Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Phil just wanted to live a normal life, he wanted to get his new house, he wanted to get himself a couple of pets, maybe he would meet someone and fall in love. What Phil didn’t want was a kid who looked 10 to be looking in his bins while also bleeding profusely from his side. The kid in question didn’t even register the pain it seemed and Phil was too shocked to say anything as he watched the kid pick some bread that Phil had thrown out a couple of days ago, and the kid ate it like it didn’t have mould on it. 

There was movement from the bins and the kid froze before they seemed to relax and hand the bread to someone who Phil couldn’t see. A friend. The kid looked over to the house, obviously spotting Phil because they were running in an instant a shadow of the other kid following as well. 

Phil just finished his glass of water before he went to the living room, because he did not want to think about what that meant for the kids. Surely their parents didn’t want them eating out of bins, a voice in the back of his head told him that the kids probably didn’t have parents. He knew the kid was injured, but it wasn’t like he could help them because they ran far too quickly, and Phil wasn’t sure they would even let him help.

Before he could think too much about it he decided to try and sleep, hoping that the kids would be okay during the night. The only issue is he couldn’t fucking sleep because everytime he closed his eyes he could see the kids blood and the fear in their eyes when they saw Phil. Was he a bad person for not helping? 

The days passed slowly for Phil, getting up and going out to work became his normal and he did everything on autopilot. That was until he heard a whimper from the alley that he had been walking past. No one else stopped so either they heard it and didn’t care, or just didn’t hear it. Phil wasn’t sure if he even wanted to check it out, but his feet were moving before he could make the conscious decision. 

He walked past the big bin, more of a dumpster really, and he squinted his eyes as he saw something move behind it. “Uh hi? Do you need help?” Phil really hoped he wasn’t going to get mugged right now, that would be a shitty start to his day. 

“Fuck off.” The voice was far too young for Phil’s liking and it was accompanied by another groan and a swear from another voice. “Stay the fuck down.”

“Are you hurt? I know first aid.” Phil moved away from the bin when he saw someone small crawl out and look at him. They had a massive head of hair, it looked like a bird's nest and Phil smiled at them.

“I told you to fuck off.” Phil raised his hands slightly, frowning when he saw the kid flinch so he put them back down. “I swear if you don’t leave I will stab you.” The kid grabbed at something behind them before bringing out to glare at Phil. It was a pretty impressive knife if Phil said so, the hilt, or what he could see of it, was a golden colour and the blade looked sharp. 

“That’s a nice knife.” Phil laughed awkwardly as the kid moved closer. “How about I leave you some basic first aid things I have on me and I will leave?” He had become accustomed to carrying some things around with him, just enough for his friends' kids if they needed them. He was slow when he went into his bag, not wanting to scare the kid in front of him. 

“Forget you saw us, we don’t need anything from you.” Phil nodded as he placed the small first aid kit on the ground so the kid could grab it. “Go away.” Phil listened this time, no matter how much he didn’t want to. 

As he made his way out of the alley he could hear the kid’s muffled voices from behind him and he felt horrible leaving them. It wasn’t like he could take them to his house or even phone anyone because they would probably run before anyone got there. The kid looked too thin to be healthy, and he still remembered that other kid who was eating out of his bin. They could have been the same person, it wasn’t like Phil got a good look at the kid because of how dark it was. 

Phil still couldn’t just leave them though, they were kids, and injured kids at that if the kid needed the first aid kit that he took with wide eyes. Phil couldn’t bring himself to go to work and ignore the kids.

He turned away from his building that he definitely should be working in right now, the benefits for being a higher up meant he could take days off when he needed to. Heading into one of the bakeries he bought a few pastries, a few sandwiches and some water bottles before he was off down the street where he saw the kids. He just couldn’t leave them . 

He made sure to announce his presence with heavy steps before he stopped a little bit away from the bin, placing the bag on the ground so the kid could see it if he came out. “Hey kid, I know I said I would leave, but you are hurt and I can help.” 

There was shuffling from behind the bin and Phil watched as the kid from before came out, blood on their hands and tears running down their face. “Please, I can’t stop it.”

Phil was moving as the kid pushed the bin slightly to reveal another kid who looked slightly older and was bleeding heavily from their side. “Okay, can you talk, kid?” He looked at the brunette who shook their head when the kid on the ground just groaned. “Do you have names?”

“I’m Will, he’s Tech.” Phil nodded, the names weren’t the weirdest he had heard. “Is he going to be okay?” Phil kept quiet as he nodded, because he was not letting a kid die on his watch. 

“Will I need you to get me some wipes, and bandages from that kit.” Phil was lifting Tech’s shirt up, grimacing at the cut that seemed to go from his shoulder to his hip. “I also need you to get the water from the bag on the ground.” The kid on the ground started to move and Phil held him down, “Tech I know it hurts, but I need to clean this for you.”

Will was beside him quickly with everything Phil asked for and he made quick work of cleaning the cut and making sure no dirt was in it before he was placing bandages over it, cooing at Tech when he tried to move away from the pain. “I know, kid, I know. It’s almost over, promise.” 

“Please don’t tell anyone about us. We can’t go back.” Phil listened to Will as the kid whispered his pleas and he nodded because the kid was terrified and he wasn’t letting anyone hurt them again. 

“I won’t tell anyone.” Will seemed to relax at that, moving to Tech’s head so the two could be closer together. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but I have a house a few minutes away. It has enough spare bedrooms for you both, and I would be able to make sure Tech’s cut doesn’t get infected.” Phil watched as both kids froze at his words and he felt horrible for making them panic like that.

“No thank you, we are okay. Thank you for helping us, we will be going now.” The kid on the ground mumbled something and Will moved to listen before he looked back at Phil. “He says thanks.” 

“No need to thank me, just doing what anyone would.” Wil laughed at that and helped Tech get up, Phil wasn’t sure if he really wanted them to be moving after that injury. “Don’t move, you’ll hurt yourself more.” 

“I think we know how to look after ourselves, mister. Now we will be going now, thanks.” Will let Tech lean on him as the two started to walk down the alley and Phil cursed before he grabbed the bag of food and walked after them. 

“Here, at least take this so you can heal faster.” Will looked at the bag with confusion and then worried before he shook his head. “Please take it, I wanted to make sure you weren’t hungry. His cut will heal faster if he has food in him too.”

Will looked at the bag and then to Tech who seemed to be paler and Phil was sure he was about to pass out. “Fine. Then you leave.” Phil nodded, letting Will take the bag before they were walking. Phil watched them go, not sure what to do until he saw Tech’s leg crumble below him and Will was shouting. 

“Fuck.” Phil whispered to himself before he was at their side again and looking over Tech who had blood pooling at his bandages. “He needs medical care now.”

“No doctors.” Will glared at him before they were both on the ground and trying to stop the bleeding. “It’s okay Tech, I’ve got you, it will be okay. Promise.” Phil wasn’t sure if Will was talking to Tech or himself because he didn’t look too convinced at his own words. 

“Fine no doctors, what about my house? You can leave when he is better, I can’t leave you outside while he is hurt.” Phil wasn’t going to budge on this, he was surprised when Will just nodded and helped Tech back up. “Can I carry him? It will be faster.” Once again Will just nodded and Phil picked Tech up bridal style so they could walk faster. He hoped no one stopped them because it would be suspicious if they saw a bleeding kid in a man’s arms and then another kid following him. 

He knew that they were being stared at as they walked out of the alley, but no one stopped them. Phil was also glad his house was close enough that it took maybe six minutes tops to get them in and for Tech to be lying on the kitchen table. 

“Hey Will, can you go and grab a few towels out of the bathroom cupboard? Second door to the left.” Will nodded and was off in seconds as Phil grabbed at the first aid kit under his sink that he knew had a lot more things in it. 

Will was beside him with the towels and Phil pointed at the freezer, “Ice please.” The kid listened and the two of them started to clean the cut again, wrapping the bandages tighter this time and putting some ice in a towel to hold it to Tech’s side as well as the bruise forming on his head from the fall. 

Phil hadn’t seen an injury this bad in a while, not since he was an medic and he had gone into that mindset again, but he wasn’t in danger, and the kids weren’t being attacked or hunted. He wasn’t there, he was back in the UK in his house. 

“Uh, mister what was your name?” Phil looked over to see Will with his knife out but he didn’t look like he was going to try to attack Phil. 

“I’m Philza Craft, but everyone calls me Phil,” Phil smiled at him and Will tilted his head before nodding, “Would you like some food? I can make something for us all.” Phill wasn’t much of a cook, but he could whip something up for the kids because they look like they haven’t eaten in days. 

“We are okay, Mister Craft.” Phil was used to being called that by people at work, but it sounded wrong when Will said it. 

“Just Phil, kid. I’m not that old yet.” He smiled at Will, “I’m going to make some food, you can have some if you want. Or you can eat the food in the bag, it is yours.” Will looked at the bag he had discarded when they had rushed in. 

“Why?” Phil looked over with a sad smile. “Stop fucking pitying me.”

“I’m not, kid, I just didn’t want you going hungry so I got you some food and water. If you want to take it you can, but I won’t eat it.” Phil could see the kid thinking everything over before he nodded and shoved the bag of food beside himself where he sat watching Tech. “Do you think he would be okay with me moving him into the bedroom? It would be more comfortable.” 

