Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The walls of the town stood tall and grey, seemingly infinite, disappearing into the sky. Cold walls were unwelcoming and promising of distrust and misery. The grass at the base of cobblestone blocks were yellowish and withered, lacking sunlight and warmth. Huge gates of dark wood menacingly stared down two figures before them. One of the figures was hunched, face scrunched in exhaustion and pain. Some make-shift bandages visible under the long coat, blooded and dirty. This young man was wearing a once black, now long-faded grey scarf and a hat, under which dark brown hair was peeking, sticking to the sweaty forehead. Another person was slack on other's back, seemingly unconscious or sleeping. Pale face and dirty-blond curls cowered by a hood of his jacket. The last person standing was wearing a long dark-red cloak. His frame from head to toe hidden from strangers’ eyes.

They were alone by the gates. No guards or any more people were in sight.

Wilbur resisted an urge to groan. This town promised to be so difficult. And he swore to Goddess, if he wouldn't get in quick and effortless, he would start blowing shit up. Even if Techno would scold him for forever afterwards.

Wilbur readjusted Tommy on his back. Right, no time for brooding. But… How to get in?

“Techno..?” - he started hesitantly.

“Yeah. I guess we should knock.” - shrugged the cloaked figure.

Technoblade proceeded to do just what he said he would - knocking three times on the hard wood of the gates.

At first, it was quiet. A couple of seconds passed and something (“finally!” - thought Wilbur) has moved on the other side.

A slim, rectangular-shaped window slid open. There an unfriendly pair of dark eyes appeared. They squinted, clearly annoyed at an early visit.

“Who the hell are you? What do you want here?” - grunted the stranger.

“Hi, hi, hello, lovely morning! Tell me, please, kind sir, is this the famous “Neubonk town”? Cause man, I'm telling you, it looks absolutely-” - Wilbur's feigned cheerful speech was interrupted by the same gruff voice.

“State your names and goals. Now.”

Wilbur took a deep breath and tried to smile again.

“Of course, of course! My name is Wilbur. Here is my license!” - he clumsily fished out a card out of his pocket, Tommy still weighing on his back, making him antsier and antsier. - “I, I mean, we work for the adventurers guild called “DSMP”. - he held his card in front of the opening.

Dark eyes scanned the card and after a few seconds of silence, the stranger (the guard, Wilbur presumed) blurted out:

“What the fuck is “DSMP”?”

Wilbur sighed. Of course, nobody would know a relatively new, tiny, hybrid friendly guild. But it was a licensed guild and Wilbur knew this was clear from his card.

“As I said, it's a guild. A licensed guild. Which has given us a quest. And we are here to fulfil our task. From our guild. Do you understand? - Wilbur was struggling to keep the smile on his face. What else would this idiot ask? What is a guild?

“Don't talk to me back, brat.” - he spat on the ground. Wilbur heard saliva hitting the dirt on the other side. - “I can just fucking ignore you like you fucking deserve. Coming to my town, talking shit…”

“Excuse me.” - Techno calmly interrupted.

“What do you want, hoodied prick? Another suspicious motherfucker, I swear to Goddess-”

“We are here on an assignment from a very important person. We have an extremely valuable letter we have to get to its addressee. If you intervene, there will be consequences..”

A silence spread for a few moments, but it was quickly broken by now spitting and loudly swearing guard.

“What the actual fuck did you say to me? You think you tough, all broody, hiding your pathetic face, spitting such big words! Meet my eyes, you coward, before I tell you to fuck off forever from these gates!”

While the guard was cursing, ignoring all attempts of someone from the other side trying to calm him down, Technoblade has risen his dark-crimson eyes to meet the burning gaze of the guard. He shoved a letter into the gate's opening, gloved hands tense from annoyance.

“Recognise this signature?”

The stranger has stopped his tirade and gazed deeply into the paper. His face paled slowly.

“Carson… King…”

“And to whom, may I ask?” - lazily grinned Techno.

“Jeb… Jebediah… Schlatt…”

“Wait, what did you say?!” - Technoblade heard from the other side.

“Oh, man, that was a big secret, you know.” - Techno has gasped, face slack. - “I wonder what this certain Jebediah Schlatt would do if he knew, that a couple of no-good guards have leaked his secret message…”

“Don't! Don't… call him that…” - the guard yelped.

“Don't call who “that”?” - inquired Wilbur, but the small window with scared brown eyes has closed.

Before Wilbur could get bitter, he heard the key, turning heavily in the keyhole. A moment later, a door has opened, revealing a shaking man in barely put together armour. He was clearly not happy with newcomers, it was even more evident now in his stance.

“Fucking fine, you can come in. Give me your full names and fuck off. If I see you on the streets again, I will personally throw you off the goddessdamn walls, got it?”

Wilbur smiled, as he was writing bullshit names on the guard's list. Techno was the best at intimidation.

“Sure thing, Mr. Guard! It's a pleasure working with you!”

“Shut the fuck up, twink. If I could, I'd snap you in half and left outside the walls for wolves to eat.” - the man snarled.

“Oh-oh, I'd be careful while talking with honourable guests, who can easily destroy your career with just an accidental slip of the tongue-” - Wilbur cooed.

“Enough! Get the fuck out of my sight.”

Wilbur grinned and followed through the door, Techno after him. As soon as they passed two guards - one scared and the other confused, Wilbur rose his hand to flip them off. He didn't need to look back to know that they'd won.

Techno snorted quietly. The mood has gradually shifted towards positive.

“Techno, how did you know this would work?” - Wilbur asked, amused.

“Oh, I didn't. I just guessed that it was an important letter, since we were so annoyingly pestered about its safety before the departure. Then I just started pulling up names and following with his reaction.” - there was a clear spark of mischief in Technoblade's eyes, which Wilbur was really pleased to see.

“Let me guess, they need to train at least for another hundred years to see through your bluff, am I correct?” - Wilbur grinned again.

“I'd say you are too generous, but overall can't disagree. Nerds.”

Wilbur laughed and then felt his side flare up with pain again. Right. They were supposed to head towards the doctor immediately.

“I think I'll go search for a doctor. You, Techno, go find us an inn. As always - cheap, quiet and…”

“Alright, alright. I will find us an inn, jeez, stop harassing me. Cheap, quiet, where everyone minds their own goddessdamn business. I remember.” - Techno rolled his eyes.

“Good. Then meet you here in three hours, regardless of the results.”

“Sure.” - Technoblade shrugged and headed in a different direction. Will swore to Goddess, that this man had a weird, unfairly convenient compass somewhere inside his pink body.

Siren hybrid has sighed again and went towards the main square, aiming to start getting answers from the locals. It was gonna be another long day.

Chapter Text

At this point, Wilbur has lost any hope with this town. Locals were gloomy and busy and absolutely refused to speak to him. He even tried chasing down the most friendly-looking man. As soon as the guy noticed this, he bailed with such speed, momentarily escaping the wounded hybrid with a teenager on his back. And everyone acted pretty much the same.

Wilbur's eye twitched.

"What the fuck is their problem..." - he subconsciously touched his fins, relief filling the anxious heart when he found them still hidden under the scarf. Same with his ears. Then why were everyone so... Avoidant?

"Sorry for that, dude" - Wilbur jumped at the energetic voice he didn't recognise. He turned sharply, prepared to face the person, who caught him off guard.

His side and tense muscles protested angrily. He ignored them.

Will's tired eyes met calm amusement in the brown eyes of the stranger. There was a young man standing in front of him, relaxed, lazily chewing on something. Ironically enough, he was wearing a beanie. Wilbur quickly wondered, if this person too had something to hide.

"We are not used to strangers. Actually, I don't remember anyone coming here for years almost. Well, except for traders and..." - he looked Wilbur from head to toe - "...Other presentable-looking folk. No offence, my man".

Wilbur was too tired to really care for the jab, but a pang of self-awareness found it's way into his heart. He remembered his mother.

He didn't dwell on that.

"Please, for the love of Goddess, just tell me where the hospital is". - it almost sounded like he was begging, but Wilbur didn't care already.

"Well, not quite the hospital, but if you turn there" - it took Wilbur some restraint to not react to the man's hand moving. He followed the gesture with his eyes. The man (now when he looked closer, he was Wilbur's peer, maybe even younger) pointed behind him - "Then to the left, you'll see the med shack".

