Chapter Text
A crude black smile upon a wooden white mask lingered in his peripheral, the creepy face surrounded by green in all literal senses. The overarching forest hung overhead, sunlight beaming through the array of leaves to project a variety of greens upon the snow crusted ground; from sage to hunter green the entire area was shrouded in the life promising colour. The man in the mask was just as covered, where for most locks of hair would be hung down was instead a forest green hood, golden intricacies splattered over the fabric which lead into a larger cloak, camouflaging the man amongst the undergrowth. The few rays of sun which shon past the thick foliage illuminated the aurum detailing on the man, small stitches in varying patterns which formed a ethereal glow upon the man caught the light and therefore caught the piglin brutes attention. The birds continued their song from centuries ago, carried from species to species like a communal harmony, their soft flapping of wings and innocent chirps doing nothing to ease the electric atmosphere between the brute and the man. The predator and the prey. Despite the masked man not being face on, both were aware he’d been spotted. The soft crunch of snow beneath his feet and the tension which slowly overtook his smaller form indicating his preparation to flee, the cold white mask giving no indication other than a simple head tilt, curious yet mocking in its simplistic fashion. Cocky and confident as though they hadn’t just challenge the blood god.
And who was he to shy away from a challenge.
A familiar crackling popped through his nerves, the once humanoid blood thrumming through his veins twisting and distorting to the more beastly counterpart. A once smooth yet slightly crooked nose which bared the many scars of his many battles twitched and twisted to his more natural appearing snout, the tusks which curved out plush pink lips thickening and turning with his features as the beautiful man turned into the familiar beast. It wasn’t well known amongst humans of the shifting abilities some of the blessed were gifted with, Technoblade himself being one with both the blessing and the curse of the blood god himself, allowing him to enjoy a humanoid appearance with luscious pink locks which hung over his tall stature and crimson eyes which bore promises of the liquid he spilt, but with it coming the unpredictable mess he’d come to know as chat; the voices which chanted for the spillage of blood across pure lands until it dripped into the void, and the same voices which also cooed at foxes which got their noses stuck in the snow. A blessing and a curse.
But with the masked prey sitting pretty in his peripheral, who was he to deny both chat and his natural instinct. No matter the glamour he could paint upon his features, he was a piglin overall. He was the predator. And the masked man was the prey.
The bird song continued their harmonies, the soft songs a melodic juxtaposition to the tension upon the snow crusted surface.
Beneath the golden engraved cloak, a single gloved hand raises, a small slither of freckle splattered skin exposed in a way that sent curling wisps of smoke snorting from his twitching snout. The delicate hand raises slightly before giving a lazy salute. Hovering in the air momentarily.
The bird pause their song.
The masked man inhales sharply.
The brute tenses.
And the hunt begins.
Deep green instantly blends into the surrounding canopy of plants, only the crunching of snow and light footsteps indenting the white powder indicating the mans disappearance. In that same instant Technoblade sprung forward, his hulking body making its way to the mans previous hiding site at inhuman speed, and with it the mans scent overwhelmed his sensitive snout, the simple inhale of it sending both chat and his instincts into a feral frenzy.
To put it simply, it smelt like home.
The familiar scent of thick smoke assaulted his nostrils alike smelling a newly lit fire, it burned bright amongst a world of soft scents and softer people. Instead it spoke of lava pools chunks wide only ever effected by the soft squealing and pleased chuffing of striders upon its surface. It spoke of gold embedded within warm netherrack, delicate ingots to be cradled and held to the highest of standards as an item of treasury upon his kind, an item that sealed their bonds as piglins. It spoke of harsh terrain and ever harsher creatures, shrieking ghasts which patrolled the sky in mock innocence and rattling wither skeletons whose mere touch send cold shivers of decay through ones veins. But most importantly, it smelt like belonging; he smelt like home.
Vigour renewed, the blood god continued his chase, backed by the voices which screamed for the prey ahead of him, to grab and capture and claim one of his own. Well contained breathing was the only sound escaping the masked man who darted through the snow and the undergrowth with precision rarely seen in mere humans, each footstep light and calculated as combat boots barely skimmed the ground at the rapid pace the masked man maintained, an incredible feat. One that sent Technoblade pushing onwards with a low snarl.