Will looked at Tech, wiping a hand over his face before he turned back to Phil. “You can move him, but if you try anything I will stab you.” 

“Of course, kid, you can help me with the towels and opening the door for me.” Will nodded again and picked their things up before Phil moved Tech into his arms, carefully to not hurt him anymore. “The spare room is beside the bathroom, could you get the door for me?” 

Will did as asked, looking around the place as he did and Phil pretended to not see him swipe a key for the door because he understood the kids' worry. He also turned a blind eye when the kid grabbed a baseball bat he had forgotten he had. 

“I’ll leave some food at the door with some medication. If you need me just shout and I’ll help.” Phil looked over to Will who was nodding at him before he left the room, ignoring the sounds from Will as he tried to wake Tech up. 

He started on a soup. It was easy to make and easy on the stomach. Phil had zero fucking clue how he had got two homeless kids in his house and was now cooking for them. He had zero clue when his life became this. 

The soup was easily made and Phil filled two bowls up, putting some bread on a plate and then making sure the tray was safe to carry before he walked over to the room and placed the tray on the floor before he knocked on the door. He could hear the shuffling of what he hoped was Will and not Tech, and then the door opened to show Will there and Phil saw that Tech was at least awake so that was okay. 

“I made you some food, didn’t know what you would like.” Wil nodded once before he stepped back with the tray of food and Phil moved back to the living room to give them space. Before he left the hallway he heard Will say something about the window and height so Phil assumed they were planning on running. He didn’t want them to because Tech was still injured and he had only just woke up after passing out. He also knew he couldn’t stop them because he had no say over them at all, he wasn’t their dad. The only thing he could do was make sure they would be safe on the streets.

He packed a bag of tinned foods, water, some snacks, a first aid kit, and other things he could fit in the bag. He also slipped a piece of paper with his number and name in case the kids needed him. They might never use it, he might never see them again, but if he could help them in any way he would. 

He left the bag outside of the door, knocking twice before leaving so the kids could open the door and see the bag he left. He just hoped they took it. Phil settled himself on the couch, putting something on the TV so the sound covered the kids making a run for it because he couldn’t stop them. 

The night continued, getting darker as the hours passed, and Phil heard the telltale sound of someone jumping into the hedges around the house. He didn’t get up though, he just stayed on the couch because he couldn’t stop them, no matter how much he wanted to. 

The morning came and Phil opened the door to see an empty bed with a note sitting on it, he read it and smiled softly. Thanks old man. He didn’t bin it, instead he folded it up and placed it in his wallet because something about these kids just made him want to see them more.

Chapter Text

Phil had given up on seeing the kids again. It had been almost two months since Tech had gotten injured, and it had been two months since they had run from his house. He went back to the bin where he found them, but they had moved away from that spot. Every time Phil was out walking he looked out for the two brunettes, he just wanted to know they were okay. 

It took two months and one week for Phil to see them again. Sure it was 4am and in a police station, but he saw the kids again. He had never driven so fast to get to the station after the call woke him up, Will had sounded so scared and he refused to let him be alone. 

"Hi, how can I help you?” Phil looked over to the guy behind the desk and smiled at him. 

“Yeah, I am Phil Craft, here to pick up Will and Tech.” The guy looked a bit surprised at his words but nodded before turning to speak to another officer. Phil looked past the officers and to the seat where Will was sitting, but he couldn’t see Tech at all. 

The kid looked up to see him and his eyes widened as Phil smiled at him. The officer in front nodded at him and Phil was being taken over to where Will was sitting. “Hey kid, how are you?” 

“Phil.” His voice sounded hoarse like he had been crying or screaming for hours. “Tech. He’s been.” Will cut himself off with a cry and Phil let the get fall into his chest for a hug. 

“I know, kid, I know. I’m going to get him out and we can go home.” Will nodded his head and Phil turned to another officer who was standing beside them. “I would like to see my kid please.”

“Of course sir, if you could just wait here so I can get the forms to sign him into your custody.” The woman left and Phil turned his attention to Will who was still crying on him. 

“Hey Will, can you tell me what happened?” Will shook his head and Phil rubbed his back carefully. “Can you tell me Tech’s real name so I can get him out?”

“Techno Blade.” Phil hummed and let Will go back to hiding his face. 

The woman came back with a few sheets of paper and a pen. “If you sign this I can release him to you. He is not being charged because there is no proof he did anything wrong, he says he was just there at the wrong time.” Phill nodded, trying to make sense of what happened. “Keep them away from fighting, I don’t want to see them there again.” 

Fighting? Was Techno hurt? Did he need help? Why wasn’t he at the hospital? Phil was going to kill someone if he was hurt.  

“Thank you, I’ll try and keep them away. You know how kids are.” Phil tried to laugh, but he was far too worried about Tech who was still in a cell and ight need medical attention. 

The woman left and Phil started to go over the paperwork, getting Will to help him when he needed it. The kids were only 12, Tech was apparently older but they saw each other as twins, he was also hurt according to Will and Phil had to remind himself that he couldn’t get angry because it wouldn’t help the kids. 

When Phil handed the paperwork back the woman left and returned after a couple of minutes with Techno who was bleeding from his arm and had a few bruises on his face. When he caught sight of Phil he flinched and Will ran over to his brother to see if he was okay. Phil watched the two talk before he moved over to get them out of the building because people were staring now. 

“Hey, kids, how about we get out of here? I need to take a look at that cut you have Tech.” The kid in question looked at him before nodding after a look at Will. “Okay, I brought the car so who wants the front seat?” The two shifted and Phil took a different approach with them, “How about we just get back and then I can make us some food.”

Will nodded and Techno reluctantly agreed, the three of them left the building and it was like a weight was off the kids shoulders because they seemed to relax the second they were out. They were quiet until they were in the car and Phil turned to make sure they had their seatbelts on.

The two kids just stared at them and Phil smiled before showing them the seatbelts and showing them how to use them. Techno spoke and Phil realized it was the first thing he had heard from the kid ever. “Do we need to wear them?” 

“You do, it’s illegal not to and I would rather keep you out of that place right now.” At the mention of the police station the two put the seatbelts on and looked ready to leave so Phil started to drive home. Well his home, the kids weren’t his. Not yet.

“So, Techno, how bad is the injury? Do I need to bandage it?” He watched in the mirror as the boy looked at his injury, poking it a few times before he shook his head at Phil. “Okay, well we can clean it up tonight and check it tomorrow morning. Does that sound okay?” The boys nod and Phil turns back to the road. 

Phil knew he would need to ask about it, they had disappeared for two months and then turned up in a police station after they got caught fighting. They looked skinnier now and Will looked ill from the way his face was sunken. Phil hated the idea of them not having food everyday, it made his stomach feel heavy and he wanted to just give them everything they could ever want.

The car was silent as they pulled into the driveway and Phil turned the engine off before he opened his door and helped Techno out as well because the kid looked to be in more pain now. Will was at his side and between the two of them they got Techno into the kitchen and Phil frowned at the memories from the last time they were here. Tech was once again hurt and Phil wasn’t fast enough to save him. He would be next time.

“Will, do you remember where the bathroom is?” the kid nodded and headed to the room while Phil pulled the first aid kit out again. “So Techno, you don’t have to tell me, but I would like to know what happened.” Phil knew not to make it sound like he had no choice, the kid needed to know he didn’t need to tell him. 

“It was nothing I can’t handle.” Phil made a noise at that but didn’t push because it isn’t his right to do that. “Why did Wilbur phone you?” Wilbur, that must be Wil’s actually name.

“I’m not sure, I think he was scared.” Phil wanted to give a definite answer, but he had zero clue why Will had phoned him, surely that knew other adults to get them out. “Is this the first time you were arrested?” Techno nodded and Phil was glad the kid wasn’t used to nights in a cell. 

“We will leave, thank you for getting me out.” Phil shook his head just as Will came into the room with some towels. 

“Thank you Will.” The kid smiled and Phil could see Techno roll his eyes. “Right Tech I need you to tell me what hurts and how bad.” The two kids looked at each other, having a silent conversation before Will turned to him.

“Techno will tell you what you need to know.” The smile on Will’s face was terrifying and Phil felt sorry for Techno who shivered but nodded. “That’s great. So where does it hurt Tech?”

“My arm was cut, I think I have a broken finger, and my ankle is fucked.” Phil nodded as the kid talked through his injuries, he didn’t seem to register that he should be in more pain. “Might have a head injury, got hit there.”

“I’ll fucking kill him I swear.” Phil didn’t ask who Wilbur was talking about because they obviously didn’t want him to know. 

“Well I can clean the cut and wrap it, set the bone in your finger if I can, and we can make a splint for your ankle if needed. Do you think you need the hospital for your head?” The two started to shake their heads and Phil just nodded with a sigh. He couldn’t destroy the slight bit of trust he had gained.

“No doctors.” Will looked like he wanted to fight Phil so the man just nodded and started to help Techno. 

“So how have you two been?” Phil hated the awkward silence, so of course his brain just had to act before he could understand what he was saying. 

“Places to go, people to see, you know how it is, Philza.” Wilbur was playing with his hair and Phil hummed as he cleaned the cut on Techno’s arm, it wasn’t deep so no stitches, but it would need to be cared for so it doesn’t get infected. “Why did you come?”