"The what?"

"The med shack" - the stranger shrugged - "What, does this town look like we have good healthcare?"

Wilbur blinked in confusion. Well, anything will do as long as they treat his little brother. Who still hasn't woken up.

"Thank you. I'd love to chat more, but I'm kinda in an emergency here" - Wilbur passed the man, heading according to given directions.

"Sure man, good luck with your brother. Hope everything works out" - the stranger said to his back.

Will hummed absent-mindedly. Finally, he knows where the goddessdamn place is.

And only when his new acquaintance has disappeared into the streets of the town, he realised that he never mentioned that Tommy was his brother.

He stopped caring as soon as his eyes caught the sight of the green painted cross on the outer walls of... Huh, really, a shack.

Wilbur reassuringly squeezed his brother's arm, limp and cold.

Finally!

He opened the door with a kick of his foot and immediately called:

"Hello, I really need a nurse, can anyone help?"

The room was quiet and mostly empty. Only one stooped figure in white resting behind the counter. The woman didn't move much. Only her slightly risen eyebrow was the proof of her attention being somehow directed to the intruders.

"Name and business?" - she turned her gaze away towards the lazily ticking clock.

"William Serene. My brother was heavily injured last night and I'm extremely worried about his wellbeing" - no reaction followed - "So help me" - she blinked, still avoiding eye contact - "Please".

She rubbed her red-rimmed eyes and grunted:

"Sure"

Wilbur's mind went blank, completely out of ideas or motivation to think of anything. What was it with this town?

"Oh, right. Put him... Yeah, there. That room is free I guess" - the woman still didn't move.

So Wilbur did just as he was told. He entered the room (clean and bright, surprisingly) with a door on the other wall and a white-sheeted bed in the middle of the room. Nothing fancy, but nothing fancy was needed here.

Tommy needed medical assistance. And Wilbur would get it no matter what.

The man gently lowered the teen on the bed, making sure to not jolt his injuries. He took a quick look at the pale, slack face and rushed out the room. Someone had to fucking co-operate. And quick.

Unknowingly of his brother leaving, a certain blond has opened his eyes, confused and alone in the room.

Chapter Text

Tommy woke up groggily. Everything ached and not even in a post-Techno-training way. Even worse, actually. Like he was ran over or something. Like he was cannon-balled in the ribs. In short – Tommy felt like shit.

He gasped silently and tried his best to suppress the moan of pain. Why him..?

The low grey ceiling stared back at him, eaten by mold in places. He heard Wilbur loudly fuming nearby. Good to know some things never change. The second voice was unfamiliar and slowly getting angrier. This wasn’t good, attention to them was no good, there was always the risk of their disguises failing, and-

Tommy attempted to stand up from the surprisingly comfortable cot. He managed to sit up before his brain registered the shooting pain in his thigh.

Tommy’s vision whitened, but he didn’t let out a sound.

You gotta stay quiet to survive, you gotta stay quiet-

“You shouldn’t get up just yet!” – Tommy heard someone anxiously blabber. The teens head momentarily snapped to the side, meeting eye to eye with the owner of the voice. Then quickly shifting to two pairs of rapidly fluttering see-through wings on the back of the stranger.

The boy, seemingly a peer of Tommy, seemed to catch up to what had happened. He clumsily rushed to hide his hybrid traits behind the oversized green shirt, two barely visible antennas nervously flickering.

Tommy sighed. He knew that feeling all too well. – “Don’t. I won’t tell anyone. I am…” – he hesitated. Should he tell to a complete stranger that? He probably shouldn’t, but… - “I am… You know… Like you, too…”

Tommy started to regret all his life choices before his blue eyes met another blue pair, filled with caution and interest.

“You promise you won’t tell on me?” – the teen asked uncertainly.

“I promise. Why would I anyway?” – Tommy asked rhetorically.

“…To get the bounty and the respect and recognition..? To shake hands with JShlatt himself?” – the nervous boy inclined.

Tommy blinked, surprised – “Erm, sounds like a shitty reason. And that JShlatt guy sounds like a douche. Does he want hybrids dead..?”

The other boy finished buttoning up his shirt and now stood awkwardly in front of Tommy. He laughed nervously.

“Pretty much, yeah. He made that law when the lockdown started. Here hybrids are believed to bring illness and death. Like a bad omen, you know?”

Tommy did know, unfortunately. Knew too well how meaningless and cruel witch hunts were. How many hybrids fell prey to them.

How many kind and innocent people and families.

Somewhere fire cracked and smoke filled the boy’s lungs.

“Though it’s been about, erm, 14? 16 years since the plague died down? Yeah, I’m not too sure, I was just a baby, if born at all…” – blabbered the antenna-guy.

“…the plague?” Tommy raised an eyebrow. He heard Will reading some research on the town, but he never cared enough to actually listen. And even if he did, was there any info on that..?

“Ah, yeah, you aren’t from here, are you? Shouldn’t we, like, start with the introductions and stuff? And then start all the “sharing confidential deadly secrets of our government” stuff?” – Tommy chuckled at that. The gesture made the stranger a little less tense. He smiled. – “I’m Tubbo. I kinda work here, help with all I can, and, since I can’t read, try my best to gain as much medical knowledge from observing.”

Tommy mused. There was a lot to unpack there, but he decided to start slow and gather himself a bit, heart still beating too fast from the unwanted memories.

“The name’s Tommy, but everyone just calls me The Great Innit.” – he crossed his arms proudly, immediately feelings his ribs protesting.

Tubbo seemed to notice his pain too.

“Nice to meet you, Tommy, but lie back down, you shouldn’t walk yet! I did some work on you, by the evening it should get better.”

Tommy blinked in pain and confusion. This kind of pain? In a couple of hours? Hard to believe.

So he said just that.

Tubbo shifted on his feet, clearly conflicted about something. Tommy stayed silent, watching the inner struggle of the other. What was there even to hide?

“Look…” – Tubbo averted his gaze – “You weren’t supposed to see that. I slipped and showed you… My traits because I accidentally got my clothes stained with blood. I was changing and then you just… Bolted. I know I seem weird and untrustworthy, but I promise, that…”

“Fine, fine, just don’t start crying. Big man Tubbo says I’ll be alright by the evening, then I will. You are the doctor here after all.” – Tommy shrugged.

“…Aren’t you curious though?” - Tubbo looked like he regretted his question immediately, hair moving slightly with now invisible antennas. Anxious, huh.

“I mean, I am. I am already feeling better. But you already did too much by not simply ratting me out. Our folk… We do have secrets. I understand, you don’t have to explain to me anything.”

And Tommy meant that. He knew what it was like to be compromised, forced to spill everything, to be in constant fear of others finding out.

Knowledge bore consequences. Some could be deadly.

He didn’t need this burden on his shoulders. Sometimes being unaware could only be described by the word…

Bliss.

Tubbo seemed to completely relax in Tommy’s presence. He was folding his discarded clothes and putting his tools in a neat bee-themed backpack.

His eyes were soft when he muttered a quiet “thank you”.

Tommy just nodded.

After a couple of silent moments, Tommy seemed to remember where he was. He already guessed it was the town they were supposed to get to. There simply were no towns nearby the place he blacked out. But where was he exactly..?

“Hey, this is Neubonk town, right..?”

“Yep.”

“And this room..?”

“The med shack #4.”

“The what..?”

Chapter Text

Neubonk town was… Strange to say the least. Technoblade already realized that people from the outside were very unwelcome here. He only managed to find one inn, which, frankly speaking, reminded him more of the brothel. Or another place of sorts. And it made sense, considering that people from the outside rarely came here. He was thankful enough for the way the owner didn’t even glance at him, too busy looking through a very worn out, very dirty novel. It would be gross in any other circumstances, but in this situation, Technoblade considered it luck.

Too bad he had to bring Tommy here. Not a place for a teenager for sure. It made him frustrated again and again. He didn’t want Wilbur to rest here as well. They deserved better, so much better

Quietly he sat down on the one bad the room had to offer. It creaked pathetically. But at least it was a lot more comfortable than the streets or forest. Everything smelled of something sweet, like rotting fruit.

