Chapter Text
SUMMER.
Technoblade awoke so peacefully that it startled him.
Sleep did not often come quite as easily, afterall. Techno’s nights were often plagued with nightmares as confusing as they were horrific in their violence. Years ago, he’d confessed to Philza after a rather embarrassing incident of wetting the bed, and trying to sneak off the sheets to do his own laundry before he’d even learned how to tie his own shoes. That went as well as one would expect it to, with one so young, and still sorting out their fine motor skills. Philza had spent the entire next week calling for a fix for the machines, and eventually to no avail, having to get them replaced.
Technoblade won’t admit to crying afterwards, though he allows the memory of his Father’s reassuring words and embrace to envelop him whenever he feels particularly vulnerable.
He feels fine, now. Well rested. He takes a steadying breath, wondering why the gods have offered him grace today, when he feels a shift beside him.
Ah, he thinks bemusedly. Here is my answer.
Tommy sleeps curled into a ball next to him, and Techno cannot help the ache of his heart at the sight of his youngest brother. Tucked dutifully into his side like a cat clings to the warmth of the sun, Tommy’s small hands clutch lightly at his older brother’s hair, pink as the sky outside at dawn. Strands of it lie tangled loosely in his fingers, and memories of the night before trickle back into Techno’s memory.
Tommy had climbed into his bed then, giggling softly, asking to play.
“I think it’s well past your bedtime,” Techno noted.
“Well then, I’ll just sleep with you,” Tommy replied. So simple. So easy. His eyes were aglow - excited, and most certainly not sleepy, but who was Techno to say no to such a pure smile? As if all Tommy desired was the company of his brother, and nothing more nor nothing less could satisfy. Perhaps this was true, though Techno could never wrap his mind around being on the receiving end of such strong affection. How did he come to deserve this? Sweet, sweet Tommy.
They’d spent hours whispering to each other, the moon high in the sky, with stories and secrets and shushes when one or the other got too excited (Tommy) or too loud (also Tommy). Tommy had eventually been coaxed to sleep when Techno granted him permission to play with his hair. There was a strange fascination the youngest had with it, and nothing worked better at getting Tommy to relax than allowing him to touch and braid it. Sometimes he chose not to, content with combing his fingers through when he said it felt especially soft after a good soaking in the bath. Techno supposes the methodical movement was easy to drift off to.
Now the sun shines into the room, the beginnings of a new day, touching at their feet and setting the room in a soft light. Tommy inhales deeply, burying his nose into the strands, where the nostalgic, earthly scent of his brother melts his body deeper into bed. Techno chuckles, slowly propping himself onto an elbow, grateful his hair is long enough not to be tugged around from his shifting. Looks like someone wouldn’t be waking anytime soon.
That was fine. Techno loved seeing Tommy asleep as much as he did awake. Tommy awake was boundless energy and echoing laughter, infinite movement and inquiry of the world around him. He was bold, and loved to present himself with courage. A bringer of brightness to their household. And soon, because Tommy always seemed to grow so fast, much too fast , that brightness would encompass the world. Techno was sure of it.
But Tommy asleep was the complete opposite. He slept nearly like a rock, and Techno relished that for someone with such a big personality, Tommy purposefully made himself small in moments like this, and became endearingly meek in wanting to be cared for.
Techno would always be ready to indulge him, no matter, because Techno had come to learn that life was awfully beautiful, when you could realize how much someone loved you.
In the distance, a song flowed through the house. A quiet guitar to ease everyone into rising, beckoning a closer listen with the promise of comfort. Tommy’s lashes fluttered, and Techno leaned in to cup his world in the palm of his hand, giving a kiss to it gently on the forehead. He hugged Tommy close, and a surge of emotions welled up within him. He would trade lifetimes of nightmares if it meant that Tommy could continue to dream on.
A sense of helplessness filled him suddenly. For although there seemed to be what felt like an infinite amount of love within himself, there too was a sense of limit in what he could offer to show that.
Still, he would love this boy for eternity. In another universe. Here, in this room. The least he could do was make a promise to himself, and pray that he would keep it.
Techno made a vow to hold him close forever.