Green trailed after the man alike how crimson trailed after the brute, the same yet ever so different as the predator continued, his footsteps loud and crackling through the snow however, with his lack of delicacy came his strength, allowing him to barge and easily decimate the undergrowth which forced the other to duck and dive. The other who was getting closer by the second.
Steady breaths tainted by anxiety being closed in on by the second, the brute gaining upon his prey, he could practically taste the smoke on the other as he zoned in on the other, with each footstep getting closer the voices raised their chanting along with his roaring instincts till all he could focus on was the green and gold trail an arms reach away.
He could taste his victory. He could practically taste the smelted gold within the others cloak as he wondered what was hidden beneath that white mask of anonymity. As he wondered what was hidden beneath that forest green and gold speckled hood. Snarling triumphantly, a clawed hand grabbed the regal material, the other yelping at the sudden snag in momentum, dragging the smaller male backwards into the piglins grasp. The duo smacked into the snow, feet entangled as Techno quickly cradled the mans head into his chest, cautious to avoid injury. He wanted to catch the other not hurt them.
CATCH CATCH CATCH CATCH
blood for the blood god
hunt not hurt, hunt not hurt.
E.
A distinct crack echoed with their landing, wooden splinters spraying from the mans face as the smile split, the mask cracking straight down the middle in an array of oak and white paint, the small shards of wood embedding themselves into the smaller man in a way that made Technos instincts snarl in concern, the familiar metallic tang of blood sharpening his senses as he instantly pulled the other up to inspect the injuries, mask no longer left to conceal the mans features as he stared into the face of—.
Technoblade violently snapped awake. Sweat dripped down his neck whilst his chest heaved, stuttering on each inhale as his heart pounded within his chest, the lack of oxygen within his system leaving his head pounding as the remnants of his dream (ironic) finally wore off. The bed sheets around him were drenched in sweat, making him shiver uncharacteristically as it cooled quickly in the tundra air, sticking to his thick overheated skin as he realised belatedly that he’d shifted overnight from his more humanoid form to a straight up piglin. It wasn’t too surprising considering his dream but what the fuck was that dream.
It wasn’t rare for the blood god to be haunted by hyper realistic dreams. It came with the mantle one of the few beings blessed by the Blood God himself. Taunting memories of bloodshed across once pure ground forever sat in the back of his mind. The corpses of men, women and children alike strewn around in various states of dismemberment, some missing arms, others legs, others entire heads always replaying quietly behind the haze of the voices, and with them a guilt he couldn’t even begin to attempt to pick apart.
But this dream was different. It wasn’t from his cursed blessing but from some weird instinctual side of his brain he didn’t understand.
Dream was his rival. That was common knowledge. Declared before the two had met came whispers of the blade and the masked man, the best of their assorted areas yet so much more than just prized warriors. He could still recall the first time he heard whispers of Dreams prowess; how he could be hunted by 5 of the best yet still come out on top, fast feet and an even faster brain allowing him to out manuver even those not held back by humanity. Watching the declared ‘Manhunts’ had been nothing short of incredible. Witnessing Dream take hits as well as he served them was jaw dropping, the man was nothing short of robust as he took axes and swords to the torso without reaction, not a moments hesitation for even the most outlandish endeavours, all taken in stride with taunting mocks and wheezy maniacal laughter that could even made the blood god shiver at. He remembered watching Dream swing and lunge at Bad and Sapnap with speed that left him a green blur, crimson spilling where he followed in a trail of death that left Techno stunned.
And that was only the beginning.
From MCC to The Duel to being invited to the mans SMP, his silent infatuation with the admin had only increased. He wasn’t sure what it was about the faceless man that left him so intrigued but he couldn’t help but find himself constantly finding excuses to have the other closer. Each time Technoblade opened the door to find his totally not homeless rival at his doorstep sent waves of instinctual belonging through his veins, the piglin side of his mind crooning and cooing at the presence of the admin, paired with the way chat finally quietened down in his presence it left Techno constantly craving the other man, everything in his overlarge body begging for him to curl around the other and not let go alike a piglet who ran away too often; getting into mischief and wars when he should be with
one of his own
Techno instead, wheezy banter and a relaxed atmosphere always blossoming between the two.