Technoblade had to remind himself that this was the best he could possibly find in here. This place was a major disappointment and just felt even more alienating.

He hated it.

He had a few minutes to relax before heading out to meet Wilbur. Not enough times to rest per see, but lately, any spare minute was a luxury. Techno needed this time, as did his crumbling body.

Carefully, trying not to pay attention to crudely drawn borderline erotic paintings and red sheets framing the room, Technoblade started to slowly unbuckle his heavy boots.

First strap, second…

He counted them and almost wished he’d never run out of buckles. But he did. And it was time to put the boots off.  

He held his breath a pulled.

Technoblade’s vision went white. Goddess, it got worse.

As he sat, panting, cold sweat running down his back, he tried to estimate how long he had left.

Not enough. Not enough, it got so much worse over day.

He took a deep breath. There goes the other leg.

He stayed silent and still until the spiking pain turned into angry throbbing. He needed a plan right now.

Dream said Techno was getting noticeably worse. And that his performance progressively went down during the duels. But that he could manage, he just feared…

What if he couldn’t stand by himself soon? When would it happen? In years? Months? Weeks? Or maybe tomorrow would be his last day standing?

They still didn’t have enough to settle down, they needed money, they needed Techno to be the sword that cut down their enemies, a sword that cleared paths and paths of obstacles. He already failed last time. Couldn’t even jump to reach Ravager’s eyes, couldn’t use this useless body for combat – one thing he could offer to them, to anyone.

Too early to crumble.

Techno’s inner clock struck 20 minutes before the meeting with Wilbur. He realized how much time he spent panicing. He needed to manage this issue as fast as possible. Not the first time, not the last. He would push through.

As the hybrid finished putting his boots back on with precise movements and trembling hands, he met the sight of the disfigured bodies on the surrounding paintings.

He made sure to put them all down before heading out to the decided spot.

Chapter Text

The sun was setting down.  And it was like barely past midday! Probably. Wilbur was hit by the fact when he emerged from the med shack  #4. Annoyance was off the roof, but the self-proclaimed elder brother (he liked to believe he was) Wilbur had a Techno to meet. Regroup, yadda yadda yadda... Just why was this day so long?

The huge grey walls of the town were blocking the sunlight. Wilbur felt trapped and cold, his side still sending pulses of pain to his whole body.  

He should have stayed there and got properly bandaged. But he hated the idea of seeing the woman from the counter for a second longer... he refused to call her nurse. But the boy with the blonde hair looked sensible enough.  And he seemed to be to Tommy's liking (which was rare and a pretty good indicator of personality). And he actually helped Tommy. Bandaged him with impressive skill. Promised to stay with him until Wilbur was back.  Which was very sweet of him.  

Hopefully, Wilbur could trust him.  Just for a while. 

He couldn't.  But he had to. Techno needed to meet up with him. 

...who knew what could've happened while he was alone.  

Wilbur shook off these thoughts.  He would be quick. Might finish the letter request for the Schlatt while at it.  

This place reeked and he hated it. The faster they left, the better.

---

Wilbur made his way to the meeting spot.  Town's folk still avoiding him like a plague. 

It was off-putting but nothing could be done about it. He tried to remain unbothered,  not to wonder about what would those people do if they knew. 

At last, he saw Techno. The relief almost made him forget about injuries and exhaustion. Almost. 

"Late for 20 minutes, Will. Where is Tommy?" The pig hybrids eyes sharpened at the absence of the youngest. 

"Oops, my bad.  Met lovely people.  Little gremlin's in the med shack #4."

"Med shack is the stupidest name." 

"You tell me."

Techno glanced at the sky.

"This place is the worst.  I want to be gone from here as soon as possible. " Wilbur scoffed.

"Take the letter then.  I will keep watch from the outside. Don't think it would be wise for me to set foot in the residence of the most racist man in the nearest thousand miles.  If something happens, then do your siren thing. " Techno's hand patted his sword. Wilbur knew the gesture soothes the man somehow.  

The other hand reached in the inner pocket of the white tunic of the pig-hybrid. Then Wilbur received the white rectangle. It was almost weightless.  

Risking their lives for this pathetic place of paper.  And a couple of coins.

Wilbur wondered how Tommy was. 

"Right.  Chop-chop, let's move.  You found the inn, right?" Wilbur asked as Techno's heavy boots clicked the stone road behind him. 

"Yes.  But I wouldn't say it's a good thing necessarily. " 

"How so?" 

---

As the two figures walked, a man watched them move towards the main residence of the town. 

The man knew why they were here.  Well, only primary stuff about those visitors. Like names,  the mission,  the rumours of the swordsmanship of the cloaked man...

But something just seemed off. He couldn't help but feel there was something more to their at first glance simple mission.

Why send three people to guard one piece of paper? Why "The Blood God" and the "The Siren"? Why was there so little on these two?

The man needed to know more.  And about the teen in the med shack. 

As the bird set down on his shoulder, he attached a message to it. To send a request to his web of informants.

Hopefully, he knows what is so bothering about this particular case before it's too late. 

Chapter Text

The major's residence wasn't too pompous. It was well-furnished and presentable, but nothing screamed of "the Jebediah Schlatt ". From what Wilbur could guess (and from what Goggy had informed him before their departure) the major of this town was... power-hungry, petty and quite dangerous for hybrids (Goddess knows why this Carson King had a brilliant idea to hire a hybrid-friendly guild). 

As Wilbur walked,  Techno by his side with the grim expression,  surrounded by three guards and wondered if they would make it out of the residence after all.  Guards were everywhere. And when they only got to the building, they were instantly surrounded by Shlatt's people, taking a great damper on the original plan of Techno waiting outside. But on the other hand, Wilbur felt a lot safer with Techno by his side.  Still, too many threats around. Even for the two of them.

Wilbur fixed his beanie, eying the guard on his side. The man didn't bat an eye.

Finally,  the tense silence was broken. The guard proclaimed:

"We're here.  Don't try anything weird. If you are smart, of course." 

He levelled two hybrids with an intense gaze and turned back the hallway they just walked. Others followed. 

"Here? Here where?" Wilbur muttered.

Suddenly, a friendly yet unfamiliar voice answered:

"Just follow me, man.  We are almost at Schlatt's."

Wilbur jumped a little,  unlike Techno, who remained tense, eyes pinned on a man, who Wilbur, surprisingly, had already met a couple of hours ago. 

Brown mischievous eyes,  blue beanie - the stranger looked harmless,  posture relaxed. A single yellow feather was peaking from his collar. 

"You got trash on you, dude." Technoblade mused.

"Hm? Where?" 

"Your collar."

Stranger's hands found the feather. His face paled noticeably, movements turned sharp, yellow thing instantly gone to the pocket of the blue jacket. 

"H-hah...  Schlatt's not too fond of feathers, you know? And birds.  And trash?" The man laughed awkwardly.

"...are you asking us or telling us?" Techno mused once more. 

"Telling. Definitely telling."

"Good.  Can we move already?" Techno took a step forward. 

"Sure, mate. Follow me."

Wilbur and Techno fell into step with a shorter male.

"I'm Quackity by the way. And your names are?"

"Don't you already know?" Wilbur raised a brow. 

"Well, I do, that is true.  But it's always nice to get a proper greeting, you know. "

None of the hybrids answered Quackity. He chuckled nervously.

"Not fans of chatting, are you? Well, it's good for you that we're here. "

Wilbur studied a door just in front of him.  It looked steady, with a big metal lock. Sturdy. 

"Why aren't here any guards?"

"Our major doesn't like noise.  It stresses him out. " Quackity smiled. 

He took a step forward and knocked. Three times - Wilbur noticed.  But he body-blocked most of the door's surface,  so it was hard to tell if there was anything more to these knocks.

Almost immediately the door opened. A man showed up. Wilbur was surprised at how young he was. 

Brunette, piercing brown eyes framed by dark bags. Perfect stubble and a blindingly white smile. 

"Ah, finally you are here.  Welcome, welcome! Come in, take a seat!" the major grinned even harder.

Wilbur walked in first, Techno following right after.  Quackity closed the door behind them,  standing a bit to the side.  Still too close to the only exit in the room. Well, besides the window - Wilbur noted once again.

