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The river was flooding.
Diving through the water, Techno looked around desperately. His fingers brushed against sodden cloth. Quickly, he yanked up, kicked as hard as he could and hoisted the person up next to him. Brown curls brushed his cheek. He turned and looked back. Kicked harder and made his way to the shore. Phil was already there, slumped against the pebbles and gravel. Once Techno got over, he poked his head under Phil’s wings. “Phil? Where—where’s Tommy?” Techno asked, lying Wilbur’s unconscious form against the ground.
Phil raised his head. Blue eyes met Techno’s, wide and worried. “He’s not with you?” Techno froze.
“Techno!” The voice was thin, barely audible over the pounding rain. Turning, Techno straightened up. There was a flash of sodden blond hair against the deep waters, rain thundering the surface. A wave crashed over Tommy’s head. One of his arms waved desperately, panicked.
Sprinting the distance to the waves, Techno dove in, immediately started swimming. The waves tossed his scrawny frame around. Not for the first time, Techno cursed his age. Sixteen years, sixteen summers of swimming and all he got were sunburns and muscle aches. Still, he had to keep swimming. He knew that Wilbur would be alright with Phil. Their dad would take care of him.
Techno had to get to Tommy.
“Tommy!” He yelled, slashing through the water. The waves yanked him around, bit at the reins holding them back. One particularly fierce one threw him into some nearby rocks. Gasping, Techno pushed back. Used the stream to slip forwards. Up ahead, he could see flashes of white and red cloth. Tommy’s shirt. “Tommy!”
“Tec—“ Tommy’s voice cut off. The shirt disappeared. When Techno got to where he thought Tommy would be, he dove down. Reached out for him. Come on, Toms. Come on.
Fingers brushed his.
Techno grabbed Tommy’s hand, wrestled the waves.
They broke the surface.
Against his back, the ten-year-old figure of his brother was already being ripped away by the torrent. Reaching back, he grabbed tighter to Tommy’s arms. Hefted him up a bit further. “Hold on, Toms.” He ordered. A wave smacked him in the face. Shaking his head, he shifted Tommy, felt weak arms holding onto him. Thin fingers wrapped in his shirt, Tommy’s chin rested on his shoulder. “Come on. Come on!”
There was a whimper from his brother. The tide kept pulling at them, and Techno glanced around. Then, he glanced back. Saw what was there at the river’s edge. No.
The water dropped away.
Quickly, he threw himself forwards. Kept glancing back and forth. Tried to find something, anything, to get his feet underneath him. White froth slashed around him, sprayed into his face. Tommy’s grip started to loosen and he could feel gravity pulling them down. Further and further. No. No, come on. Come on, Tommy needs you to get away. You need to move. You need to get out of this.
The roar of the water filled his ears. Rain splashed down on his face, driving into his eyes. Growling, Techno held tighter to Tommy’s wrists. The last rocks drifted by. Desperate, he reached out and grabbed onto one. Felt his palm get slashed open. Yelling, he glanced back.
It was too late.
Under them, the water dropped away. They were falling. Quickly, Techno turned. Now is the worst time not to have wings, he cursed. He had another two years before they developed. And he didn’t have any way to fly away. Not from this.
He shifted his grip on Tommy, got him braced against his chest and held him close. The waterfall wouldn’t kill them. But Tommy didn’t need any more injuries than he might have already had. Techno had promised to take care of him.
The surface of the pond raced up to meet them. For a moment, Techno felt everything go dark. Then, he was thrown back into his body.
Tommy was gone. Above him, the surface of the pond danced under the rain. Turning, Techno glanced around. Held his breath. There wasn’t anyone in the water, not that he could see.
Breaking the surface, he looked around frantically. There, lying against the shore, was his brother. Muddy, bloody, and curled up like he couldn’t move. Tommy. The river wasn’t as forceful here. Swimming over, Techno floundered a bit as he stood. Stumbled to the side once. “Tommy.” He whispered. Dropping down by the kid, ignoring how the rocks stabbed into his knees, he reached out with trembling hands. “Tommy. Please.” Carefully, he lifted Tommy’s face from the water. The rain pattered down around them, gentler now. Smoothing Tommy’s hair back, Techno looked at him. “Tommy.”
There was a small scrunch to Tommy’s nose. Then, weakly, he coughed. Shook slightly. He opened his eyes just a little bit. Looked at Techno. A shaky breath left him. “T-Tech—“
Dropping down by him, Techno pulled him close. Both of them were soaking wet. Blood matted the left side of his little brother’s hair, smearing it against his skull. There was a cut above his ear, arcing over to his eye. “Hey, Toms. It’s okay, it’s alright.” Gently, he moved a hand under Tommy’s cheek. Pulled him closer to him. “You’re going to be alright.” He glanced down, checked Tommy’s neck and spine for more injuries. The back of his shirt was sopping wet with heat . He’s bleeding.
Tommy’s foot kicked against his. But he can feel his legs. He’s just hurt. “Everything hurts.” Tommy whispered. Eyes half-closed, he leaned into Techno a bit more. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s on his way. He has to be.” Tommy nodded. Then, he dropped his head onto Techno’s arms. His eyes started to shutter closed a little bit. Then, he sighed. Shook once. “Tommy? Tommy, you need to stay awake.”
“I’ll be fine.” Tommy mumbled. “Just stay with me?”
“Of course.” Techno whispered. Brushing Tommy’s hair back from where it was plastered to his forehead, Techno pressed a kiss to Tommy’s forehead. He was so small, really. Even for a ten year old. Gently, he brushed Tommy’s hair back with his fingers. Kept doing so. Tommy’s breathing was labored and heavy, struggling. He had probably swallowed some water. He’d certainly almost drowned. “You’re going to be alright, Toms.” He promised.
Taking a breath, he rested his head on the gravel and settled into watching Tommy and waited.
+++
When Phil found them, Wilbur wasn’t with him.
Lifting his head, Techno looked over at him. “Hey.” He murmured. Against his chest, Tommy was still wheezing. Smiling, Phil bent down and carefully scooped them both up. He wrapped his cloak around them. Then, he took off.
The night air brushed around them. In his arms, Techno could hear and feel Tommy’s breath rasping in his chest. “He sounds like shit.” Techno murmured. Huffing, Phil landed clumsily by their stairs. Walked up the steps. Then, he shifted the door open.
Tommy stayed in Techno’s arms even as Phil settled them both on the couch. Gently, Techno carded his fingers through Tommy’s hair. There was a soft cough. Opening his eyes, Tommy looked at him for a moment. There was a sort of blurriness to his eyes. The heat settled down on them from the fire. Phil returned with blankets.
Gently, he layered the blankets over them. There had to be at least six blankets. Tommy’s arms wrapped around Techno’s waist and he buried his head in Techno’s neck. “Hey. We’ll be alright. We’re alright. See? We’re home.” He whispered. Nodding, Tommy settled against him.
The next morning, Phil showed Techno a picture of him and Tommy cuddled together on the couch, which he was sworn into secrecy for.