Work Text:
Curtains swept through cold air quickly to die from the warm body and hot tea kettle in the kitchen. Dawn broke in with streaks of light through the windows this morning, illuminating the home with no need for a candle and gently waking up both residents with the gentle sway of a lazy Sunday. It would be tradition if both their lives weren’t so hectic to fall into this borderline domestic shared routine. Rising with the sun to get dressed for an unplanned day and walking into the kitchen, Phil being an early bird compared to his friend, started breakfast.
“Mornin’” Was the half-asleep warble that barely broke the silence as Techno shuffled into the room. The voices were always quiet in the mornings and the crows scattered to their flocks in the night. It was just sleepy eyes cause neither occupants were morning people and cracking joints that rivaled the fire Phil started for morning tea.
While Phil did that Techno made himself busy and fed their plethora of pets, they were mostly Techno’s anyway, and came back to what Techno would consider “A perfect cup of tea and burnt toast”, cooling on the table. Neither of them minded the too dark grain and sat and began talking about their plans for the day.
"I was just gonna tend to the farms today, keep it simple y'know?" Phil took a long sip of his tea, not really wanting to go out into the tundra but also not having a care to do something more exhilarating. The crops were nice to deal with.
"I'm probably gonna work in the library, really want prot IV on my extra, extra, set of armor" it was a light joke that had both boys chuckling. Both seemed to go for their favorite easy jobs, and they couldn't blame each other for it, it’s been a while.
"Alright, mate. I'll bring back some fresh veg for lunch." Phil declared and if he noticed the childish spark behind Techno's eyes after those words, he didn't comment on it.
They finished breakfast with a nod to one another before separating and getting started on the day. Philza grabbing his thick cloak to bear the tundra and Techno locating his reading glasses that the other would only sometimes make fun of. Both fall into a repetition of tasks quickly, inspect, pick, replant, and inspect, pick, re-enchant. Noon came by with steady ease and passed all the same. Phil finished up the last farm and after some reorganizing, walked back to the cabin with a small basket of earnings for late lunch. What he didn't expect upon entering was the piglin to be thrown about the couch, head peeking over the backing upon his entry.
"Phiiil" Techno pleaded out, it almost reminded him of Tommy with the way the piglin fully sat up, laying over the cushion to look at the requested man of the hour from the couch with grabby hands stretching towards the blonde.
Phil softened, "Heya mate, I thought you were in the library.", he placed the basket in the kitchen to the dismay of the mentally smaller one when he heard a small whine, this normally wasn't the common occurrence, well, it was but it wasn't. "Too many words, even chat was bored," Techno sighed, still making grabby hands, Phil would have to come to his plea eventually and a small chuckle escaped the avian as he made his way to those outstretched hands, interlocking them with his own to get the taller one's attention as he walked around and sat down on the couch with him.
"How old are you?" Philza asked with Techno’s new attention. They had a secret, Techno would age regress from time to time, Phil only knowing after years of living with the man, it was a secret between an immortal angel of death and a god of blood themselves that they shared. However, usually, Techno would only regress after incredible amounts of stress and coaxing, being treated as a bloodthirsty war machine can never be 100% okay on anyone’s psyche, causing Techno’s regression to be involuntary and messy, this wasn’t, it was new and welcomed for the time being until Phil could get to the bottom of things.
Techno took one of his hands away from Phil's as he thought about it, holding up 5 appendages but hesitantly, unsure. He thinks he's 5.
"We got a little piggy then?" Phil lacing a coo within the nickname that made Techno happy and warm in the bite of the tundra, Techno shook his hands out of Phil’s to stop holding his hand and instead so the younger could shift to hold Phil instead, giggles erupted from the hug, a dark wing coming across to join in as well.
Any hold on Philza's avian instincts went out the metaphorical window, coos and chirps played into the air as the little shifted once more in his caregiver’s lap and laid upwards on his back playing with Phil's hands. Little Techno played into his own genetics, piglins copying sounds as affirmation. Hearing the more guttural flutters of vocal cords made Phil's heart melt like the ice on their roofs in the springtime. Another sound erupted too, a sound from the piglin’s stomach.
Looking down at the suspect Phil asked, "Is the prince hungry?", with a warm smile. Techno avoided eye contact and looked shyly at his own hands.
Luckily Techno was usually good with his words in regression, "Yeah.." he paused, "But p'ay time..".
"It's okay kiddo, we can play afterward. How about I make some soup while you get into comfortable clothes, I bet those adult clothes feel icky" and Phil was right, the collar on his shirt was suffocating, his pants felt too tight and everything was an itchy material, mixed with the promise of soup (which Phil knew was his favorite while regressed), Techno quickly nodded and both separated to do their tasks.
Techno came back in a soft pair of pink pajama pants and a red sweater, albeit it took him a while to get changed with the younger mentality, but Phil knew he would come get him if he actually needed help so instead Phil was letting the soup simmer before it was finished, turning to his boy when he heard the footsteps eching closer.
