Chapter Text
Technoblade felt conflicted about this, but as Sun Tzu always says ‘Know thy self, know thy enemy.’ Tubbo had been part of a government before and he may be part of one again. Going into snowchester with the entire syndicate would put the entirety of snowchester on guard and make them act as they think Technoblade wants them to. But Technoblade needed the truth, so he had quite a few invisibility potions on him.
Perhaps, Technoblade should have left more than a note on his desk. But, Tommy was still recovering from Dream killing him. The white streak in his hair and the haunted look in his eyes is enough to give him space. Phil is doing his best to help him recover, after all he thought he had lost another of the children he had raised, he deserves to have some peace. Nikki was drawing up plans for a new bakery and Ranboo was off gathering resources. If any of them look for him, his note should be enough. The next syndicate meeting is going to be a long one, with Tommy’s revival, hell, Ranboo and Nikki don’t even know he’s alive yet. It’s going to be even longer with whatever he discovers here.
He got a pretty late start on the surveillance at about 3pm, hopefully he hadn’t missed anything important, but he needed rest. He finds Tubbo in a farm, on his knees, with dirty overalls and a warm fuzzy jacket. Well, midday would be the hottest time of day, and in a place called “Snowchester” Technoblade supposed that would be the time to garden. Tubbo’s hair has grown out, his bangs spilling at the sides of his face and the rest of his hair tied in a small ponytail. Despite the basic outdoorsy clothes, a silver ring is wrapped around his horn. Tubbo plucks a final hearty potato from the line of crops, and places it in a basket. He wipes the sweat from his brow, Tubbo stands up and seems about to call out to someone, when suddenly a small pink blur runs into Tubbo’s legs.
“Bee! Bee! I got flowers for you! Offering for Mother!” The healed piglin zombie says, grinning ear from ear. First speaking in common, then in piglin. Technoblade is a little jealous, he didn’t understand common until he was at least twice the age of the boy.
“Oh Michael, they’re beautiful dandelions, thank you. Good plants, young one. I accept offering.” Technoblade is reluctantly impressed, piglin is a simple language in which a ton of words in common are meshed into one, and yet Tubbo is speaking it, albeit very accented. Technoblade knows it must be a newer skill, as he did not know it as a child.
Not only that, the boy refers to Tubbo as Mother. Now, piglins are creatures that live in packs. There is the mother, usually female, who cares for the young, and the protectors, the other adults both male and female, usually either related or the mates of the mother. Piglins despite living simpler lives are compassionate to their kind, an abandoned piglin youth are often adopted by a pack due to bigger packs being stronger. Technoblade is not surprised that the young boy was able to adapt and see Tubbo as his mother.
“Now, we need to put these in some water. Can you help me carry the produce, Michael? Show offering, help mother?” Tubbo says to the smiling piglet. Michael nods happily and picks up a pack of bamboo. Tubbo leans a large woven basket of potatoes, carrots and more on his hip and the dandelions in the other hand as if they were a precious flower. Which Technoblade supposes, is to Tubbo. Offerings are very important to piglin packs, it’s a promise of loyalty and to strengthen the pack. Tubbo has either done a lot of research, or simply loves his son to the point where haphazard projects are valuable. Technoblade carefully trots behind the happy duo.
The home is made of dark wood and grey stone. Technoblade has not forgotten Tubbo’s skill in building. The home is beautiful. And it is a home. It’s warm, with scattered homely items. Tubbo places Michael in a high chair. Michael watches with wide eyes, as his parent pours water from a pitcher into a glass jar, and puts the dandelions in and places it on the sunny windowsill.
“Now, do you want carrots or some potatoes for snack time?” Tubbo asks. Michael answers with little hesitation, “carrots! Eat gold?”
“Hmm..we do have a couple golden carrots, you can have one with your other carrots if you promise to eat them.” Michael nods “Promise! Promise!”
Tubbo grabs a wooden cutting board and gets some carrots and a golden carrot from the freezer box. Technoblade and Michael watch as Tubbo cuts the carrots into circles, places it on a clay plate and plants it in front of Michael. Michael eagerly wolfs the carrots down, and Tubbo tosses a carrot piece into his own mouth. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door. Tubbo grabs the kitchen knife and hides it behind his back as he moves toward the door. Technoblade places his hand on the hilt of his blade. Techno would guess they are both thinking the same thing... ‘Just in case.’