“You asked me to.” It was a simple answer but it was the truth. He could have ignored the crying boy on the phone, but he couldn’t do it. The past two months Phil had grown to like these kids who threatened him with a knife and left him a thank you note before they vanished. If one of the spare bedrooms now held clothes too small for Phil and a few toys then no one needed to know. 

“Why?” Will asked again and Phil didn’t know what he wanted to hear. “No one is meant to act like you.”

“How do I act?” Phil looked down at Techno’s hand and sighed, it would need set and it would hurt. “Tech this is going to hurt, do you need medicine first?” The boy shook his head and just held his hand out to Phil. 

Phil watched as Wilbur turned his face away and he took Techno’s finger and smiled at the boy. “Take a deep breath. On the count of three.” Phil waited a second, getting himself ready, “One, two.” He pulled the finger straight on two and watched as Techno grimaced before his face went back to being straight. 

“Is it done?” Will asked and Phil hummed. “I always hate bones. Freaks me out.” Techno huffed something and Wilbur stuck his tongue out before looking at Phil. “Is he okay?” 

“He will be, just need to look at the ankle now.” He turned his attention to the other kid in the room, “Anymore pain?” 

“I’m fine. Can we go yet?” Phil shook his head and Techno narrowed his eyes. “Why?” 

“Well let’s see, you have a head injury, you have a broken finger, most likely a twisted ankle, and I have zero clue if you have a safe place to sleep the rest of the night away. You know for a fact I will let you leave, but let me get some food for you first and sleep for a bit.” Phil could see Will nod beside him but Techno still glared at him. 

“Will, give me my bag.” Phil turned to Wilbur who shook his head at his brother. “Wilbur, give me my bag.” He sounded harsher this time and Wilbur shook his head again. 

“You can’t stab him. He’s helping us.” The two glared at each other for a few seconds. “This is why we get kicked out, you know, we can’t stab our problems away.” Phil held a laugh in and boy boys turned to him. “What do you want, old man.”

“You were the one that pulled a knife on me last time. If you really want to stab me can you do it in my arm? Easier to fix if you do.” The two kids just blinked in surprise and Phil smiled at them before he turned to the last injury he could care for. “If you feel more comfortable you can take one of my kitchen knives while I fix a splint for your ankle.”

“You want me to stab you?” Techno spoke slowly like he was making sense of the words. 

“Well not really, but if you were to stab me my arm is the target I want you to go for,” Phil moved to grab another roll of bandages and a fast splint from the first aid kit, “I’ve been stabbed before and you have as well, surely you wouldn’t want to inconvenience someone.”

“You are a weird fucking man Phil.” Techno squeezed his hands into fists as Phil pulled his ankle straight. 

“You act like someone who cares.” Wilbur blurts out and Phil tilted his head at the boy before he continued. “You gave us food, water, and a warm place while Tech got better. Then you bailed us out, and are now helping us again. Why are you acting like you care?”

“I’m not acting, I do care. You two shouldn’t be on the streets and hurting.” Wilbur scoffed and Phil sighed, “I have no idea how to prove it, but I do care.”

“We will be gone in a minute. Thank you Mr Philza for helping.” Wilbur moved to Techno’s side and helped his brother into sitting up and onto the ground. “Have a good night.”

The two started to walk towards the door and Phil shook his head. “Take the spare room for tonight, I installed a lock that you can have the key for. I won’t be able to get in unless you let me. Stay the night so Techno can heal, please Wilbur.” 

Wilbur looked at his brother, taking in how slow he was moving and the dazed look in his eyes after moving. “Why? What do you get from it?” 

“Knowing that you two aren’t on the streets and in danger. The baseball bat is still in the room, and you have your knife and any of mine.” Phil looked over to the knife block on the unit and Will grabbed one before nodding. 

“If you try anything I will gut you and leave you to bleed out. Don’t try me.” Phil nodded slowly, slightly scared of the child wielding a fucking knife at him. “Give me all the keys to the room.”

“Of course, I need to go into the drawer for them, can I?” Wilbur nodded and Phil opened the drawer where he kept random things, looking for the set of keys. He knew they were in there somewhere, he found the keyring and pulled them out. “Here you go, there are only three keys to that lock, you have all three of them. My room is one down from yours so call for me if you need me. The bathroom is connected, but you can lock the door to the hall so I can’t get in from there.” 

Wilbur nodded at the information, taking the three keys before he was moving down the hall and opening the door before Phil heard it shut and lock behind them. 

Did he want to adopt these two kids? God, yes he did.  

Phil busied himself with cleaning the kitchen, wiping the blood that Techno had left behind and he started to cook some simple food for the boys. He had no idea when the last meal they had was so some good warm soup should be fine. He placed the bowls on a tray, putting two cups of water and then another two bottles in case they needed more during the night. He picked some other snacks they might like.

He walked to the door and knocked twice before talking through the door, “I made some food, I’ll be in the living room for a bit.” He walked away and smiled to himself when he heard the door open and then close, this time with the food on their side. 

These kids are so amazing. Maybe Phil could be a dad. 

Chapter Text

They were gone in the morning and Phil tried not to feel too upset over it. He did notice that they had both taken a jumper each from the cupboard and all of the food he had left for them the night before. There was also a note and Phil picked it up to read it, Thanks Phil, see you around. They didn’t just say thanks like before, this time they said see you around which might mean they are staying closer. Phil grinned as he put the note in his wallet beside the other one from two months before. 

Phil called in to get his work sent to his home computer because he didn’t feel like leaving the house yet, he wanted to stay because the kids might come back and they might need him. Phil hoped they remembered his number and address if they lost the paper, he needed them to be okay. 

Instead of working like he was meant to, he spent most of his days looking at how to foster kids, and how to adopt homeless teenagers because the kids are grown on him and he didn’t know why. They just reminded him of himself in the past. 

The only issue with his plan was that it is illegal for him to just take them in. They were under-18, they had to have someone looking for them and if Phil let them stay with him it would be kidnapping. He could go through the courts, or he could try and see if they were already in the foster care system, but that would be risky if they weren’t. He really needed to get a solid plan in place because the kids deserved better than the streets. 

The days of research turned into weeks and Phil still hadn’t seen the boys around, he was sure they had seen him though because everytime he went out he could feel eyes on him. He ignored it at first, hoping it was just a people watcher, then it happened the next day and then the next until Phil was sure he was being followed. He knew he wasn’t legally allowed to carry a knife but he kept one on himself at all times just in case. He started to give food to the homeless kids when he saw them, he felt horrible having money and not giving it to people who needed it.

The weeks had turned into a month before he had come up with a slight idea on what to do. He would register as a Foster Parent and then ask to see the records of troubled kids, if he found Wilbur and Techno then added bonus, he knew it was for those two and no one else.

He was vetted, he had house checks, job checks, interviews, his family and friends were interviewed, he had to keep note of everything he did, and then he had to write an essay on why he wanted to be a foster parent. He really hated writing the essay, he left school for a reason.

He was with a nice lady who went by Puffy, and she answered all his questions that he asked. He joined a group of Foster Parents and met a few friends, Schlatt, Jordan, Sam, and even Puffy became a friend of his. They talked regularly about their worries for fostering and celebrated when Schlatt was approved for a family of three. 

It was five months later when Phil saw Wilbur and Techno, five months too long, but he didn’t care because they came back. They were taller now, Techno looked more mature, but Wilbur looked like he could throw a punch now. The only issue in seeing them again was that Wilbur was throwing up into his bushes when he got home. Techno was rubbing his back lightly. 

“Phil, could we have a favour?” Techno sounded scared when he spoke and Phil nodded without a second thought. He wasn’t going to turn them away now. He would never turn them away. 

“Come on in, set him on your bed and I’ll grab some food and medicine. Are there any injuries I should know about?” Tech shook his head as he carried Wilbur to the room and Phil wondered when he started to call that their room. He wondered if Techno heard the phrase. 

He set out making the very same soup as the two times before and couldn’t help smiling as he realized the kids came to him for help when they needed it. Schlatt had said that was what he did with Tubbo and the kid trusted him now. 

He put the bowls out and rooted through his drawers for some medicine to calm Wilbur’s stomach and grabbed a few water bottles to make sure they weren’t dehydrated. He carried it through to the room, knocking with his foot to announce himself and Techno looked at him before nodding. 

“I have some food for you both, he can’t take medicine until he has eaten it so make sure he doesn’t. You shouldn’t share the water, I don’t want you getting ill as well, and the bathroom is just there if you need it. The keys are where you left them before, and I can’t get in unless you let me.” Phil repeated the basic information so Techno remembered and was about to leave before he heard Wilbur from the bed. 

“Stay?” He looked down at the delirious kid and then to his brother who nodded but brought their knife out in a threat.

“Of course mate, I’ll sit on the seat just beside you.” Phil sat down on the seat and let Techno watch him carefully. “Do you think you can eat something? It might help.” The two boys nodded and started to eat the soup, Wilbur much slower than Techno who finished in minutes. 

“We’ll pay you back, we have money now.” Phil shook his head, he refused to take money from literal kids. 

“No need mate, just knowing you are okay is enough. I’ve missed seeing you around, have you been off on adventures?” Techno shrugged and Phil smiled softly at him. “Keep your money son, you earned it.” The three fell into silence and Phil didn’t try to fill it.

When Wilbur had finished his food Techno was the one to give him the medication and Phil watched the two interact with each other, they seemed to be talking to each other silently before they turned to him. 