"Please,  please! Take a seat.  To what I owe the pleasure?"

Schlatt positioned himself comfortably, leaning on the back of a huge leather chair, legs crossed and hands clenched together.  Combined with the suit - it created a certain image. A businessman. 

Wilbur sat on one of the opposing major's table chairs.  Techno remained standing.

"We are here with the quest from the DSMP guild.  But if rather this was discussed face to face." 

"Hm." The more Wilbur looked, the more it seemed like the man's eyes weren't smiling with the rest of his face. "You see, despite his appearance, Quackity here is my right hand.  If you have something to tell me, you can go on with that.  I'm quite a busy man. "

Quackity remained by the door. Techno remained by Wilbur. 

"Fine. We have a letter for you. Quite an important one, I presume. We were told to guard it with our lives. So, as it gets in your hands, we are no longer responsible for anything that happens with it or with anything it does to you. Am I clear on that?"

Schlatt stops smiling, expression turning uncaring in a second. "Watch who you're talking to. Don't give me demands, you are just an errand boy. You were told to deliver and that is what you do. Now, the letter" the major extended his long arm towards Wilbur "Don't make me wait. "

Clenching his teeth, the siren hybrid fished out the paper from his pocket. 

The transaction was done.  Wilbur and Techno did not need to stay here any longer. 

But Schlatt didn't allow them to leave.  He read the sender's name and followed it up with a quick and precise tear in the envelope. 

Wilbur gulped nervously at the sharpness of this man's nails. 

A second passed. Then another. Everyone was still, observing the man reading the letter. The latter's expression morphed into something unexplainable, eyes flashing wildly, lips tight, fighting back an ugly snarl.

"Quackity, out. Now." the mayor hissed.

"But-" 

"I said OUT!" the man screamed, thrown ashtray making a dent in the steady wood of the door. 

Mayor's right-hand man gulped audibly and with lowered gaze hurried to leave the room.

Wilbur noticed Technoblade's hand laying steadily on his blade. Oh no.

"Listen. JShlatt, right? Jebediah Schlatt, the major of this lovely town! I don't know what's happening AND I don't really wanna know! So let's make this easier for everyone and, so kindly of you, leave whatever issue it is, behind me and my partner. The whole "don't shoot the messenger" thing." 

Wilbur was interrupted by the major, his grave voice sending chills down hybrids spine:

"Did you open the letter?"

"Wh... what? No! Of course no! You opened the envelope yourself!"

"But you two are hybrids, aren't you? Maybe one of you scanned the contents? Maybe one of you can feel the letters with your skin? Which is it?" The man hid the paper into his office table. "I'm waiting. Did you get familiar with the contents of the letter?"

Wilbur felt a strong urge to bolt. This was getting too familiar. How did he even guess they weren't human? What gave it away.

"Ah, I see. Already drawing your weapons,  aren't we? You leave me no choice then. "

"What are you talking ab-"

Wilbur didn't get to finish, as he was pushed away by Techno, successfully avoiding a dozen of darts the latter blocked with his sword.

"You leave me no choice but to activate my panic button! When this all could have been easily avoided. But now you will be hunted down. Just like animals. Freaks. "

The major laughed as someone tried to force the door open.

Wilbur glanced at Techno. His eyes were bloodshot and clearly tunnel-visioned on the man in front of them.

They didn't have time for that! 

There was only one window to the left. And the hybrids had to make a break for it. Wilbur grabbed Techno's forearm. Maybe if he squeezed harder, it would help his partner to snap out of it. 

"And if you think about running, which, of course, you do, just remember, that there are three of you.  And only you know of the hunt."

The door's started to creak under the abuse. Techno started to snarl lowly.

So Wilbur screamed. His siren powers momentarily disorienting anyone nearby, including Techno.

The next thing to break the silence was the sound of glass shattering - two figures now free-falling from the third floor. 

"You won't escape my town! Guards, after them! And fine the third one..!"

Wilbur could neither hear nor did he want to know what was the crazy man shouting about, as the land grew closer. Fuck, he didn't think this through. 

A hand grabbed his shoulder and with great force sent him flying towards the flourishing well-kept bushes in the inner garden. Then another weight landed not far from him, groaning slightly.

"I'd really like to know how you did that, but for now we gotta go!" Muttered Wilbur through the pain in his side, trying to get out of the greenery.

"I... Need a second." Hissed Technoblade.

"A second? Tech, we are being actively hunted, Tommy is out there with no means of protection and we literally just made our escape via the window! We just can't afford to stop now." Wilbur tugged his friends out of the bushes, screaming from the building getting louder.

Technoblade was breathing heavily, eyes clouded slightly, all blood lust gone with no trace. His limbs were shaking and he could barely stand.

"Tech, hey, hey, look at me. What's wrong?" Wilbur touched the other man's cheek with his palm? He felt too cold. Shit.

"I'm fine. Let's move." Techno swallowed thickly. 

Wilbur didn't know what was the problem. But they didn't have the luxury of messing around.

"If you need, I'll carry you." 

"Sure" huffed a laugh pale hybrid. "You won't even be able to lift me off the ground."

"When it's all over, it's a bet!"

"Deal"

Chapter Text

Hours later after he woke, Tommy finally felt some semblance of calm. The nurse with which Wilbur had a shouting match was out cold at a front desk. According to Tubbo, she consistently does drugs. “Shrooms” he said. And Tommy was an expert in drugs, of course. He totally knew what these were.

Tubbo proved to be a lot of fun to hang with.  He was surprisingly chaotic, vastly differing from the first impression.  And even though Tommy was still on guard with this whole place and local people, an unusual sense of peace was settling inside his chest.

He wished so badly they could really be friends.

“…and that is why I know all this stuff about the plague and all.” Tubbo finished with a grin.

“So you are telling me, that you are like the president’s niece? And he basically adopted you and lets  you spill the town’s secrets everywhere?”

“Well… Not everywhere. In fact, I think I just committed treason. Lmao.”

Tommy wheezed. “You… Are not supposed to do that!”

Tubbo stayed silent, slowly looked him in the eyes and muttered “Yolo.”

Tommy was straight up cackling at this point. “This is so stupid. Who even taught you these?”

“Schlatt did.” Tubbo grinned. “He said I needed to know how to speak with kids my age.”

“Please never use these.”                               

“I don’t see how you’ll stop me.”

This felt like a banter with a friend. This was how a friend felt like, right? Tommy haven’t had anyone like this… In a long time. Since his house burnt down. Since he had to run and hide from pitchforks and torches – the silhouettes of which still haunted him in his nightmares along with the terrifying heat of the fire.

He didn’t want to smile anymore. Like he somehow didn’t deserve this.

“Hm? You okay, big man?” Tubbo asked.

“Erm, well, yeah. Just… Haven’t had this much fun in a while. It’s a shame we have to leave soon.”

“Yeah… I even committed treason for you, man… Not fair!”

And Tommy was smiling once again. It just was that simple with this kid.

“But seriously, please don’t tell that to anyone.”

“I don’t think anyone would believe me even if I did.” Tommy muttered.

It was truly hard to imagine that around 16 years ago a man arrived to this town. Nobody really remembered his appearance but everyone can recall the bone-chilling laughter after he brought a great curse upon the land. With a simple touch the man turned common folk into raging hybrids with burning eyes and thirst for blood. The chaos was devastating, as were the losses. After that came the illness. It took the lives of many great men. This was the last straw. Since then, every hybrid was hunted down. Before it could become dangerous and kill many good folk.

“The town used to be larger, you know.” Tubbo said as if reading the thoughts of the other boy. “And the walls are a recent development. A part of town is abandoned. Behind the walls there still are... Some buildings. I think my home is somewhere there.”

Before Tommy could answer anything, he heard a noise. A terribly loud ringing noise.

“Attention to all my favorites citizens! It’s your favorite president speaking.” a loud voice proclaimed. “Unfortunately, it appears we have a few rats on the run! Three hybrids arrived here earlier today…”

Tommy heard everything as from under the water. Magical broadcasting? Was it talking about them?