However it’s not exactly like Techno could actually stop Dreams regular disappearances. Anyone who’d met the man for more than a few seconds knew he wasn’t one to be caged, forever springing with endless energy which sparked those around him in a way that made anyone grin with ease. Non the less, it still tugged on Technos heartstrings, leaving the brute miserable and yearning for the mans return.
Which made absolutely no sense. They were rivals and allies, nothing more, so why did everything in his mind from chat to his own instincts scream that Dream was so important. That the man he hadn’t even seen the face of was one of his own.
“What the hell is wrong with me,” he muttered, running a hand over his rough scarred decorated arms, the thick hair across his piglin brute arms slowly lowering as the remnants of the dream wore off, the adrenaline slowly melding from his veins as his heart rate slowed but the thick metallic scent of blood continued to taint the air.
Wait what.
/rainbowchat
SOMEONES HERE
BREAK IN BREAK IN BREAK IN
what if it’s phil?
PHIL HURT?!
E.
A low growl rumbled from Technos chest as the words of chat quickly processed in his mind, quiet bloodlust making his usual red eyes an illuminous crimson as the stench of blood filled his senses. It was times like this he was glad for his sensitive hearing and nose as loud rustling and stuttering breaths banged around on the floor below, the familiar sound of chests being half-hazardously shut and reopen in a shitty attempt to keep quiet making his ears twitch as the familiar tang of blood got stronger to the point it was overwhelming.
Someone was in his house.
Someone injured was in his house.
No matter how injured, he’d be damned if he let someone steal his stuff.
It wasn’t uncommon knowledge that piglin brutes were territorial. Anyone who’d stepped foot in a bastion was aware of the possessive streak his kind were known for. Whether it was taking their items, harming their young, even approaching their land without previous acknowledgement, it was known for piglins to go feral for touching what was theres. Technoblade was no different. There was a reason it was he who was blessed by the Blood God. And if he caught the fucker entering his home ; the blood spilt in the server wars was going to look like a fucking puddle.
And if it was that childish gremlin the little thief was gonna lose his last life.
With well trained footsteps Techno slunk from his bed, the sword mounted upon his wall quickly unsheathed as he bared it defensively, the rumbling snarls in his chest quietened to mere vibrations as bare feet adjusted to the freezing temperature of the wooden flooring. Chat raised their voices in their usual chants for destruction as he approached the ladder, calls for blood and begs for merciless murder echoing throughout his mind in a painful harmony which left him wincing as he drowned them out to listen to the stumbling figure. If their breaths were anything to go by the injuries were serious but not fatal, probably stuck in areas which limited mobility as the person limped around, wheezes taunting their every breath.
Sneaking up on them would be easy.
Inhaling sharply, Techno dropped down the hole, neatly avoiding hitting the ladder and balancing himself to reduce the thud on the wood as he narrowed his eyes on the thief.
Of whom he did not recognise in the slightest.
The man wore a tight sleeveless turtle neck which stretched over broad shoulders which were hunched in on himself, one arm clutching their stomach whilst the other continued fumbling through his chests, decorated in a variety of slice scars eerily similar to his own, the scars a pale contrast to his tanned skin which was splattered with dark freckles, They wore baggier black cargos and black combat boots which were tainted with blood which pooled around the man, staining the floors scarlet as he stumbled around aimlessly and honestly Techno was surprised they hadn’t passed out from blood loss yet.