“You haven’t told anyone that we are on the streets.” It wasn’t a question but Phil nodded at Techno anyway. “Why?” The boy was glaring and Phil just smiled at him. 

“You asked me not to, so I didn’t. Doesn’t mean I liked knowing you were on the streets but you didn’t want authorities involved.” Phil had stopped himself multiple times from phoning the police to report two kids on the streets, but he had promised them and Wilbur sounded terrified when he had asked so Phil kept his promise.

“I threatened to kill you and you still didn’t report us. You need therapy.” Phil laughed loudly at Wilbur’s words, hating the way both flinched at the sound so he stopped. 

“I think I do, kid. How are you feeling? Do you have a temperature?” Phil wanted to check himself but he didn’t think Techno or Will would take too kindly to him touching them. He watched Techno reach over and place his hand on Wilburs head. 

“He does, it will go away soon though.”  Phil nodded, getting up to move towards the bathroom. He could feel Techno’s eyes follow him and he made sure to keep his movements slow to not scare them. He started to run the cold water in the sink and placed a small face towel under it before he wrung it out and headed back through to the two kids. 

“Place this on your head, it will help to cool you down.” Techno took the cloth, checking it first before he nodded and placed it on his brother's head. “How long have you been ill?” 

Techno looked at Phil for a second, it was like the kid was searching his soul and Phil waited to hear him talk. Will made a noise and Techno looked at him with a shake of his head and the two were silent before Techno spoke. “A week. I tried to get medication and food, but it was hard. I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Well let’s get you feeling better with some food and water. Also my house is always open for you two, I have been looking for you and I got keys made so you can come in if you ever need to.” Phil could see the confusion on Techno’s face so he kept talking. “You two remind me of myself in the past, and I hate to think you don’t have somewhere safe to stay, winter is coming so I wanted to open my house to you both.” 

Phil wasn’t sure if the two had spent a winter on the streets before, and he hoped they hadn’t because winters in England were horrible. If he could save them from that he would. 

“What is the cost?” Techno asked quickly, hand rubbing Wilbur’s hair as the other boy looked like he was drifting to sleep. “We have money but not enough.”

“No cost, all I ask is that you don't break anything while here.” Phil looked down at Wilbur who looked younger than he was when he slept and smiled at him. “I care about you two.” 

“No you don’t, you think you do. When Will is better we will be going. Thank you for helping but we aren’t charity cases.” Techno had gone back to glaring and Phil nodded even if he didn’t like it. He could easily slip the house keys into a bag of food for them, he had even bought a couple of blankets and coats for them, sure he guessed on sizes but it was better than nothing. 

“Of course Tech, I know I haven’t got your trust, but my house is always open for you. No matter what time it is or how long it has been since I have seen you.” Phil leaned back in his chair and let his words sink into Techno who seemed too shocked to say anything. “I’ll make a bag of food and medicine for you. That cupboard has clothes for you both so take anything you want and anything else in the room is up for grabs.”

Phil made to move out of the room before he heard a whisper from Techno, “Thank you.” He turned back to the kid with a kind smile and just nodded because he knew Tech wouldn’t take it if he said it was nothing.

Over the months Phil had been picking up random things he thought the kids would like, most of it was clothes he saw and could see them wearing. Other things included food, toys, and sensory things he liked as well. He had given these things a cupboard in his kitchen because his house was big enough and these kids were the closest thing he had to a family so it felt right. He knew it was stupid to grow attached to them, but they were kids who reminded himself of a young him and he couldn’t stop seeing them for what they were, kids . 

He placed these things in a backpack he had picked up and made sure it would do them for a few weeks before he headed to the random shit drawer to pick the two house keys he had made for them, each had a keyring alarm which doubled as a torch and Phil put them in the bag before he closed it and headed back to the room.

“Hey Tech, I made a bag for you, if you need anything else just come back and I’ll get it for you. The keys have alarms and a torch with them in case you ever end up in danger. They also have my phone number written on them if you ever need to call me. It does not matter what time it is, please call if you are in danger.” He handed the bag to the kid who nodded and started to look through it with a frown. 

“I can’t pay you back for all of this.” Techno went into his pockets and pulled out a twenty pound note and his knife, Phil felt his heart break, that was all they had to survive .

“No need to pay me mate, just stay safe out there.” Phil watched as confusion, fear, and finally anger crossed his face before it fell back to a blank expression. 

“We aren’t a fucking charity case.” Phil nodded and lifted his hands in surrender. “We don’t need anything from you.”

“I know mate, but I would feel better if I knew you had something to keep warm and safe. I hate thinking you are hurt and not being able to find you.” Techno looked at the bag again and then to his twin, before nodding reluctantly. “The keys also open the window to this room so you don’t have to see me, just put a note under the door and I won’t come in.” 

“You are so fucking weird.” Phil nodded because he knew others wouldn’t look twice at homeless kids, but he liked to think of himself as different. “He should be better by morning, we will be out soon.” 

“I know, take care of each other, okay? I worry about you when I can’t find you.” Phil smiled at the two boys, one sleeping for what looks like the first time in a week and the other was so confused at Phil. “I’ll be in the living room, use the door instead of the window so Wilbur doesn’t get hurt by accident.” 

Phil headed out of the room, taking the empty bowls of soup with him and he looked back to see Techno leaning on his brother and whispering to him. It was oddly domestic and Phil hated to leave when he knew they would be gone in the morning, but he couldn’t hold them back. 

It was around 3am when Phil heard their whispers in the hall and he watched them with a sad smile as they left the house quietly, he knew it would be a while until he saw them next, but he would miss them nonetheless. The room was cleaned and the note was written in a different handwriting this time, probably Techno’s because Wilbur still looked ill when he left. Stay safe Phil, and get some therapy. Phil laughed at the kid's words and put it beside the other two notes.

He couldn’t sleep that night, instead thinking about the empty halls that he wanted the two kids to run around in and be happy in. He just needed to see them, he needed to help them.

Chapter Text

It had only been two weeks since Wilbur and Techno had come to him, sure it was because Will had been ill for a week and Techno couldn’t help him, but they had come to him. In the two weeks he had made the room better with more clothes, a night light, and other knick knacks he thought they would like. He had been over to see Schlatt and his kids, Tubbo, Eret, and Niki. They were growing into the family that Schlatt had hoped for and Phil couldn’t help feel the pang of pain when he saw Tubbo run to his friend when he needed help, he couldn't blame Schlatt for that because Tech and Wilbur were different to Tubbo.

He started to stream on Twitch, just playing a few games every so often, he had a couple of loyal fans that turned up to every stream and he quickly fell in love with the job. Jordan, a friend, was into it so the two of them played Minecraft together, and Phil started his first hardcore world. He lasted a while before his hard drive crashed and he started again. 

He was still being followed but the person never did anything so he thought it was just his paranoia, or he had wanted it to be, but the universe just had to prove him wrong. He was still looking for the kids, every time he passed an alley he looked in it to see if hi- not his - the kids were down them. He really should have paid more attention to his surroundings, but he was distracted because he thought he had spotted Wilbur running down an alley and he followed him. 

He made it to the dead end of the alley and gave up with a sigh because the kid wasn’t there. He turned around to be met with a boy who couldn’t be older than 14 holding a knife at him. He was honestly confused at where these kids were getting knives from, they were expensive and hard to hide if the police searched you. The kid wasn’t even holding it correctly.

“Give me your money and watch or I’ll stab you.” Phil hummed, looking at the kid's stance and was about to correct him before he heard something behind him. He was being surrounded so he couldn’t run easily. 

“Fix your hold on that knife, I could easily grab it if you tried to stab me.” The kid looked at him with wide eyes before stepping back and Phil took that second to glance behind him, only to be met with Techno who was glaring and holding his own knife. 

“Why don’t you run along now and forget about him, he’s under my protection.” The kid in front of them both nodded and Techno moved forward slightly. 

“Sorry, I didn’t realize. Forgive me Blood God.” Phil narrowed his eyebrows at that, Techno was known as Blood God? That was concerning.

“Leave and tell the others I’ll kill them if they try anything on him.” The kid nodded again before running away from them and Phil turned to Techno with a look.

“Blood God?” Techno just shrugged and Phil shook his head with a laugh. “Thank you for saving me. How have you been?” The two watched each other before Techno smiled and Phil was sure he had never been so glad to see something.

“Surviving and all that, what about you? Adopted any strays yet?” Phil shook his head, not sure if Techno knew about him becoming a foster parent. “Wilbur it’s clear, come on down.” Phil looked up to where Techno spoke and watched Wilbur poke his head over the fire escape before he jumped down and Phil jumped back in fear of him breaking something. 

“Old man, you have quite a following in the homeless kids group.” Phil tilted his head in question at that, he wasn’t sure what the kid meant. “You always give food to the kids, it makes you a target because they think you are rich and nice.” 

Phil didn’t think the kids he gave food to saw him like that, he just couldn’t see them going hungry when he had the money to feed them. He had been giving more recently, but that's because he had met Techno and Wilbur who were far too thin for their age and he hated that other kids were like them.

“You should watch out, you have been followed for the past couple of months.” Phil nodded because he knew that much. “I had to stop another kid last week as well, they are getting bold with winter coming close. Sorry, I’ll try harder.” 