“…red cloak, another one wears a scarf and a beanie. Probably a siren. Don’t let it speak  under no circumstance. The last one…”

Tommy held his breath. He could feel Tubbo’s terrified gaze on him.

“…just a boy, but don’t let it fool you! Dirty blond hair and a red tunic. Might be wearing a hood. Find them and get them to the main square alive! We will show them the consequences of showing up on our land! The history of 16 years ago will not be repeated. That is all for now.”

Then the ringing got quieter. But it never stopped. And Tommy wasn’t sure if it was in his head or in reality. Tubbo swore.

“You need to go! Right now!”

“I can’t, Will and Techno are still…” Tommy felt cold. How did the president know his appearance? Did guards tell him or… Was Techno and Will…

“Tommy, Tommy! Hey, snap out of it!”

Tommy heard a slap and then a sudden burn. Tubbo hit his cheek with an open palm.

“I know you are scared and probably confused, but you really, really need to go. It is only so long until someone comes here searching. And when they do… They will execute you! So please, please run before I have to choose between helping and chasing you.”

Tommy wanted to cry. He was hurt and tired and it was going so well and he found a friend! And, and…

He grabbed his things quickly, testing his abilities to stand. It wasn’t great, but it was something.

“Listen, there is a hatch here. It was used before the plague to help… Ah, no time for it. Basically I know this one leads to the abandoned part of town, outside these walls. I used it all the time to get out and gather herbs and stuff. But the hatch is stiff and if you shut it too strongly, it can jam. You still with me?”

Tommy nodded, too tense to speak.

“Great. Come down there immediately. It is a straight passage. You won’t get lost. Run as fast as you can, got it?”

Tommy felt adrenalin kicking in. Where were his brothers?

“No. I have to find them.”

“What? Them… Your companions?” Tubbo’s eyes widened. “Absolutely not. You will get killed, don’t you understand? You are still hurt!”

“I can’t just leave them! What if the fucking president has… Got them already! I need to save them.”

“Are you out of your mind? If they get you, and they will get you if you will just go out there without a disguise or anything, they will fucking burn you!”

Tommy shuddered at the thought. Fire, merciless fire, devouring everything he cares for.

He had already lost too much to it.

“But if I leave, they will get executed! I will not let anyone burn again.” Tommy showed Tubbo to the side.

As he was about to leave the room, he collided with someone. Instantly he felt pain in his abdomen and got showed forcefully back into the room.

“Tubbo, I’d be glad to see you in any other circumstance. But for now, please stand back.”

A man in a beanie blocked the exit. His cold brown eyes showed no mercy.

“Quackity..?” Tubbo whispered.

 “We’ve got a dangerous hybrid here.” Said the man, passing a frozen frame of the boy. “I repeat. Stand back.”

Tommy regained his balance and took a couple steps back towards the wall. He had nowhere to run.

“Surrender now and I won’t harm you.” The man said with an unreadable expression. He had an axe in his hand.

Tommy prepared to fight, his sword heavy on his belt. A steady comforting presence. This one he knew how to use. Even though he had never tried it on a human.

But turned out, he would not have a chance to draw blood today. At least yet.

“I’m gonna regret it so much!” hissed Tubbo as he held a piece of cloth over the mouth of a struggling man who he had just jumped. The boy held on to his back as if his life depended on it.

Maybe it did.

The second the confusion passed, Quackity tried to get rid of the clothing and the additional weight on his back. But it was a lot difficult than it seemed.

The strange thing was that the man seemed to be… Slowing down. His struggles turning more sluggish and aimless.

In seconds, while Tommy stood frozen to the ground, witnessing the bizarre scene, Quackity’s eyes glazed over closed. His knees buckled. Tubbo instantly let go of the man, helping him down to the floor.

“Wha… What just happened?” Mumbled Tommy.

“I might’ve done the biggest mistake in my life. That just happened.”

“Is he…”

“He’s fine” Tubbo interrupted “Just passed out. I used a potion I brewed with the help of my magic and some lavender. On the handkerchief. And then on his face. This was supposed to be a sleeping potion.” He stood up from the passed out body “Now I know it works.”

Tommy chuckled nervously. His ribs echoed it with pain. “Man, you’re scary.”

“I know.” Huffed the other boy. “Are you going to listen to me now?”

“Nope.”

“For Goddess’ sake…” Tubbo took a deep breath. “Tommy, this was Quackity. Schlatts’ right hand. If I had not jumped him… Just please, listen. You don’t know these people like I do. You don’t know what they are capable of.”

“I know what people can do. But that doesn’t matter. Move.”

“I got man knocked out for you!”

“Well I never asked you to!”

Two boys glared at each other. It has dawned on them that, despite how well they got along, they’ve only known each other for half a day. Tense lines in their young faces told two different stories, united by only one common emotion.

They were afraid.

“You will only kill yourself. I’ll knock you out too if I have too.”

“You’ll do what?” a new voice, low and angry came from the entrance. Tubbo felt cold touch of steel on his neck.

“Will! Techno!” Tommy almost fell over from the relief he felt.

Tired and pale. But alive and not captured. Thank Goddess.

“Should we kill the boy?” Techno asked. His voice betrayed no emotion. It was like he was asking what to make for dinner and not who to behead.  

“No! Goddess, no!”

“Okay, whatever you say, gremlin.” The blade left Tubbo’s neck. But he felt like the feeling might never leave.

“His name is Tubbo. He can help.” Tommy explained.

“I don’t think we should trust him. Those people are fucking insane.” Muttered Wilbur clutching at his side. Despite his suspicions, he preferred to keep an eye on the entrance instead of the boy in the room.

“Erm, hi?” Tubbo chuckled nervously. “Can I move..?”

Technoblade has leveled him with a cold gaze. “Sure” He shrugged.

Tubbo took a deep breath. He was fucked beyond belief, but Goddess be on his side. He will sort this out.

“Okay so” the boy has kicked the cot, which just a couple of minutes ago served the other teen. With no more sheets hanging low from the cot, the giant hatch in the floor became prominent. “I will repeat just once, you hear? Good. You go through this. You slam it after you enter. And you go straight until the dead end. There will be another hatch towards the surface. It will lead you to the parts of the old city. You wait for dark to settle in and then run and never come back. Understood?”

Technoblade and Wilbur nodded, while Tommy hesitated.

“Won’t you get in trouble for this?”

“This is for later. Please go now.”

“You heard him, Toms.”

Receiving the confirmation, Tubbo hurried up to work the hatch. It opened with a groan.

Tommy was the first to slide down into the darkness, despite Wilbur’s disapproval. The siren hybrid went next, wincing at the stretch of his injury. Just as his head disappeared in the darkness, footprints and yells sounded from the outside. A man, old and skinny, with crazy grey eyes met gazes with Technoblade. The latter man didn’t waver as his hands found the sword.

A scream sounded and before Techno could do anything, he was promptly showed down the hatch. Then a sounding boom followed and the light from the surface seized. The hatch was shut for good.

Wilbur groaned under the weight of his pink-skinned companion.

“Tubbo!” Tommy shouted.

Techno shook his head before realizing it was useless in utter darkness. “Leave him. We gotta go. Fast.”

“No, no way. He is my friend, they will kill him for helping us!”

In the darkness Tommy felt a hand grab his bicep and tug in the opposite of the hatch direction.

“For Goddess’ sake, Tommy, you will get us all killed with your hero complex! You haven’t seen this town. These people are beyond crazy!” Wilbur hissed as he dragged swearing teenager after him.

“Fuck you, Wilbur! You didn’t know him!”

“Yes! That is precisely why it was so easy for me to leave him there!”

“Fucking coward!”

“Spoiled child!”

As they ran Techno wondered if pyre was a better option than those two. 

Chapter Text

“Fuck… Dammit, Wilbur, stop!” echoed in the darkness, as three hybrids made their way down pitch-black hallway.

“Tommy, don’t be such a child! We cannot afford to stay here any longer, do you understand?”

“I am not a child and I don’t care what you think or say! We  left him there, he will get hurt because of us!”

“Tommy, people get hurt all the time. He’ll live. Unlike us, you know. I am a water creature. I don’t do well with pyres.”

Technoblade sighed quietly.

