Work Text:
•~•~•~•
Wilbur has invited Niki to Pogtopia, after realising that Schlatt has been treating her unfairly. He knew she was a sweet girl, so polite, so generous. He was nice to her, showering her with gifts, praising her baking, sneaking her out to see the stars... It was perfect. That was until he started locking himself in his room, strategizing ways he could take L'manberg back. He has brought baskets of tinned food and bottles of water with him, giving him no reason to leave the room.
Weekly meetings were held with most members of Pogtopia, where they would sit around Wilbur's desk to report what information they had gathered and or any new suggestions that could be made. The meetings only included Tubbo, Tommy, Techno and Wilbur, excluding Niki. She would sit on the ledge of the staircase, glaring intensely at the closed wooden door. She didn't understand why she wasn't invited, after all, she was still part of Pogtopia, right? When the men stepped out, she would quickly grab a book nearest to her, pretending to be immersed in the plot.
Lucky for her, Techno has noticed the absence of a member. He knew she was never properly reading, he knew that she was purposely being excluded. To make up for it, he would slip a note in her jacket pocket, saying: I'm coming over to your room at midnight, keep the door unlocked. At first, Niki was weirded out. It was concerning how he didn't write why or what he was going to do. She even considered hiding a knife under her pillow just in case, but in the end, she concluded that even with the knife, Techno was able to beat her up in seconds, making her ditch the idea.
Niki was wide awake at midnight, sitting up in her bed with a candle lit beside her. She frequently glanced at the door, thinking of the worst possible scenarios that would happen. The faint sounds of water dripping could be heard as she started to get anxious. Techno was never late to anything, where was he? Her question was answered when she heard an obnoxious creek made by her door. Snapping her head to the source of the sound, she giggled as she saw Techno cheekily grinned at her, silently asking for permission to enter the room. Gesturing him to come in after seconds of hesitation, Techno shut the door as quietly as possible, using drastic movements and making Niki giggle again. Getting comfortable, she offered him to sit on her bed, now remembering the suspicious note.
"Welcome to my humble abode, I guess. What brings you here at midnight?" Niki asks with a terrible English accent, trying to lighten the mood.
Techno chuckled. "Oh thank you so very much for letting me enter, dear friend, it is a lovely place... has superb lighting," he said with the same terrible accent, earning a proper laugh from the girl.
"Now serious talk. I have noticed how you weren't in the meeting this morning. I thought you had forgotten about it, but you were sitting directly in front of the room and could clearly see us talking. Did you know that we had a meeting?" He continued, tilting his head as he looked at Niki.
"Oh yes I did, but I didn't want to intrude, since I wasn't invited and all..." She admitted. Seeing that he furrowed his eyebrows a bit, she quickly added "But that's fine! I mean I was getting into a book that I have recently bought and would have hated it if someone would have disturbed me"
Rolling his eyes, Techno scoffed "Nonsense, the book you were 'reading' was upside down. I could ask Wilbur to invite you if you want... I mean it's not fair that you are excluded even though you are part of Pogtopia."
Niki slightly smiled, who knew the one and only Technoblade would be the one to notice.
"Thank you for offering but there must be a reason why he didn't invite me and that's fine!"
Pursing his lips into a thin line, the blood god knew it was rude to exclude someone. Racking his brain for any ideas, he lit up when he said:
"How about this... If I tell you everything that is discussed in those meetings, you can bake me those delicious sausage rolls in return! It's a win-win! You won't be excluded and will get all the information you want and I won't feel as bad while also getting sausage rolls! Deal?" He extended his arm towards her, asking for a handshake.
Niki giggled "Deal"
•~•~•~•
That was one of the many incidents where Niki was ignored, disregarded, and one of the many incidences where Techno would be there to make her feel better. No one would listen to her and only took advantage of her generosity and cooking skills. She has blended in with the shadows perfectly, so much that her 'friends' didn't even realise that she wasn't fighting with them. She scoffed while watching her past acquaintances fight for what they believe in.
A few months have passed and it is now Doomsday. Niki was hiding behind a hill, watching the town she lived in blow up into a million pieces. She watched Dream laugh maniacally on the obsidian structure while lighting even more TNT, adding on to the withers roaming the skies. She watched Techno fend off thirty people while struggling to tend to his dogs at the same time. Managing to chug a potion of invisibility, he left the attackers confused as he dashed away, probably to regenerate some health.
"Boo"
Niki jumped, raising her shield and sword to defend herself. She hastily turned around multiple times, to find that no one was near. Lowering her defences, she returned back to her spot at the hill.
"Wow... We really have to work on your defences huh? I mean if I have heard something I would be swinging wildly right now" a deep voice chuckled.
Niki rolled her eyes as she realised who was talking. Seeing a floating milk jar and hearing a drinking noise, Techno came into view. Niki gasped as she saw the state that he was in. His once braided hair was flying everywhere, his white shirt was splattered in blood, he had a huge gash in his left dress pants... It looks terrible! Immediately seeing the cuts and bruises everywhere, Niki brought out the medkit that she had with her, sitting the war-worn man down on a large stone and started to tend to his wounds. Hearing his pained gasps while pouring alcohol on some gashes, she assumed that he wouldn't want to talk much. This gave her time to reflect on why she was here in the first place, and why she wasn't fighting with the rest of L'manberg.