“No need kid, I’ll make sure to get blankets and shit for the kids if you could hand them out. So what have you two been up to?” They both shrugged and Phil took that as his answer. “How about I take you out for some food? You can take some to the other kids to make sure they have had something to eat.” Phil had more than enough money to feed the homeless kids around, there wasn’t many, but it was still more than there should be.

The two nodded quickly and Phil was glad it didn’t take more convincing from him. “I got a job!” Wilbur looked so excited at his news and Phil smiled proudly at him. “It isn’t much, but I get paid.” 

“I’m proud of you kid, what do you do?” Wilbur launched into a ramble about his job as a cleaner at a baker and Phil listened with a smile on his face because he was so proud of the kid.

“We have enough saved to get a room for the winter, and Techno is getting more money now too!” Phil looked over to Techno who frowned at the mention of his job and Phil wasn’t sure if he wanted to know how the kid got money. 

“Well you know that my house is always open for you, your room is still there.” Phil really needed to stop calling it their room. “So how about we go to Jacob’s cafe?” The two boys nodded and the three of them started to walk across the road to the cafe. It was a nice family owned one, the owner had a son a few years younger than Techno and Wilbur so Phil thought it would be nice for them. He also knew Jimmy well.

They walked in and Phil waved at the staff he knew, most of them because he had been comin to the same bakery for years now. “Hey Chris, how are you?” 

“I’ve been good Phil, how about you?” It had been a while since Phil had been in, but it was like any other day when he heard Jimmy at the front. 

“I’m good as well, got a lot going on, but that is life.” Techno snorted behind him and Phil turned to see him. “So Chris, can we get a table?” 

“Of course, I’ll be out to see what you want in a second.” Phil getured to the boys to sit down and they did as Chris vanished into the back. 

“Pick anything you want and I’ll pay for it.” He could see Wilbur and Techno going to argue before he raised an eyebrow at them. “Let me pay for it, please?” The two shrugged and Phil smiled before he handed them both the menus. 

Techno nodded and started to read the menu while Wilbur just stared at Phil over the table. “What if we wanted the most expensive thing?” The kid was testing him and Phil wasn’t going to fail.

“Then I would buy it for you, do you want it?” Phil could see the frown on Wilbur’s face as he shook his head. “I think I’ll get some pancakes, what about you Techno?” 

“Can I have the potato scones?” Phil nodded and waited to hear more from the boy but he went silent. 

“How about you get more things, what about a drink?” Techno shook his head and Phil sighed, “Please get a drink, I want you to get one.” Techno shook his head again and Phil nodded. “I’ll get a cup of water, it's free. Is that okay?” Techno nodded at that and Phil smiled. “Wilbur, do you know what you want?”

“Would I be able to get pancakes?” Phil nodded and waited to hear what drink he wanted as well. 

“What drink would you like?” Wilbur shrugged and Phil nodded, “What about water like Tech? Wilbur nodded and Phil smiled at them both. “Perfect.”

“So have we decided on food for today?” Phil turned around to see Chris and nodded. “Okay, let’s hear them.” Phil turned to the kids who shook their heads slightly and Phil nodded at them. 

“Can we have two plates of pancakes with fresh fruit, a plate of potato scones, Tech want anything with them?” The kid shook his head and Phil nodded, “A bowl of fresh fruit, and two glasses of water and a coffee for me please.” 

“Of course, I’ll get them out to you soon. Can I bring anything out to you? We have colouring pages and pencils” Phil looked to the boys who shook their heads and he shook his own head. “Perfect. Well have a good time, and Phil you should come around more often.”  

“I will Chris, say hi to the others for me.” Chris nodded, heading away and Phil turned to the boys in front of him. “So, I didn’t ask, any injuries that you have?”

“No, I learned how to fix injuries and we have a good first aid kit!” Wilbur pulled at his bag and pointed at it with a grin. “Still don’t like bones, they are weird.” 

“I’m glad, do I want to know what you two do that gets you injured so much?” Techno froze and Wilbur shook his head with a frown. “Okay, I won’t ask.”

“You are a foster parent.” Wilbur spoke quietly, not wanting people around them to hear and Phil nodded at the boy. “Why?” Phil wasn’t sure how the kids had found out but he wasn’t surprised they knew.

“I wanted to be one, why do you ask?” Wilbur looked at Techno who shook his head and the two just shrugged. “You don’t have to tell me, but are you two running from foster care?” The two boys didn’t answer and Phil took that as his answer. 

“Philza Craft? Where have you been man?” Phil turned around to see Jimmy and grinned. “God I have missed seeing your face.” Phil stood up, pulling his friend into a hug. “Who are these two?”

“Will and Tech, friends of mine.” Phil smiled at the boys who shuffled away from him and Jimmy. “So, how is Karl? Has he got any new nail polishes?”

“He is doing good, I think Eret was teaching him how to do his nails better so the two of them are busy all the time.” Phil nodded, he liked Eret, the boy was nice and took time for others. “What about you? How are you?” 

“I’ve been well, taken a day off and might do some streaming later with Jordan.” Jimmy nodded and Chris walked back over with the food. “I’ll leave you to your food, but do come more often. We miss you.”

“I will Jimmy, I will.” The older man left and Chris started to hand the plates over.

“I have a plate of potato scones?” Phil nodded and passed them to Techno. “A plate of pancakes?” Phil handed those to Wilbur before he took the last plate of pancakes. “And a bowl of fresh fruit?” 

“Just for the table mate.” Chris hummed and placed the bowl down. 

“I’ll get the drinks out in a second, enjoy you three.” Chris left the table again and Phil turned to his - the, not his- the boys. They were just staring at the food and Phil tilted his head slightly. 

The two boys started to eat the second Phil stopped staring at them, Phil started to eat his own food. The pancakes were as good as he remembered and the fruit was still perfect. He really did need to come more often. Chris came back with the drinks and Phil thanked him before the man wandered around the other tables in the place. 

When the drinks were placed down Wilbur looked at them before Phil nodded at the small boy who drank it in one go and he still looked thirsty. Phil watched as Techno took a sip of his before passing it to Wilbur. The boys looked at each other before Techno nodded and Wilbur smiled before drinking his water as well. Phil wasn’t sure if he liked what that was implying, surely they had water? 

He looked over to the front of the bakery and spotted Jimmy watching them, the man held up another glass and Phil nodded before turning back to the boys who didn’t see the exchange. He really hoped he could help them before they vanished again. 

Jimmy walked over quickly with two more glasses of water, placing them down and leaving with a smile at the three. Phil watched over his plate of pancakes as Techno tilted his head ever so slightly before taking one of the cups and downing it almost as quickly as Wilbur had done. He looked at Wilbur who gave him a pointed look before Techno took the second one as well. 

Phil was just glad they weren’t asking for permission, Tubbo, Niki, and Eret had done that at first according to Schlatt. He hated the idea of kids asking permission to eat when the food was right there for them.

The meal was a quiet affair and Phil smiled whenever the two just acted like the kids they were with each other. Phil was happy to just sit in the bakery with them for hours if it meant they were happy like they should be. 

The three of them picked at the fresh fruit on the table and Phil learned that Wilbur absolutely hated bananas, and Techno loved apples. Other fruit was neutral to them, so Phil filed that information away for another day. He learned that the knife they carried was called Orphan Obliterator as a joke and Phil wasn’t about to unpack that because there was far too much luggage there.

It ended more abruptly than Phil wanted, with both boys spotting someone and going rigid before making a run for the door and Phil couldn’t stop them. He turned around in the bakery, trying to see who had come in, but only spotted a few familiar faces. 

He knew it would be rude to ignore Schlatt and Puffy since they were his friends, but he had just lost the boys once again so he wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. He paid quickly, leaving a tip for his friend before he left the bakery with a wave and a quick explanation of work to his friends. 

He couldn’t believe he had lost the boys again. He hated not knowing if they were okay or not. He needed to make sure they would be okay.

Chapter Text

Phil had become a staple in the homeless kids group apparently, the kids all knew his name and talked to him whenever he had time to talk to them. When the boys had run from the bakery he thought he had done something wrong, but when the other kids didn’t threaten him and said something about the ‘Blood God’ Phil was sure Techno had him under protection still, not like he needed it from a group of kids.

He had also bought more blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for the kids who had no home during the winter because he hated the idea of them not being warm when he could buy them things. Phil had also learned the names of a few of them, Impulse, False, Grian, and a kid who just went by X. Phil wasn’t going to question the names, Techno was called Techno Blade.

He knew that the boys were watching him as well, he could feel himself being followed, but the kids he knew said they meant no harm so Phil didn’t try and stop them. He also knew that the kids he had made friends with were all running from something, most from the foster system, others from family, and Phil hated not knowing how to help so he got more food and water for the kids and let them talk about whatever they wanted because he had the time and money. If he slipped some money into the care packages then he didn’t mean it.

He spotted the boys in the park, he knew they wanted him to see because they were great at evading him on other days, so he wandered over to them and sat on the ground beside them. “Hello you two."

“Good day old man, you’ve been busy.” Phil hummed at Wilbur’s words, waiting for him to keep talking because they wanted to talk to him for a reason. “The others like you.”

“I’m glad, they deserve some happiness in life.” Techno mumbled something and Wilbur nodded before the two turned to him with a frown. “So what did you bring me here for?” 

“We wanted to explain why we ran, because it was rude of us when you have done a lot.” Phil tilted his head and nodded as he leaned back. “We, uh, ran from a home a few years back. They weren’t the best and we thought it would be better on the streets. I mean we were right because we survived.” 