“No, you…” Tommy stumbled over his words. He felt unsafe disclosing such a private matter. Tubbo was a hybrid, but he never told or showed anyone. And just telling this to Wilbur seemed… Like a betrayal. Tommy would absolutely hate it if someone would have told this to another man. Or even a hybrid. It just felt too… Personal.

Again, maybe it was due to the absence of any distinct hybrid traits on his body. It’s true, that sometimes when he used his fire too much (which he still preferred not to do) his skin would get… Sorta  scaly? It came in small reddish patches and for average people just looked like rash. But it still felt to noticeable. Especially with slightly pointed ears and sharp teeth.

Tommy kept telling himself that he looked normal. Wilbur agreed and Techno just rolled his eyes. But he just couldn’t be at peace with the thought. His body didn’t feel right. Attracting too much… Eyes. Following him everywhere.

“He won’t be fine! I just know he won’t.” Tommy hissed and yanked his arm from Wilbur’s grasp, almost bumping into following them Technoblade.

Before the teen could continue arguing, he heard the man in front of him gasp and start breathing heavily.

Techno tensed.

“Wilbur? You good to move forward?”

“Yeah, sure… Just let me…” the man took a deep breath “Right. I’m alright.”

“You go. I’m… I need to go back.”

“Tommy, help me Goddess, you know we won’t fucking let you go back by your fucking self. I am not advising or asking you to run. This is a necessity. These people want our blood.”

“I saw some crazy old man trying to follow us with a bucket of animal blood, Tommy. A woman tried to trip me with a stroller.” Techno huffed.

“I know you think you found a friend. And he seems nice. But he is a local boy and we are wanted criminals. You gotta make a choice here.” Wilbur coughed weakly. His throat went dry from all the talking and weakness spread through his body with each minute.

“Fuck you Will. I know I can’t leave a man in need.” Tommy said, trying to bypass a massive form of techno in the hallway.

“Oh, so you can leave us, but not him?”

“That’s different and you know it!”

“With every second of arguing our chances of actually escaping are thinning!” Wilbur grabbed Tommy’s hand. The boy could feel his clammy hand on his wrist.

“You are such a selfish prick. Fuck you, I would’ve left you here to go help my friend who saved my life! Your fucking paranoia got us here in the first place! Let me fucking go!” Tommy yanked his hand away once again. But couldn’t. The grip of the other man was strong. Scarily so.

Wilbur was terrified. Suddenly Tommy understood that.

The man never really talked about his past. But he let on more than Techno did. Tommy knew that Will was a victim of witch-hunts. Multiple of them. Throughout the years. He even had scars from burning. Wilbur begrudgingly explained them, when Tommy first saw his legs.

And Wilbur was shaking now. And breathing heavily.

This display of weakness has shocked the boy so much, that he let the man tug him and keep moving further from the town. Wilbur never showed weakness really. Not in front of Tommy.

They ran further. Never-ending blackness at their heels and in their faces. The inability to distract themselves with visuals made their thoughts race. Plans for further escape, surviving the forest route back, finding supplies and hideout. The boy, left behind. The hatred in the eyes of people. The crazy president.

 Barely a day has passed since they entered this town. Yet there they were. Tired and miserable and scared. Running away again. Running away forever.

Wilbur felt bitter. Tommy felt shaken. Tecno felt rage slowly burning inside him.

Finally, a tiny bit of light shone through the hatch on the ceiling. Wilbur halted immediately.

“Fucking…Finally…” he couldn’t catch his breath.

Techno made his way to the hatch and forced it to open. The lid hit the ground with a thud.

Dump and stale air of the passageway was replaced with a fresh breeze of evening air. Fresh grass was a nice contrast, smelling nice and feeling real under Tommy’s fingers. The never-ending tunnel was finally behind. As was the town. And Tubbo.

Tommy bit his lip.

“Tech, get the map… I think you’ll be better at leading us.” Muttered Wilbur.

“Where to?”

“Back to DSMP.”

“You sure you make it? Tommy is looking better, but I don’t know about you.”

Wilbur huffed “You are the one to talk.”

Tommy took a look at his brothers. He didn’t like what he saw.

Wilbur was red-faced with a dazed expression. He breathed raggedly and swayed on his feet. Techno wasn’t good either. He was pale as a ghost, probably struggling to regain composure. With a closer look, the boy could tell, that Technoblade’s legs were trembling slightly.

“What… Are you two good to move even? What happened?”

“Ravager. When you passed out. By the way, for someone, who spent half a day in the hospital, you look great.” Techno mused.

Strangely enough, Tommy felt… Not great precisely. But a lot better than he used to. Tubbo must’ve done a great job…

“I’m great. Never better.”

“Great you have the energy to be snarky. We’ll need it if we want to get somewhere. I’d say… In three days.”

“No fucking way! Again?”

“Yep.”

“Let’s just… Keep moving.” Wilbur sighed.

No one complained as they made their way through the ruins of the old town. Tommy wondered if any of those houses were Tubbo’s. He wondered if he’ll ever get a chance to get a house. Home to settle down.

The sun has set as three figures entered the forest.

Chapter Text

Technoblade liked forests. They were calm and quiet and smelled nice most of the time. Rarely any people wandered in those. He could walk or have a nap or anything else by himself. Could even take off his boots for a while. Rest just for a little bit. In tranquility. In peace. All in all, the forests were a great experience.

Until they weren’t.

The night has fallen and the calm of woods turned into eeriness. They were too close to town still, so they couldn’t risk lighting a fire or making torches. All three of them had to walk in the complete darkness of the woods. They barely spoke, each of them concerned with their own problems.

Technoblade went in front. Naturally navigating through thick greenery, making sure the course is correct. The map was quite useless in such darkness. Tommy went second. Wilbur was too worried the brat could run back to the cursed town. Techno couldn’t argue with the reasoning, however, Tommy was not pleased with the idea. He walked, no doubt, with a grimace, frustrated to not be able to go back and simultaneously being treated like a child. But he could fume as long as he liked. That is if he kept following his brothers. And finally, Wilbur was the last in the group. Even in the front Techno could sometimes hear his hisses of pain. The other male made an attempt to be quiet at first, but the longer they walked, the angrier and louder he got. Heavy breathing was a bad sign too. He was getting tired too fast.

They needed to have a break. All of this happened too fast and it was too much.

But that was too risky. Technoblade swore that the second they entered the forest, he could hear people running around the walls, getting closer to the old part of the town.

Those maniacs could be following them. Hunting them down even deep into the forest. Stopping was not safe.

He kept telling this to himself as his legs burned with every step. He might’ve as well spent his evening on a pyre. The thought almost made him chuckle.

He was getting distracted. Not a good idea for someone on the run, in the middle of the woods. Hurting. With people who rely on him. He had to concentrate. The path was getting more tangled the deeper they moved into the forest. The vegetation was getting thicker as well.

Techno felt a headache forming for some reason. The never-ending darkness with little sounds of disrupted nature from here and there. Under his feet and before his eyes. It all has blended into one endless mess.

With time, Techno realized, that he was losing track of the path. And he rarely got lost, even without a map.

Suddenly, there was a thud behind him. Techno turned sharply, hand on his sword, ready to defend himself and his companions. But for better or worse, it was not the attack or an enemy that made this sound.

It was Wilbur, now face-planting the ground with Tommy already by his side.

“Will? Will, are you alright?” the younger touched the other’s shoulder.

There was no response.

“Wilbur, hey, wake up! What’s wrong mate? Please say something…”

Still, the laying man kept on not moving. Techno moved closer.

“Toms, I think we gotta turn him on his back. I think it’s his side.”

Techno felt anxiety grip his stomach. Was it the blood loss? Infection? Please, not the internal bleeding…

As Tommy carefully helped move Wilbur near the tree that could help support his back, Techno squinted eyes to make up the face of the unconscious man. It was challenging with thick crowns of trees stopping the moonlight and starlight from reaching the three figures.

Techno placed a hand on Wilbur’s forehead. And as he was expecting, the man was burning up. A fever then. This was so-so bad.

“Tommy, I think it’s the infection. But I need you to create some fire to be able to see properly. I need to make sure he isn’t bleeding at least. And dress the wound properly.”

