Chapter Text
Tommy was tired. Tommy was so fucking tired.
All he wants - all he ever wanted - is to make his family proud of him. Some things are easier said than done.
When Tommy was eight, he had tried to learn to fight, like his big brother Technoblade. Maybe they would finally show him they cared.
Turns out Tommy was a gifted fighter, agile and observant. He spent 4 hours practicing his stance alone before moving onto skills. He spent months trying to perfect every move, every swing and step were calculated and swift, he couldn’t wait to show his brother.
~~~
“Techie!” Tommy stumbled over the sill of the door, running out into the garden. Techno looked up at the boy, a small smile falling over his expression as the younger stumbled and fell into his brother’s arms.
“What do you want nerd?” Technoblade asked with a chuckle, ruffling Tommy’s hair lightly as he put a bookmark in ‘Sun Tzu, Art of War’, laying it off to the side.
“I wanna fight you!” Tommy squealed happily, beaming up at Techno, who looked taken aback by the younger’s words.
“I- Uh, Tommy.” The pink haired boy sighed, trying to find a way to say what he had to without upsetting the small boy. “You can’t fight me, bubs, I would end up hurting you. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“But Techno! I’ve been practicing, I’m really good, I pinkie promise!” Tommy held his finger out to the older boy, the latter just stared at it, exasperated. “You couldn’t hurt me! I’m too much of a big man! An alpha male, if you will!”
Techno was getting frustrated; chat was extra loud today and had been demanding blood since he had lay eyes on Tommy falling out the kitchen door. He picked up Tommy and held him in a way so the blonde had to look at him, he was concerningly light, but Technoblade would worry about that later.
“Theseus, when I say no, I mean no, okay? I’m sure you’re great when you’re fighting a coat rack or Tubbo, but I know how to actually fight. I could kill you.” Techno’s voice was scary to Tommy, he flinched slightly at the last words. He knew they were true.
“I-I know, Tech, I know you’re awesome at this whole sword thing, I watch you from the window and try to copy you! I promise I’m getting better at-” Tommy started, desperately trying to find his way out of his brothers tightening grip.
“Tommy, enough!” Technoblade dropped his little brother, the boy falling a foot or so, scraping his knee on a rock. “I said leave me alone! Why are you so annoying, gods! Get your own interests! You’re such a baby, Theseus. Go inside now.”
Tommy’s lower lip began to tremble, tears pooling in his eyes. Technoblade felt his heart break a little bit, he knew he was being harsh but, in the moment, he didn’t care as much for his baby brother’s feelings, more for his safety.
Chat had been getting steadily louder. The voices usually became more when he was around Tommy, demanding Techno to protect him and love him, but currently those were being drowned out by bloodthirsty demands.
Blood for the blood god. Make him bleed. Hurt him, little brat.
Techno hated it, he loved his family more than anyone else and was extremely protective of Tommy in particular, but he couldn’t protect him from everything.
He watched as the boy ran inside, blood running down his leg due to his bloody knee. Technoblade punched the tree next to him in frustration.
~~~
Tommy ran up to his bedroom, snapping the wooden sword he had made for himself over his bed frame with a pained cry, he loved that sword.
He ignored everyone for the rest of the day, staring at the ceiling, ignoring each of the family members that sat outside of his door, begging to be let it. Tommy couldn’t bring himself to care.
He could only think of more ways to try and impress them. Clearly, he wasn’t trying hard enough.