Phil could have assumed that from how the two acted and just from what he had heard from other kids on the street. He still had questions, but they would be answered when the two wanted them to be. “I’m glad you told me, I know I’ve done nothing to gain your trust so thank you.”

“You haven’t called any of us in, you helped us, you have our trust.” Phil smiled at the two boys as Wilbur spoke and he couldn't help feeling a bit of pride at how far the two had come over the nine months he had known them.

“I was doing what anyone would do kid, I’m just being human.” Techno shook his head and Phil frowned because he knew the kids were hurt, but this is showing how hurt they truly were if what Phil was doing was a record to them. It should be the bare minimum. 

“You saved my life Phil.” Techno was speaking quietly and it broke Phil’s heart to hear him say that. “We know you are a foster parent, you know you should report us, but you haven’t. So thank you.” Phil just nodded, wanting to pull them both into a hug but knew it would end badly. 

“No need to thank me mate, as long as you are safe I am happy.” The three fell into silence before Wilbur moved and faced him again. 

“Puffy was one of our old workers.” Phil was silent, not sure what to say to that, because he was not expecting it. What the fuck? Surely they didn’t mean the Puffy who was helping him and his friend? 

“Wilbur shut up, he can’t know.” Techno looked panicked at his twin's words and Phil held his hands up in surrender. “Forget you heard that.”

“I will, she won’t hear about it.” Phil looked over to Wilbur who was glaring at his brother. “You don’t need to tell me anything Will.”

“Yes we do. You saved us. You saved Tech, and I owe you something for that. He’s my twin, and you saved him, not me.” Wilbur looked ready to cry and Techno moved closer to him to pull him into a hug. 

“Will you don’t owe me anything, I did everything because I wanted to, not because you asked me to or forced me to. I promise.” Phil knew the boy wouldn’t agree with him so he kept quiet as the brothers talked and seemed to come to an agreement. 

“Puffy was the only nice one, we felt horrible leaving her.” It was Techno talking and Phil listened to him with a smile. “She always tried her best, but shit fosters were more common than okay ones. Our last one was the worst we ever had, they forced us into fighting rings.” Phil couldn’t help the gasp from his lips at Techno’s words. “I was better than Wilbur so they threw me in more and more.” Techno stopped and shook his head at Wilbur who nodded.

“Our last night with them they broke Tech’s arm and told him to keep fighting, we ran when they fell asleep. It’s been three years.” Phil was sure he was crying when Wilbur stopped, three years of being alone? Three years? They were only 12, they had been on the streets since 9. 

“I am so sorry, you didn’t deserve that.” Phil could hardly keep his anger to himself, he knew it wasn’t their fault that they got shit placements, but holy fuck he would kill whoever touched them.

“We deserved it.” Wilbur whispered and Phil wasn’t sure the kid wanted him to hear.

“No you didn’t, you deserve to be loved.” Wilbur laughed and Phil felt his heart break even more. “I know I can’t prove it, but let me try.” Techno shook his head and Phil nodded. “I know, but please remember that my house is open, your keys still work.”

“Thanks old man. We need to be going, we’ll be seeing you, stay safe.” Wilbur waved at him and stood up, helping Techno up as well as they grabbed their bags. 

“Stay safe you two, I’ll be looking out for you.” The two walked away and Phil watched them until they vanished into the crowd around them. “Stay safe.” Phil said to no one and left the park as well, he had a lot of kids to buy shit for. 

Chapter Text

Phil was awoken by his phone at 3:19am and he was going to turn it off before he remembered he told the kids to call if they ever needed help. He had also given it to the other homeless kids if they needed help too, so he answered it with a hello to be met with sobs on the other end. Concerning. 

“Phil, help.” It was Wilbur, and Phil was already grabbing socks and shoes to put on as he asked what had happened. He was ready to pick them up from the police again, or the hospital if needed. 

“He got. He got caught. They took him. I don’t know what to do. Phil please, I need him.” Phil had zero clue what happened but he could come to a conclusion. Wilbur was crying harder now and Phil wanted to hold him close and tell him it would be okay, but he needed to help Techno first.

“Was it a social worker?” Wilbur hummed and Phil cursed as he got into the car. “Where are you kid? I’ll come get you.” 

“Prime Road, the phone booth at the end with the abandoned building.” Phil knew where that was, he also knew it was home base for the homeless kids in the area if his - fuck, not his, -  the kids he knew were truthful. 

“I’ll be there soon kid, I promise. Can you tell me if you are safe?” Phil really hoped the kid wasn’t injured, he hated when one of them was hurt and he couldn’t help them. 

“I’m fine, Tech isn’t. He was in a fight that got raided. I got out, but he didn’t.” Phil knew they still did fights, they had to be with Tech’s injuries. “I think it was a broken arm, not sure though.”

“Alright mate, we can make a plan on getting him back when I get to you. I am just turning the corner now.” Phil could see Wilbur in the phone booth and decided that whoever hurt his kids were going to pay for it. 

“I see you.” Wilbur stopped the call as Phil pulled up and the kid jumped into the car with no care in the world. 

“Oh mate,” Phil could see tears running down Wilbur’s face, “We will get him back, okay?” Sure Phil had zero clue how they would, but Techno was his kid and he refused to let him be kept from his twin. 

“I don’t know what to do, he’s my brother. Phil, I need him.” Wilbur started to cry again and Phil looked over before making a decision that could either be the best or worst in his life, and he pulled Wilbur into a hug. 

“I have you kid, I have you.” Phil was glad that he didn’t pull away, but he couldn’t bring himself to be happy when his other kid was somewhere he hated. “Do you have any idea where he was taken?” 

“It was a police raid and social workers were there so he might have gone to the old house? Puffy still works there if the kids are right.” Phil nodded, he knew where Puffy worked. “What are we going to do?” 

“Something stupid I think.” Phil replied because his idea was very fucking stupid and Wilbur would definitely hate it. 

“If it gets Techno out then let’s do it.” Wilbur looked so determined as he pulled away and Phil nodded before he voiced his plan. 

“You are both run away foster kids right?” Wilbur nodded and frowned. “Then if you go to where Techno is you will have to be fostered, and I am a foster parent now. I know it is the worst plan, but I can’t think of any other way to get him and you together again.”

“You want to foster us?” Phil nodded and Wilbur seemed to stare into his soul before speaking again, “What do you gain from it?” He sounded like Techno and Phil wondered how many times they should have asked that to foster parents.

“Nothing mate, I just want you both to be together again, brothers aren’t meant to be separated. Do you think it will work?” Wilbur shrugged and Phil prayed it did because if not the two kids would once again be lost in the system.

“We can try it, but if it doesn’t work then I’m getting Tech and running from our first house.” Phil nodded with a smile, honestly he loved these kids. 

“I wouldn’t expect anything else mate. I won’t be able to ask about you until the morning, do you think you can spend a couple of hours there? I can send you in with food, water, and first aid shit for Techno.” Wilbur nodded and Phil turned into his street and parked up. “Come on then.”

The two worked together fast, throwing a bunch of things that Techno might need into a bag, with snacks and water as well to keep them safe until Phil could get them. He also handed Wilbur an old phone that still worked. “Call me if you need me before I get there. I promise I will answer.”

“Thanks old man.” Phil smiled and the two were back in the car and heading towards the group home that they assumed Techno was at, if he wasn’t they were fucked. Phil stopped outside to see a few police cars and Wilbur froze as he watched a few of them walk past. 

“He is here, that's the one who arrested him with the worker.” Phil glared as the officer passed and Wilbur looked ready to stab someone. “I’m going to get Tech, you better be here in the morning old man or I’ll gut you and leave you to die.”

“I expect you to. Stay safe kid, and give them hell.” Wilbur grinned before he stepped out the car and ran to the group home door. Phil watched as someone opened the door and he was really fucking relieved when he saw it was Puffy who looked ready to drop from exhaustion.

He drove away when Wilbur was taken in and he knew the kid would be okay until morning, he just hoped Techno was as well. He made it home before the first message came in and he worried himself sick. 

His phone rang to show a message and he relaxed. Tech is here. He has been fixed up. Puffy is caring for us. Be here soon old man.

He read it a few times before he sent his own back, I’ll be there kiddo, try to rest before then though. He knew the kid wouldn’t sleep if Techno was hurt but he could rest while he protected his brother.

Phil couldn’t sleep so he started to go over everything Puffy had told him about fostering. He needed to have a clean house, he needed to have a safe environment, he needed to make sure the kids wouldn’t get hurt in his care. He needed to have a loving home. 

So as the hours slowly tickled by he cleaned his entire house twice and then made sure their room would be okay for them before his alarm rang to show it was 8am. That was a reasonable time to phone the group home right? Phil didn’t really care because he was phoning anyway. 

“Hello, this is Philza Craft, and I was wondering if I could come in to discuss fostering a child?” Phil smiled as he talked, he had a customer service voice after so many years in retail.

“Of course Mr Craft, are you a registered Foster Parent?” The man on the other side of the call sounded tired and Phil wondered if all the workers were like that. 

“I am, I can bring my certificate in with any other paperwork needed.” The man took a second to respond and Phil started to play with the pen he was holding.

“Would 10am be a suitable time for you? If not we can schedule another time tomorrow, we are busy today.” Phil hated how it sounded like they were discussing objects to look at and not kids. 