The youngest hesitated for a couple of seconds. The boy was still unsure whether they should possibly attract the attention of a threat – town’s folk or wild animals, But it seemed that the urge to protect was stronger than fear.

Without commenting, Tommy hurried to gather some sticks to start the fire. Techno could feel nerves radiated from Tommy's lanky form. The boy even started to glow a little bit - red patches of scales visible on his face and hands. This seemed to happen with strong emotions, as far as Technoblade has figured. And Tommy was always full of emotions. However, he seemed to be unaware of the effect yet.

"Here, should I start it here..?" the boy whispered.

"Yep." muttered Techno, busy carefully moving Wilbur so the other man could be looked at near the fire.

"Okay then... I'll just..." Tommy whispered again, as he tried to create fire with his hands.

The flame flickered, almost like a small animal caught in the arms of the boy. But in a couple of seconds, Tommy managed to get it to even out. Then the bonfire was lit. Small, but it provided some light. Tommy let out the air he was holding in until this very moment.

Still nervous about the fire, it seemed.

"Now come here."

Tommy got on his knees near his brothers. The light from the fire cast shadows all around them, distracting the boy from the instructions Techno was giving.

"I'm going to work on his wound. We got some water and still have a bit of ointment and bandages. You get them. And if I say I need you to provide fire, you provide fire. Understood?"

"O-okay."

As Tommy moved to gather the supplies, Technoblade took a proper look at Wilbur. And his wound especially.

The man was pale, but it was difficult to tell precisely in this poor lighting. He was breathing quietly but harshly, but no coughing. Maybe just yet. The wound made Techno grimace. It wasn't too bad, but it was definitely infected. Stupid Wilbur. This was ridiculous and easily avoided.

Rage gripped Techno's lungs momentarily. He heard whisperings in his head, bits of curses and grim and grotesque dialogue, urging him to break, to bring the wrath of the blood god on those who dared to treat them - sick and hurt hybrids - like they were the plague.

"I got all you need, the Blade" a voice broke through his trance "Is there anything else?"

Techno forced the rage down, back to the depths of his mind. He had to concentrate on helping. For now.

"Now I need you to not bother me, child. I'll call you if your help is needed."

As Tommy huffed and went "on the lookout duty" Techno went on working on Wilbur's wound. First some water. Not much though. They had to last three days in the forest. Each drop was necessary to achieve that. Then the ointment. At this point, Wilbur let out a strangled sound of discomfort and tried opening his eyes, but they rolled back once again.

This was not a good sign. Fuck.

Techno continued applying ointment and then finished with some fresh bandages. Last of what they had. Techno didn't have enough time to get more in the town.

"How is he?" The pig-hybrid heard behind his back.

"He'll live. I've seen him get worse stuff. I'm worried about fever though." Techno already regretted mentioning this to Tommy. The kid would be worried sick, wouldn't he?

"Fuck. Don't we have like a... I don't know, some pills or potions? Nothing?"

Techno shook his head. Their supplies were poor the first time they entered the forest.

"I think at this point we need to sleep at least an hour or two. Let Wilbur rest and see how the fever goes."

"But..." Tommy turned to look into the thick forest, in the direction from which they came.

"I'll be on a lookout duty first. You were injured too, Toms. You have to rest."

Tommy wanted to argue. But he had no strength. The realization instantly put him in a sour mood. Fatigue filled his limbs and mind.

"...let me just check your injuries real quick. "

As Techno made sure Tommy was healing nicely, all the boy could think about was sleep. On the cold, moist earth, that was true, but it sounded heavenly in his head.

"I'm surprised to see you are almost healed, huh. That's weird. Any thoughts on why this could be?” Techno mused.

“Piss off, Technoblade. I’m sleeping. Don’t bother the man when he is resting.” Tommy grumbled.

As Techno fussed around Wilbur, giving the other some water making him the most comfortable they could afford, he heard Tommy’s breathing even out. The boy fell asleep in seconds.

Reflecting on everything that happened today, such a reaction was understandable. But they couldn’t just relax yet. Techno had to be on guard, even though it was unlikely they would’ve been followed that deep into the forest. But the pig-hybrid could feel his limit getting closer. He resisted taking off his boots even though the pain was piercing and made cold sweat form on his back. He felt sick.

Looking over Wilbur was at least somehow distracting from the misery the hybrid felt. The man seemed to be unconscious. He didn’t look terrible per se, but from experience, Techno knew how much worse it can get really fast.

The sounds of the forest and the cracking of fire were soothing and made his thoughts travel to the time he first met the siren-hybrid. Back then Wilbur was even more paranoid and anxious. He bore many scars and had a deep sadness in his eyes. One day Wilbur said that his mother had beautiful icy-blue eyes and that he wished his looked like hers. Not his father’s warm brown ones. Will never spoke much about his family, but from the bits he let on, Techno could piece what the hybrid went through as a child, living with just his disabled mother in the distant fishermen village. Something happened though. And now Wilbur was travelling with them. They found Tommy together and let the annoying brat stick around. Sometimes it seemed like Tommy was the one who found them. Like they fell right into the trap of the teenager. Outplayed and disarmed.

The memories brought a smile to Techno’s face. He had a bunch of them to remember, while he waited for his younger brothers to finish resting. Tomorrow would be hard, but they were used to the hard. They would get through it.

Chapter Text

Neubonk town was in chaos. People hunted the streets, like animals sniffing out their prey. A simple order of capturing the intruders turned into the witch-hunting festival. But Schlatt couldn’t say he was upset by that. A complicated mix of emotions triggered adrenaline, more maniacal laughter and the urge to run the streets. Like a little kid chasing a bird with a stone.

It was exciting, although uneasy.

 “Yes, search every corner, my citizens! We will not let the plague take our town. Not again, not now, not ever!”

Schlatt stood by the scaffold, shouting above the scuffling below.

Oh, how powerful he felt at that moment. They all were led blindly by him and their fear. Their bloodlust. And they didn’t know. How hilarious it was! Just how guidable they were!

People blurred under him. Familiar faces losing shape, catching the feeling of unity, the power.

A town full of hunters. From the smallest to the eldest. There ran a little girl in a pretty dress. There stumped along an old man with a bucket. There went a farmer with his pitchfork. They all shared the same expression. The one the president couldn’t wipe from his face if he could.

“They are poison! The prophets of the masked God, the false messiah! Purge them, bring them here, put them to pyre!”

The president laughed. He felt so lightheaded he wanted to puke.

The madness went on. From the platform of the scaffold Schlatt saw someone being dragged through the crowd. People hollering and joining the procession, almost the whole population of the citizens made their way to the scaffold, coming face to face with the president.

The excitement and nervousness rose in Schlatt, his arms getting sweaty as he was wondering, who they managed to get.

The procession with the captured hybrid was led by a Captain of the guard. One of the strongest men Schlatt knew. He had dark eyes and dry giant arms. He towered over the crowd like a true leader, reds and oranges reflection from his grey chest plate, an old crazy-looking man shuffling by his side with the bucket full of something red.

The boy in the clutches of the hunter looked even younger than Schlatt thought.

Green shirt. A mess of hair. Oak-brown seeming darker in the red dusk.

Oh no. No, fuck, no!

Schlatt felt his previous nervousness drop into a pit in his stomach. Dark and cold. Now he felt sick for another reason, all euphoria evaporating in seconds.

“The monsters escaped. The guards went outside the walls to search and to kill on sight.” The Captain reported. “But we got this one.”

“What the fuck.” Schlatt let anger take lead. “I didn’t order to chase them outside the walls. I ordered to bring them to the main square. Or are you deaf?”

“This is a special occasion. We can’t just wait for you to decide for us every little thing.” The Captain answered apathetically.

“Purge!!! With blood!!! With fire!!!” shouted the old men beside them. Tubbo flinched with every shout, unable to move further from the tight grip of the captain.

“I didn’t tell you to think. Or for your stupid opinion, you idiot.” Schlatt growled.

“I am afraid it is not possible. This man committed treason. The worst kind of treason.” Tubbo suppressed a squeak as he was brought forward, now facing Schlatt with pleading, scared eyes.

“Man? Are you also blind? This is a fucking kid. They probably brainwashed him or lied, took advantage of his soft character. Like all hybrids always do.”

