Chapter Text
Cold.
The word to describe everything he felt right in this instance would be cold.
The world's color is muted, tinted by the overwhelming feelings of sorrow that pass by unwanted yet welcomed in the very next freezing breath. Techno can't see past the blur of tears that form a wall around his eyelids, yet they never fall, they never have nor will. Techno is the eldest of the family even if that is by two minutes, he holds the most authority over the family now, not that he wants any of it. So he can't be seen crying. He has to be strong for them all, because in the end that's all he can do.
The soft patter of rain on the umbrella he holds over himself and his two siblings pulls Techno from his thoughts as he looks towards the unmarked grave that sits quietly before them, no name to be had, no dates to hold, just a simple cracked stone pulled from the wreckage of their old home now gone. No one speaks as Techno hands the umbrella over to Wilbur who just takes it with a white knuckle grip, eyes far off unstaring, he hasn't said much these days. Techno doesn't dare look towards Tommy, he's barely even six and yet his whole world has been thrown into a painfully new path, a path that no one should have to take at such an age.
Techno kneels at the stone partly wishing it was him underneath the damp soil, the cold was seeping in from his tattered pants only adding to the chill that was now held firmly in place in his heart. At least if it was him then maybe things might seem less grim than they really are. Techno reaches into his pocket pulling out a single gold coin, the other to the pair was thrown into a river years back never to be found or cared for again, it lies cracked in his hand as he lets his hand rest on the broken stone, it's cold just like everything around him. The rain hits the top of his hand in no fixed pattern, and all he can't think back to is when he used to sit on their mothers lap with Wil when it rained letting his hand sit out to gather rainwater in his palm.
A sad smile appears shortly before going away completely seeing that these times are and were long ago. He can't keep trying to live in the past that died years ago after their faceless father left them for dead, leaving their sick mother to take care of her three children till now, working herself to the bone just to see her boys eat. It wasn't her fault that life had it out for them since the start, Techno was just thankful she made it till he was twelve, though he wished she had stayed just a little while longer...for Tommy’ sake.
When he stands back up the coin stays left behind awaiting more to come, he gives a hesitant glance over to Tommy whose eyes were downcast still red and puffy from all the nights of countless tears, he doesn't doubt that his throat is sore too, Tommy cried each and every night as his sobs would echo throughout the house, Wilbur was always there for him at least but he had gone almost completely mute after their mothers death all those months back, Techno was out trying to find himself in all of this, he was working as a mercenary now trying to get as much money as possible to keep them afloat just for another meal sometimes.
The work was deadly but if the job went without a hitch he got paid enough to keep his brothers fed for a month or two if the employer was feeling generous, they never were for the most part, it angered him to no ends but all he could do was suck it up and take the next job that didn't take him away from home for more than a few weeks. Some of the jobs that paid more but they involved a lot more time placed into them, it meant less time with his grieving family and less chances of safely transferring money to them. Or there were chances of having no money to give at all came into play as he might not even be paid till the end of the job, it's something he can't risk even if the money that the jobs offer was perfect for what they needed.
Techno falters as he rest his hand on Wilbur’s shoulder before taking the umbrella from him, they need the money, Wilbur does what Techno had just done down to the T but unlike Techno he gives voiceless whispers to the grave, money will solve their problems, when Wilbur stands it's Tommy who moves next, if he picks the right job they can be set for life. Tommy stays kneeling for a long time, longer than each of his brothers combined, his words are quiet but can still be understood if listened to close enough Techno didn't try to hear, it's not his place, those words aren't meant for anyone but their mother.
When Tommy gets up his hair is damp as well as every other part of him that wasn't under the umbrella, which is basically all of him. Techno wants to scold him for his lack of care but then again how could he, Tommy wouldn't care this was his time to speak to their mother before they set off to the city. This was the last time they would be coming here, this was their last goodbye. How could Techno ever try and scold his brother for trying to linger just a second longer, he was in fact the one forcing them to come to the city with him after all.
The rain continued to fall as they stood staring at the grave that now held three golden coins, one cracked right through the middle, one missing the top half altogether and the last was just covered in mud but all around in good condition still. The soft patter of water hitting plastic and stone was the only sound for miles.
Techno held back his tears once more, he was so cold.