“Yes, that would be perfect, thank you.” The man on the other side hummed and Phil hung up before he messaged the kids, 10am, I’ll be there. He got a thumbs up in response and he started to do some work that he needed done. 

It was 9:30 when he stopped working and got ready, he showered, shaved, and put on a nice outfit for a good first impression and all that shit he should care about. His mind was only on the kids though, his kids , because they were now, he couldn’t stop seeing them as his kids. 

He arrived at the home ten minutes earlier, but he walked in and got himself ready with his paperwork, before he saw Puffy walk out of a door. “Phil, how are you?” 

“I’m doing well Puffy, just thought I would come in to discuss fostering.” Puffy nodded and Phil could see her tiredness she carried around. “How are you?” 

“Tired, we had a busy night here with new kids.” Phil tightened his grip at the words, his kids . “So, would you like to come in and talk about the kids? We have a few that you might do well with.” Phil nodded, standing up to follow Puffy into the room she left.

The two sat down at the desk and Puffy pulled a few folders out. “So Phil, what age range were you thinking?” Phil paused for a second, he knew the kids were 12. 

“I was thinking maybe 11-14? Older kids would be better for my work schedule I think.” Puffy nodded and pulled out a green folder. 

“We have a couple of kids in that group, can I give you their sheets for you to look at?” Phil nodded and Puffy handed him a few sheets over. “I’ll let you look through them.” 

The room was silent and Phil looked at the sheets, he couldn’t see Wilbur or Techno anywhere. Fuck. He was about to say something before there was screaming and Phil knew who that was, it was Wilbur. His Wilbur.  

“I’m sorry about that, they arrived last night and are having difficulty settling in.” Puffy didn’t look too concerned and Phil bit down his anger. 

“What are they like?” Phil asked after a second and Puffy raised an eyebrow at him. “What? The kid might be a fit, I want to know what they are like.” Phil hoped she fell for that. 

“They are friends, Techno Blade and Wilbur Soot. They think they are twins, and have a horrible record of running away.” Puffy seemed upset talking about them and Phil nodded at the information he already knew. “They wouldn’t be a good fit for you Phil.” 

“I don’t know, I think they would be. Can I meet them?” Puffy looked shocked at his request but slowly nodded before standing up and leaving the room, returning moments later with Techno and Wilbur who looked pissed at something. 

“Hi, I am Philza Craft.” Phil introduced himself like they were strangers and he caught the slight smirk from Wilbur before it was a carefully constructed face again. “How old are you two?”

“We are both 12, mister Philza.” Phil looked at Techno’s bandaged arm that was in a sling and frowned. 

“Are you okay kid?” Techno nodded and Phil smiled. “Well, I am looking to foster two kids your age. What do you think?” 

“Anything to get out of this fucking hell.” Phil laughed at Wilbur’s words, frowning when Puffy told him off. “You’ll probably regret it though, we are little shits apparently.”

“Sounds perfect, I never liked an empty house.” Wilbur rolled his eyes and Phil grinned at him. “So, yes or no?”

“Sure.” Wilbur said with no care in the world and Techno nodded. 

Phil looked at Puffy who seemed really confused but just nodded at the three of them anyway. “Uh, well if you could sign some paper while the boys get their things then I am sure we can have you all ready by lunchtime. Sound okay boys?” Wilbur and Techno nodded before they raced out the room and left Phil with Puffy. 

“I like them.” Phil said with a smile and Puffy didn’t look convinced. 

“Those two hate everyone, why do they like you?” Phil shrugged and Puffy frowned, “Something is off, but those two agreed so I can’t do anything. Are you sure you want this Phil?” Phil nodded and Puffy sighed. “Well I guess you have two kids now, paperwork is on the table so let’s get it done.”

The two of them spent about an hour signing paperwork and Phil was ready to crash by the time he finished, but he still  had to get the boys home for food and to make sure techno was getting the best medical care he could. 

When they finished Phil was at the door waiting for his boys to come down and he grinned when he saw them walk down the stairs. “Hey old man.” Wilbur whispered as they got closer and Phil grinned at him.

“Right boys, you know our number and my personal one if you need me, please don't repeat the last time.” Phil had been let in on all the issues with them, things they had told him and others he felt horrible knowing about, so he knew that Puffy was meaning them running away for three years.

“Yes Captain Puffy.” Wilbur saluted her and the two were beside Phil in seconds. “Can we go? This place makes me antsy.” Phil nodded and gestured to the door for them both to go through. 

“I’ll see you soon Puffy.” Phil waved to his friend before he was heading out with his kids, a smile on all of their faces. “Right, the next stop is home. Tech, how is that arm?”

“Broken, but it doesn't need to be fixed.” Phil nodded at the boy and started the car as they put their seatbelts on. 

“Well I still want to keep an eye on it, I know you hate doctors.” Techno nodded and Phil started to drive down the street. “I’m glad you are safe.”

“We are glad you are as well, old man.” Wilbur smirked from his seat and Phil turned to the road again. His kids were safe.

Chapter Text

Phil really didn’t know what to expect when he agreed to foster the two kids who had been homeless for three years, but he knew it would be a lot. It was around 1pm when they arrived back at the house and Phil helped them into the house with their bags, not that they let him hold them. 

“So, I have three spare rooms, you know the one you’ve used before, and there is one right beside it that is connected to a shared bathroom.” Phil gestured to the room door they knew. “You can decide who gets what room between each other."

“We share.” Wilbur straightened his bag as he spoke and Phil nodded. “You don’t come in at all.”

“I won’t come in unless you tell me it’s okay. I would like to have one key to the room in a drawer in case of emergencies.” Wilbur stopped and Phil could see him getting ready to argue but Techno nodded. 

“Emergencies only. Any other reason and we stab you.” Phil nodded and the boys were down the hall and into the room without a second look. He really needed to stop agreeing to them stabbing him, he also needed to ask them where the knife even came from. 

He started to get some food, just some sandwiches that he hoped the two kids would like, and he hummed quietly as he worked. It had been almost a year since he had met the kids, and now they were living with him. Oh fuck he actually fostered them. This wasn’t a dream, this was real. He had actually fostered them. Fucking hell.

He needed to ask Schlatt for advice, he would know what to do. He also needed to clean up for when Puffy did her visits in a week, fuck he had a lot to do.  

He finished the food, plating it and putting it on a tray with two glasses of water and he knocked on the door the kids were behind. “I have food for you both, I can leave it out here for you if you want?” There was silence for a few seconds and Phil was about to leave the tray on the floor before the door unlocked and opened to show Techno staring at him. “Here you go, I wasn’t sure what you would like so I made a few types for you. Do you need anything else?” 

Techno shook his head and Phil smiled before handing the kid the tray and stepping back so Techno could shut the door again. He knew it would take time for the kids to trust him, but he knew they liked him and they had started to trust him before the mess of the raid. Phil still wasn’t sure what the police had raided and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. 

He stood at the door for a few seconds, listening to Wilbur talk quietly, he couldn’t hear Techno reply, but Wilbur kept talking so Phil assumed they were okay and headed back to the living room where he could message Schlatt for advice. 

He opened the messages between him and his friend before he typed something out, Schlatt I fostered 2 kids. Help pls?

He didn’t expect for the other man to get back to him for a while, he had his own kids to deal with so Phil turned a documentary on and just kept it quiet in case his kids needed him for something. 

It was maybe 15 minutes into Phil learning about the old Aztec community that his phone rang and he picked it up to see Schlatt’s name on it. He answered, “Schlatt, my friend, how are you today?” 

“I am good, just tidying up since the kids are out today. How are you?” Phil laughed slightly at the question, because how was he? He had zero fucking clue and he wanted to crash for days to just sleep. “I could have guessed you were losing it, I didn’t even sleep the first week I had these three.”

“What the hell am I meant to do?” Phil questioned and he could hear Schlatt moving around before he answered. 

“To be honest, you just need to be there for them. I don’t know what they are like, but when Tubbo came to me he refused to talk. I mean he didn’t talk for close to three weeks, but I showed him I was there when he needed me. I made him food, I let him choose the films to watch, I let him have a choice. Eret and Niki were a bit different because they are older than Tubbo, but they both went through hell as well. I just kept reminding them that they were safe in my home, and it was their home as well.” Phil nodded as the other man spoke, taking everything in so he could help his two kids

“I don’t know how to help them, they have been through so much and it hurts me to even hear about it, but for them to live it? I don’t want to hurt them.” Phil hated the idea of hurting his kids, they were just 12-year olds who deserved better than they were giving and he would make sure they had everything they could ever want or need in their life. 

“How about you take them shopping and get them anything they want? I did that with my kids on the second or third day they came, and it helped make their rooms feel more like theirs.” Phil nodded even if his friend couldn’t see him. “Also, under no circumstances are you to yell at them. Do not let anyone yell at them, it won’t be good.” Phil hummed, knowing he would never yell at the kids he so quickly loved. 

“I would never do that, these kids are so young, they didn’t deserve the shit that they were given.” Phil could hear Schlatt humming as he spoke, the two of them agreeing with each other. 

“How old are they?” Phil smiled as he started to think of the ways he could gush about his boys. 