But what really caught his attention was their hair. Silky white hair was tied into a small ponytail, a neat undercut shaved and shown in the hairstyle as a few lose strands hung down to frame the mans face. However rather than their hair being pure white, streaks of familiar pastel pink were splattered throughout, one would assume they were highlights if not for how Techno could see them right at the mans roots, implying they were there naturally. As the man stumbled, the wisps of hair which hung down brushing against long sharply tipped ears which were decorated in a variety of small golden rings and studs, each one in perfect condition which made the piglin in Techno twitch in desire to see them closer up. Upon closer inspection, he quickly recognised the soft pink tint towards the end of the ears, the familiar appearance similar to Technos human form as he realises they were piglin ears, their soft twitching constantly dragging his attention to them due to the familiarity of his own. And what finally caught his attention was the small pink tail on the bottom of the mans back. It was short, lacking the tuft of fur at the end which is should have to instead finish as an unnatural stub, light scarring at the end of the extra appendage showing how it was likely cut off at some point in the past.
Footsteps just as silent and sword still drawn Techno stalked closer, body tensed incase the other retaliated from his approach. It was obvious from the mans features that they were a piglin hybrid, now being closer he could hear the pained grunts from the other which further confirmed his consensus. The question was who.
So Techno lunged.
The repressed snarl in his chest escaped as he snagged the others shirt, ignoring the way his claws dug straight into the others back to instead yank them against his chest, the thick toxic smell of fear encasing him as he swung his sword to their throat a pained yelp leaving them as he forced their head to cock to the side in a submissive display whilst the blade sat across their delicate skin, not even enough space to allow them to swallow without blood being drawn.
A small whimper escaped the hybrid in his arms who instantly slumped against him, head still tilted to show their throat as their chest heaved in a mixture of pain and fear, the instant submission making Techno keen and also adding to his confusion. Piglins were naturally aggressive, more dominating creatures as they had to be to survive the harsh climates of the nether, so for one to submit so easily sent shocks of concern through his veins.
From his taller angle, Techno could see the injures across their body. Multiple arrows were embedded into their thighs, arms and shoulder, the clothing around them soaked in blood whilst deep gashes marred their arms, some even hanging open to reveal the white fat within their skin and one even dripped from their face just above their left eyebrow to force their eye to shut.
But more importantly, Techno found his eyes narrowing in on the wooden mask sat atop one of his chests. The usual pristine clean material now decorated in splatters of blood and the smile cracked down the centre in a way eerily familiar to his dream.
Of course there was only one person whose mask that belonged to.
“Dream?”
Techno quickly pulled the blade away to swing the other to face him, rage quickly melding into concern as he took in the others half-lidded expression.
Blood dripped from their left eyebrow into bright emerald eyes which had small speckles of familiar crimson within them, an exhausted glaze coating the orbs as the man was entirely relying on Technos hands to hold him up, a lazy smile curving across his face, emphasised the sharp piglin tusks which jutted from his blood stained cracked lips. Scars cross crossed the mans face with a particularly thick one across the bridge of the mans nose, interrupting the constellation of dark brown and some dark red freckles across his face, creating an almost innocent facade despite the blood which coated his skin.
“Heya’ Techno... S-sorry for the intrusion,” Dreams voice was raspy with exhaustion, some of his teeth stained pink with blood as he spoke, sending more hot concern through Technos veins as he quickly pulled the admin into a bridal carry just before his eyes slipped shut, entire body going limp as he quickly fell unconscious, some part of the admins brain apparently deciding that passing out on Techno was better than passing out onto the blood soaked wooden floor. The arrows still stuck from his flesh in uncomfortable points, an array of different emotions waging war within Technos mind as he tried to comprehend that his rival was at his home, severely injured and was a piglin hybrid.
ONE OF US ONE OF US ONE OF US
E.
pack pack pack pack pack
Shut up we need to help him
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD.
“God please shut up,” he murmured, eyes still trained on the unconscious mans features, eyes flicking from the tusks to the ears to the hair.
He didn’t have time to dwell on this however. His once only sweat stained night shirt was rapidly tinting scarlet with the others blood. The metallic scent he usually bathed in now acidic in his hyper sensitive nostrils as he knew the source of it. With sure footsteps he quickly laid the unconscious man down on the couch, gently pulling blankets to cradle the others delicate form to ensure he didn’t roll of in his sleep before leaving to get healing supplies from the correct chests.
Despite the questions waging war within his head from both chat and his own confusion, they could come later, for now all that mattered was Dream and Dream only.