"Well, doesn't that feel better, little one?" Phil came over to where Techno stood just out of the kitchen and carded his hand through pink locks and made his hands way down to Techno's cheeks, maybe Phil’s age showed in the way he squeezed his cheeks but the little simply responded 'mhm' and enjoyed the touch.
"Good job kiddo, soup's almost done too!” dropping his hands a quick thought came to mind, “Would King like to join us?".
King was Techno's dog plushy that had a small felt crown hand-stitched on and was very well-loved. So with a, assured "Kin-g!" Techno ran back up to go get the beloved stuffed animal. Phil shouting a 'be careful' as he successfully distracted the boy from the soup to pass time till it was ready to be served.
King must've been hiding, cause when Tech finally came to lunch (Late lunch? Early dinner?) with King in tow, Philza was plating up soup bowls of mushroom stew. Playing into those hybrid genetics Techno's taste for nether food were more apparent in these moments, so the familiar fungi treat should be a comfort close to home.
"T’ank you, papa!" Techno graatfully called out as he sat at the table bouncing in his seat as a bowl was placed in front of him. He sat King on the table next to him but just far enough for no spilling accidents, a soupy wet dog was never fun time, and began to chow down.
"You're welcome, mate" Phil took his own bowl and sat next to Techno across from King, and started on his own portion of soup.
The two ate in silence aside from the occasional "mmm" or slurp and kicking of feet under the table, looking at the boy, Philza still wondered what made Technoblade regress and so suddenly. He'd hate to think he was under immense stress without knowing, that he was oblivious to his friend’s discomforts after several years of learning and knowing the signs. The idea made his heart pang with pain, he didn't notice anything for the past few weeks. Phil ignored his own half eaten bowl of soup in favor of trying to find a reason, but when Phil finally came out of his thoughts to check up on Tech, the scene shut up every bit of guilt or doubt. Next to him, Techno's eyes dropped and his hold on his spoon was light, slow movements paired by the tired dropping of his head and quick jolts as he fought to stay awake and finish eating.
Phil couldn’t help but audibly awe, "I think someone's tired, does our prince need a nap?",
The sleepy nod played until something clicked in Techno’s mind and he quickly corrected to shake his head no. However, Techno wasn't one to be defiant about naps.
"What's wrong little one?" Phil asked, concerned.
Techno shook his head again, "Too col'", he slurred, "room too col'"
Being a naturally warm creature, Phil could see how that could be an issue, heck some avians even flew to warmer reigiens at the sight of autum so he understood the discomfort. Luckily, he’s with Phil and Phil knew what to do.
"That's alright mate, I have an idea."
Curiosity plucked at Techno's eyebrow as the avian stood and paced around the home gathering up some of their softer throw blankets and light pillows. He then took a blow pick and reagitated the fire used to cook the stew back to its roaring flame. Feathers dragging on the floor as he turned to the younger, "Grab any blankets from your room."
Tech gave a curt nod, accepting the assignment and Philza nodded back as he quickly listened, running back off into his room and coming back with 2 blankets, one of which seemed familiar, if the fraying stitches and faded blue dye were anything to go by, the other a soft white that matched the snow outside or the fluff of one’s royal coat.
All the blankets were collected and placed near the fire to be warmed.
"Big bed or little bed Tech?" Phil asked turning back to the piglin, the big bed being Technoblade's bed, the little bed being their couch.
"Little bed." Techno said with much confidence, Philza hummed in agreement and after a minute, he took the first blue blanket and wrapped it around his boy's shoulders. The warmth quickly overtook any shiver and made Techno sink, almost purr.
Phil then took a larger blanket and set it over the couch, grabbing two more to cushion any gaps along with the pillows, and then took the last blanket with himself, sitting on what was essentially a nest. Inviting Techno over to him to which Techno greatly obliged, quickly scurrying to pluck King from the kitchen table before he could forget and joining Phil. He cuddled closely to the older, laying his head on his abdomen, keeping wary of his tusks and wrapped his arms around Phil's torso, the left arm more lazily as it also held King close of course. The last blanket was then thrown over the both of them, making a warm cocoon to block out any last bite of chill in the tundra with lazy sundays and soft smiles. Philza's hand found home in pink locks once more, playing the soft strands with softer content hums to a made up melody resembling a lullaby he could never remember the verses to.
"Is that better little one?" Phil spoke into the air as to not startle the very tired boy in his lap, and when all he got was a small snore in response he knew everything was perfect.
Phil also knew something else, well more like learned something else. You see Techno didn't regress because he was stressed or overworked, atleast this time, he did it because he was comfortable and tired on that lazy Sunday, and that made Phil comfortable too.
A yawn escaped the older, a nap wouldn't be a bad idea.