“They are both 12, they aren’t blood related, but they are twins. Techno is older by a couple of months and he is Wilbur’s protector basically, even if Wilbur could protect himself. Wilbur is so smart and sarcastic, the first time I met them he threatened to stab me. Schlatt these kids mean so much to me and I want to help them.” 

There was silence on the call for a second and Phil could hear Schlatt’s brain working to say, “You are attached already aren’t you?” Phil hummed and Schlatt laughed slightly, “Oh god, what are we doing? These kids have taken over our lives.”

“But we don’t care.” Phil replied, because they don’t. If Wilbur or Techno needed anything Phil would break his back to give it to them. “I don’t want to lose them ever.”

“Either.” Schlatt went quiet for a second and Phil knew he wanted to say something so he waited. “I think I want to adopt them.” 

“Wait really? Holy shit! Schlatt that is amazing, have you spoken to them about it?” Phil was grinning as he spoke, he knew how much Schlatt loved his kids. 

“Not yet, you are the first person to know. I don’t know how to bring it up to them. What if they don’t want me to?” Schlatt was frowning, Phil could hear it in his voice and he hated to see his friend so hurt.

“They love you, I see how Tubbo runs to you when he is hurt or upset. Eret looks up to you, you protect his brother and sister. And Niki, she loves you so much. She wants to stay with you, they all do, I promise.” Phil knew he was speaking the truth, he could see the way those three kids looked up to Schlatt every day. When they thought no one was listening they talked about how he was the best house they had ever been to. 

“I hope you are right my friend,” Phil heard something from the boys room and he looked over quickly, but the door was still shut. “I’ll need to go, I think that’s my kids back. We are having a Barbeque in a week or two, bring your boys if they want to come.”

Phil hummed, his eyes still on the door, “I’ll ask them, have a good day Schlatt, say hi to your kids for me.”

“I will, bye Phil.” Phil said his own farewells before he hung up and dropped his phone on the couch beside him. He needed to get plans for the next couple of days, so he could use Schlatt’s idea and take them shopping. The rooms were bare, and they needed their own phones as well. 

He had read books on fostering before he was approved, they never told him what to do when the kids had been homeless for years and had enough trauma to fuel a therapist for years to come. Phil had no fucking clue what to do, it would be a guessing game every second he talked to them.

Phil stood up, he could clean while he thought, cleaning always helped him get a better grasp on everything. He started in the kitchen, he cleaned up the dishes he had left last night. Cups in the top right cupboard, plates in the bottom right, pots and pans in the left bottom cupboard, cutlery in the top drawer. It was easy movements that he had been doing for months now since he moved into the house, he could probably do it in his sleep now. 

He moved onto the washing machine that he had been neglecting for a day or so and he turned it back on to get rid of that damp smell he knew his clothes would be covered in. He would have to ask the boys to do the washing for them as well, he would hate to leave them in things that might make them ill. 

When the washing was started he turned his attention to the floor, it just needed a sweep so he moved to the cupboard where he kept the cleaning things and started to sweep the crumbs. He wondered if the boys were okay, they had been in the room since they arrived, what if Techno needed to set his bone? What if Wilbur had lied about being injured? What if they had concussions and fell asleep? Oh fuck, stop panicking.  

Puffy had checked them for injuries, and Techno and Wilbur were better at helping each other if they were hurt, Wilbur mentioned being better at dealing with Tech after he was hurt. Phil was just overthinking and he needed to stop. But then, what if Techno hid something from Puffy and Wilbur couldn’t deal with it? Phil was outside of their door in seconds, hand up ready to knock but he didn’t get that far because the door unlocked and Techno was there with the knife pointed at him. It would have been more intimidating if the boy didn’t have one arm in a bandage and his hair in a bun.

“What do you want?” Techno questioned and Phil gently lifted his hands in a surrender. 

“I was coming to ask if you two were okay, I just wanted to see if all your injuries were healing.” Phil didn’t want to make it seem like he didn’t trust the two boys, but he really wanted to see if they were okay with his eyes. 

“We are fine, nothing I can’t deal with.” Phil frowned at that, he hated the idea of Techno being in pain. “If that is all I’m shutting this door.”

“Well not really, I was wondering if I could just look at your arm? I know it is broken and you refuse to get medical help from the professionals, but I can make sure it is set properly so it heals well.” Phil hadn’t had to set a bone in almost seven years, he could still remember the way the other man screamed in agony as Phil pulled his ankle into place. 

Phil could see Techno look at him carefully, it was like the boy was trying to work out his ulterior motive, but Phil didn’t have one. “If I say no, what will you do?” 

Phil sighed, but he expected this so he answered, “I won’t do anything, you can make the choice yourself and if you say no I will go back to watching the documentary I have on. I will make you both dinner and you can eat it in here or you can come into the living room with me. You both have a choice in everything you do here, even if I ask you to do it. You are both smart enough to know what is good or bad for you.”

Wilbur moved towards the door and Phil watched him as Techno shielded his brother from view. The two whispered to each other and Phil tried not to hear anything, but he could hear the whispered words of ‘just do it’ from Wilbur. 

“You can look at it, but only because Wilbur has some horribly misplaced trust in you.” Phil smiled with a nod and clapped his hands. He saw both boys flinch from the noise and he made a note not to do that anymore. 

“Where would you like to do this?” Techno pointed with the knife at the kitchen and Phil nodded. “Of course, I will be in there. You two come out when you want to.” Phil left them alone at the door and headed to where the first aid kit was in the kitchen. He had one in most rooms now because he was a little over prepared. 

There were steps and he looked up to see Wilbur and Techno walking side by side. He smiled at how domestic it looked, Wilbur had his arm slung around Techno’s shoulder with a smile on his face. Techno wasn’t smiling, but he didn’t look like he wanted to stab Phil so it was better than expected. 

“Techno if you could sit on the chair, Will you can stay beside him if you both want.” Phil watched as both boys nodded and he smiled. “Great, so I just need you to tell me what hurts while I look at it.”

“Fine.” Techno sighed as he sat down, Wilbur right beside him and Phil smiled at the two before he moved closer to Techno. The kid seemed to freeze and Phil hummed before he started to speak, hoping if he narrated what he was doing it would help them

“So first I need to make sure they set the bone properly, if not I will need to do it, but don’t worry I am a trained medic, could have been a doctor here if I wanted.” Phil could see Wilbur take everything he said in as he unwrapped Techno’s arm from the bandages. 

It was swollen more than Phil would have liked, and he could see a cut that didn’t look treated well. “I am going to touch your arm now, I need you to tell me when it hurts and what it feels like.” Phil watched as Techno nodded and he started to put pressure on the kids arm, trying to feel for anything wrong. 

Techno kept quiet and Phil was about to remind him to say when it hurt, and just as he pressed at the kids lower arm he heard a noise. “That bit hurts.” Phil could hear the reluctance in his tone and assumed that Wilbur had told him to say it so he nodded. 

“It is definitely broken and they haven’t set it properly of course, I can set it myself, but I would prefer to go to the hospital for it.” Techno shook his head and Phil sighed, “Why are you both so against hospitals?” He could see Wilbur start to shake and Techno looked more pale, so Phil took a step back. “Okay, no hospitals. Techno this is gonna hurt like a motherfucker, and you will hate me for it, but I need to set it before it starts to heal.”

“Just do it, I can deal with the pain.” Phil looked up to the kids, Wilbur was close to crying as he held Techno’s free hand. “Will, you shouldn’t be here, go to the room.”

“No, I'll stay.” Wilbur seemed more determined now and Phil wanted to agree with Techno, the kid had made his distaste for broken bones known multiple times and he looked ready to pass out already. 

“I’m just going to twist your arm, it will hurt, but then I need to make sure it is set right. I’ll wrap it up and then you might need to sleep. Would you prefer pain meds now or later?” Phil was trying to get himself ready for what he was about to do, he hadn’t done this in a while, and he knew Techno would be in pain because of him which made it worse. 

“Later, just do it. I’ll be fine.” Phil nodded, taking a deep breath as he held Techno’s arm and smiled at the boy. 

“I’ll do it on three, okay?” Techno nodded and Phil took a breath again, “One, two.” On two he twisted the boys arm and tried to ignore the shout of pain from him. He hated the idea of the kid being in pain because of him, it made him sick. “I know kiddo, I know.” He could see Wilbur much paler now and Techno was grinding his teeth.

“Is that it done?” Phil nodded to the two of them and Wilbur sighed in relief as Phil started to wrap Techno’s arm tightly. It wasn’t as good as a cast, but if the two didn’t want to go to the hospital this was the next best thing. He made a splint for him, he had a few emergency ones that would work, and he finished off with putting his arm in a sling to support the weight of it. 

“That has to hurt like a motherfucker and I am sorry, I’ll get you some pain meds for it, and then you can go back to your room.” Techno nodded and Phil started to move to get the medication and some water for him to drink them down with. 

He handed the cup to Techno with the pills and he watched him take them without even flinching, which Phil couldn’t even do, and he just nodded before he made his way back to the room with Wilbur in tow.

Phil just watched them go before he sighed and ran his hands through his hair, he was in the army for god's sake, he should be able to deal with two kids. Yet, he was still to find a parenting book about your kids being traumatized for being in a fighting ring from like 9-years old. How was he meant to help them? Could he help them? 

Phil collapsed on the couch and tried to make a plan so he didn’t worry about the kids in the room. He didn’t want to freak them out by his hovering, but he was scared of them getting hurt and being taken away from him.