
Techno sighed.
“Phil,” he said.
He knew Phil heard him from the way his hands clenched and his gaze landed as far from Techno as possible, but he was ignored.
“You have to talk to me eventually. I mean, it’ll just get boring if you don’t, ‘cause I don’t think either of us are planning on leaving.”
Techno was aiming for nonchalant and hoped he landed it. Phil still didn’t respond, though, so he really didn’t have any way of knowing. Techno surveyed him again with a huff.
“Fine. If you’re not gonna talk to me, can you at least just take a breath? You look like a corpse.”
Phil scoffed, the first sign as of yet that he was listening to Techno at all, and did in fact take a breath through his nose. His fingers curled against the edge of the table and he took another breath, deeper, closing his eyes. Techno watched as he slowly untensed, his wings going from standing agitatedly to laying flat against his back. He opened his eyes and turned to Techno.
“We both know I can’t go back.”
Techno laughed and said “Sure,” in a way to portray that he did not agree.
“And you’re still trying to convince me otherwise.”
Techno nodded to the side, pretending to consider it. “Sounds right, yeah.”
Phil sighed, rolling his eyes.
“Look, Phil, you’re coming back to the cabin whether you like it or not.”
“What, you’re gonna drag me there yourself?” Phil asked. Techno snorted.
“Don’t see why not. Wouldn’t be hard,” He said, punctuating it by putting his hand on the top of Phil’s head, easily covering most of it. There was a muffled sigh, but Techno could feel his smile against his palm. After a second, Phil swatted Techno’s hand away and instead tugged him into a hug, one Techno was happy to return. He stood, rubbing circles into his friend’s back. And if he tightened his grip as he felt tears seep into his shirt, he wasn’t about to bring it up.
Again they stood silently, but this time it was far more bearable for both of them. Techno made no move to let go whatsoever until he felt Phil’s grip loosen. Techno gently pulled away. Phil was intentionally looking away, but Techno could see him wiping at his cheeks. He put a hand on Phil’s shoulder.
“Let’s go home, Phil.”
Phil nodded quietly. Techno put his arm around his shoulder and led him down the stone steps. Phil went, not looking back.
During the trek back through the snow, Phil really seemed more like himself. But not in a way that seemed forced or closed off- a genuine type of playful relaxedness. It was a nice little reassurance for Techno; That Phil was not only just an overall chill guy, but that he’d be okay. He had his issues- though that was a vast understatement- but he’d be alright. Maybe he’d start healing, even if Techno would have to force him into it.
The lanterns in the house were unlit, except for in the attic, where you could see slivers of light peeking out from the shutters. Techno froze for just a second but continued. They entered the second floor, and Phil took a deep breath.
“Man am I fuckin’ glad I came back,” He beelined towards the fireplace. Techno laughed.
There was a creak from upstairs. Techno looked up at the ceiling, not noticing Phil doing the same.
“I’ll be right back,” Techno said after a second. Phil looked over his shoulder and gave Techno a look he pretended not to notice. He ascended the ladder.
Ranboo was really just trying to read, man. He’d sat down on the bed with a small stack and a lit lantern. Granted, they weren’t technically his and he hadn’t technically asked, but he didn’t think Techno would mind the disappearance of a few dusty books at the bottom of a few of his storage chests. It was a bit of a pain, trying to sound out the words in front of him, especially when some of them were so long, but alas. If only there were books written for people learning to read or something.
Anyways, that was when he heard Phil’s voice downstairs.
He froze, sliding off the bed and instead to the space next to the ladder. He heard Techno laugh, then a silence.
Techno said something, and the sound of footsteps approached the ladder. Ranboo scrambled back onto the bed.
Techno emerged from the ladder not long after. Ranboo stared at him. He tried to reign in any of his feelings so they wouldn’t show on his face, but he apparently failed because the first thing Techno said was
“So, I knew you might not be the biggest fan of this.”
Ranboo gave him an incredulous look.
“I know, I know,” Techno said. He gestured to ask if he could sit on the bed. Ranboo scooted over “It’s complicated, Ranboo.”
Ranboo gestured to his face, to his still mostly unhealed scars. Techno sighed.
“I get it, really, but- maybe just try and keep your distance, you know?”
Ranboo stared at him. Techno nodded, thought about something, then nodded some more.
“Alright. Stop me if I get something wrong, but-” Ranboo furrowed his brows. Techno continued. “You’re scared. You’re confused. You still don’t really know what’s going on, and someone you thought you could trust just attacked you and you don’t know why. And now he’s back.”
Ranboo’s gaze was on the floor.
“And the other person you think you can trust is telling you to give him a break, and that sounds really stupid, right?”
Ranboo nodded.
“Well, now that person is telling you that there’s more going on there than he knew. And that he understands how this might seem but you should try and hear him out, because Phil’s working through some crazy stuff. And he promises, one hundred percent, that he will not let him hurt you again, alright?”
Ranboo nodded again. He turned his head and there was the quiet hissing of tears on his skin.
“So, do you think you can give him a shot? You can avoid him all you want, that’s totally understandable and you have no reason to feel bad for doing that, but could you let him just stay in the cabin a couple days at least, see if you can get used to him again?”
Ranboo nodded again, “Yes.”
“Thank you, Ranboo,” Techno said, standing up. “Have a good night. Try to get to bed at some point.”
Techno descended the ladder and Ranboo fell back onto the bed. A lot of thoughts swirled through his head, but the one that seemed to stand out the most was the memory of Techno gesturing vaguely at him, standing next to the window of the attic, saying; “When Phil gets back maybe he’ll be able to help out, he’s better in the… emotions department. I dunno.”
And honestly, Ranboo couldn’t help but think he sold himself short a little bit.