Somehow, Schlatt felt like it was a wrong thing to say.

Captain didn’t smile. But there was something triumphant in his eyes.

“Oh no, Mr President, you must’ve misunderstood. Let me elaborate.”

The boy was shoved to the ground. Captain proceeded to grab a fistful of brown hair with one of his giant hands and then the green shirt with the other. With one shove the antennas and fluttering transparent wings were exposed to the whole town.

 Tubbo was dead silent. So was the crowd for a couple of seconds with the exception of the scuffling here and there from those who couldn’t see what was going on. Small green buttons rolling on the ground by the scaffold was the only sound Schlatt heard until the chaos erupted.

“You see…” the Captain began, as he locked his black eyes with Schlatt’s. “This disgusting worm made his way deep into our town, hasn’t he?”

Not waiting for a reply, the man swung his leg and kicked the boy on the ground. The kick landed on Tubbo’s back. With a cry he rolled, stopping and curling onto himself by the president’s legs.

People were screaming in the background. Less in euphoria now and more in bloodlust. But it all was all muffled. Schlatt only heard the quiet sniffling by his feet. He only saw a kid, curled up in a ball, fearing what’s to come.

The damaged wing fluttered pathetically.

“How fucking dare you…” Schlatt got on one knee near the injured hybrid. “Hurt a kid like that.”

Captain finally smiled, like he was expecting this turn of events. “What’s the problem, Mr President? Feeling bad for this creature? This poison?” the man spat on the ground.

“I will not let such madness…”

Schlatt was interrupted by the deafening yell.

“Traitor!!! False ruler!!! Siding with a monster!!! He too must be a monster!!! PURGE, PURGE!!!”

The time slowed. As Schlatt helped Tubbo to get up, supporting his weight the best he could, the bucket of the old lunatic flew. And everything went red.

Droplets of animal blood tapped softly, falling from where they went down the faces and bodies of the President and the scared boy.

This all went so wrong. Schlatt was amiss of words. How did it happen, when did the trap close? Was this the plan of the Captain all along? Was this what Carson King wanted? The rotten ruler… Could Schlatt help the situation if he started screaming and giving orders? How could he help Tubbo?

The upcoming hysteria of the president was interrupted by a shout from the crowd:

“Horns!!! Bloody horns!!! Look at his eyes!!!”

Everything fell.

Chapter Text

Nothing felt real anymore. Schlatt followed the crowd with his eyes feeling stuck in some kind of fucked up dream. His eyes probably turned golden with horizontal pupils like they always did when he lost concentration. And the horns, of course, it’s always the horns. Goat horns, to be more specific. Those probably appeared too. Cue the reaction and the screams and torches.

Tubbo clutched to Schlatt’s chest, sobbing quietly, afraid to lift his eyes and to see all the people he knew chant “BURN, BURN!” as if he did something wrong by being born.

Animal blood felt sticky and smelled like death. It reminded Schlatt so much of his dad. He hated every thought of him. He hated how he had to live with the mess his dad made. He hated this town, he hated these people.

But he loved the kid in his arms. Sincere, hard-working, cheeky Tubbo almost felt like a son to him. The kid was the one to help him sober up after the worst episodes. He was the one chatting about his potions and all sorts of medical knowledge while Schlatt was taking the walk around town in the evening.

He watched the kid grow.

And he refused to watch him die.

While everything around screamed and lit torches, the ex-president whispered.

“Tubs, you hear me?” the other nodded shakily “Listen carefully. Just fly away. Escape these walls. I’ll take care of the rest. Trust me. Meet me at the forest Shrine of Goddess…” With these words, Schlatt shoved the kid behind him, off from the platform; interrupting some sort of speech of the Captain and making him bare his sword.

From this moment the man only heard himself laugh maniacally, as he unleashed finally after years and years of suppression his hybrid powers. The euphoria hit again as the giant blood demon with three goat heads emerged from the ex-president’s body, spilling and dripping blood everywhere. It Moaned lowly, showing razor-sharp black teeth, stomped the scaffold down like it was cardboard. Finally, it let out a guttural scream. The sound ringed nicely, mixing with the giggles of the ex-president. But it could only work for so long. Schlatt needed to move. He had another person to save from this hell.

Thank Goddess Tubbo saw the monster and flew the best he could with the damaged wing. He swayed but was already safe from the reach of the Captain at least.

Fear always worked. It’s what Schlatt did best.

As the blood Schlatt was laughing and cursing the crowd with the demon emerging from his chest, the real tired and dirty ex-president made his quick escape towards the main residence.

Quackity was a pain in the ass, but he was loyal. He was the closest to a friend Schlatt had.

He wouldn’t let them lynch the man. Never. Never again.

---

Thankfully the streets were almost empty. The screams and fires from the main square scared those who decided to stay inside and not participate. The giant goat demon was a factor too it seemed.

As the ex-president ran, he could only hope, that Quackity remembered what they’ve decided on doing in case of an emergency. And that he was still alright.

The headache hit the hybrid like a boulder. He tripped and fell, disoriented and bleeding from his nose.

“F…Fuck…Fu…ck, just…A little longer…”

Schlatt picked himself up and kept on running, his expensive suit soaked in blood and sweat, vision cloudy. He needed to buy more time. A little bit longer.

The ex-president managed to hang on until the main residence. There he had to puke a couple of steps from the secret entrance. Schlatt’s vision was in shambles, his head pounded. Limbs trembled and he had no strength left.

But this should be enough to escape. Please let it be.

The demon on the main square, immune to attacks or provocations, disappeared without a trace. Scaffold intact and no one hurt.

Such a laughable power. All scary and loud, but utterly useless. Harmless. Just like Schlatt himself.

Fighting the consequences of the overextension of his powers, the ex-president limped inside the building, following a sequence of hidden passages. After what felt like forever, stumbling through spider webs and dust, Schlatt has emerged on the roof of the residence.

With relief, he found a single figure waiting there, nervously shuffling his arms.

“…Quackity.” He huffed, throat sore like the rest of him.

“Thank Goddes, you are alive, you crazy motherfucker… What was that back there? Why are you covered in blood? Where is Tubbo?” the man blinked “And are those horns?!”

“Shut the fuck up for a second, dear Goddess…” Schlatt sat on the roof. “Fuck when will I be able to finally see again, for fuck’s sake…”

“No, don’t start groaning here like an old man! What’s going on? I… Got knocked out. Don’t ask. When I regain consciousness, the nurse told me they got Tubbo… And then I saw the… Goat thing… Please, tell me that I was right to come here. How many are hurt?”

Schlatt took out a cigarette a while ago and was taking a drag. In a second he answered.

“Fly away. There is no way for you to stay here any longer. Tubbo escaped too. No one else was hurt.”

“Wh… What..? Fly away..? Haha, not really funny… How can I fly away when I don’t…”

“Just shut up. I’ve always known. Yellow feathers everywhere, you going anywhere you wanted, coming back swiftly. Your weird relationships with the birds… Just I don’t care anymore, as you can see.” Schlatt tapped his horns with his knuckles “See?”

Quackity didn’t say anything for a second.

“…and Tubbo?”

“Yes, and Tubbo. Now fuck off before the witchhunt reaches us. I Bought us as much time as I could.” Another drag followed.

“And you?” asked the winged hybrid.

“I’ll wait out a day in the passageways. Then escape, when the guards stop hanging around outside the walls.”

It was quiet again. Quackity didn’t move.

“What are you doing? Why are you still here?” asked Schlatt, throwing the cigarette off the building.

“…Where can I meet you? After we escape.”

The question was unexpected. After years of the no-hybrid policy, drinking and barking orders, Quackity still wanted to see Schlatt.

It hurt in a weird nice way. Something Schlatt hasn’t felt since his father’s death.

“You are a weird one, hah. Fly towards the old town. There, further, you will see the Shrine of Goddess. Should be easy from the sky.”

Schlatt noticed people leaving the main square and coming closer to the main residence. The time was running out.

He stood up. The wind felt pleasant on his skin. It ruffled his hair and took the smell of blood away.

“You know, I can carry a person.” Suddenly, Quackity met his eyes.

“…You crazy bastard. You sure?”

“Sure as hell, man!”

“Then what are we waiting for?”