After the first midnight meeting with Techno, they have started to get closer and closer, nearly meeting every night. Of course, they couldn't make it too obvious that they were suddenly best friends so they still had to make their meetings a secret. Tubbo nearly caught on when he saw the blood god helping her in the kitchen but later assumed that he had lost a bet. Even after the two have split paths, they still meet up constantly, just to catch up and talk. When Techno 'retired' and moved to the arctic, they would still communicate by writing letters and using Phil's crows to deliver them. Having such a strong connection made Techno feel responsible and protective of his friend, probably a piglin trait. After all, those who have treated him with kindness, he will repay that kindness tenfold. He warned her a week before the event, giving her enough time to move her important belongings little by little to draw no attention. He also told her the blast zone, suggesting the hill that they were sitting on would be a good place to view everything.
Snapping out of her dream-like state. Techno said, "Thanks Niki, but I have to go back". Rummaging through his inventory, he fished out a regeneration and invisibility potion and passed it to her. "Here. Take this just in case. I mean... you might as well do some damage while they are distracted right? As wrong as it is, revenge is sweet, and you should finally get the payback you deserve".
Sinisterly grinning, Niki grabbed the potions and nodded, watching as Techno charged back into battle, now healed and full of energy. Sipping on the invisibility potion, she sneaked past the hoard of people, already fully knowing what she wanted to do. Sprinting to her desired destination, she could feel the adrenaline pumping in her blood and her heart racing. Taking out her flint and steel, she eyed the L'manberg tree, remembering all the times she has been overlooked, unnoticed, unappreciated... Drowning out the explosions and screaming in the background, she whispered:
"It was never meant to be"
•~•~•~•
Extra Scenes:
Dear Niki,
Hello again! I am so sorry I haven't written to you recently ever since Doomsday, as the L'manbergians call it. I had to find out if you were safe and if you have put the potions to good use. I heard that a certain L'manberg tree was burned down, a tree that was out of the blast zone... was that you? Because if it was, I am so proud of you. All of them were devastated!
Quick update about my current situation, I am now back at my arctic base, sitting by the campfire right as I am writing this letter. Coming back was quite a shock, I must say. Phil has gotten busy by building a whole other building, a bee farm and has also casually adopted Ranboo into our little commune. I am not sure if you know who Ranboo... If you don't, he is a tall enderman hybrid guy, a little awkward, but seems to be alright.
I would really love to meet you in person again. If that is not possible, we can still continue the letters as well (even though they are not as secretive).
Please contact me for further planning,
Techno
•~•~•~•
Niki smiled after she had finished reading the letter. She's glad that someone has noticed what she has done, and that her friend was back home safe and sound. Arranging a meetup time and point, she wrote a letter in return, giving the nicely sealed package to Phil's crow. If the crow comes back without a letter, it means that Techno has accepted her offer, and if it does come back with a letter, it usually means that he will be offering another time.
Continuing her sketch that she was working on before, she patiently waited for the crow but luckily she didn't have to wait long, when the crow came back without a letter, staring at Niki with beady eyes. She laughed under her breath as she fed the crow some bread, patting it as it cooed. Remembering that she has to arrive at her meetup point in about twenty minutes, she quickly dressed properly and headed out her door whistling.
(Time Skip)
"Techno!" "Niki" The two exclaimed when they saw each other. Quickly giving each other a side hug, they sat down on the grass which their backs against a tree. The sun was covered by clouds and there was also a light breeze, making the day perfect for outings. The two chatted about the usual things, which Techno full-on laughing when she described her tree-burning experience.
Four hours have passed quickly, and Techno knew he had to ask his question before it was too late.
"Hey Niki, Phil and I have been thinking about this thing for a long time. We were wondering if you would like to join us in the arctic commune? We would absolutely love you there and will help you move as soon as possible. We are kind of a group of anarchists that believe in equality so I really think you will be a great addition" Techno asked.
Niki was shocked. Not only was there a place that believed in justness but they would also want her to be there? She also knows that Techno wasn't lying, as she has noticed the jittering of his hands, showing that he was nervous. She has been feeling a little lonely living alone in a small house away from everyone else. It would be nice to wake up feeling safe with friends and being able to see them every day.
"Yes! I would love to! Thank you!" she exclaimed, laughing in joy.
Techno let out a sigh of relief and said "Oh great! I'm not going to lie, you were making me a little worried. So! When you want to move... Does now work?"
"Yeah, now works"
•~•~•~•
The two then headed to her house and started to pack important items into backpacks that Techno has brought. They then took the nether portals as transportation, making the trip ten times deadlier but ten times quicker. Treading through the thick snow, they are welcomed by Phil with open arms and Ranboo awkwardly holding a confetti cannon. After the citizens of this community have helped her settle down in a spare room that Phil has made, she sat down on the comfy bed, smiling softly as she whispered:
"This was meant to be"