Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The crackling of the fire filled the silence of logstedshire as Tommy huddled close to the fire, cold biting at his fingertips, a cardigan made from friends' wool wrapped around his shoulders, the last thing he had of ghostbur. After wilburs revival and dreams imprisonment he had decided to continue living in exile since he fully believed he deserved it. He had betrayed everyone, returning to civilization would only make everyone hate him more.

Winter was in full swing and snow swirled around him, a shivering cold mess. He was sure he’d die of hyperthermia before morning broke, he was tired, cold and sore but he couldn't leave the fire or he would probably freeze in seconds (an educated guess). He curled closer to the fire, its warmth calling to him like a moth to a flame literally. His small wings wrapped around his cold frame, the outer feathers were frozen to the skin of his wings, he could already feel his fingers going numb as the storm raged around him. His eyes began closing as the warmth of the fire pulled him closer into the arms of sleep, his body aching.

When he woke up hours later to a chill down his spine, the sky was still dark and the storm seemed to have only gotten worse. He reached out to grab some wood to throw onto the fire only to realise that the pit where it had been was covered in snow. The realisation shook any sleep left from his body as he desperately tried to clear away the snow and relight the fire begging for the fire to just somehow combust. He called out for Dream until his throat went raw before realising if he was in prison he wasn't coming. A final scream of desperation left his throat as tears froze to his face. He fell to his knees and curled around himself, his wings completely frozen to his back as he continued to sob and beg for anyone…

He didn't want to die alone…

Chapter Text

Technoblade rode Carl through the thick snow as it began melting in the presence of the morning sun. The air was fresh and cool as it whipped past him, the familiar feeling grounding him as the voices echoed in the back of his head. He stopped to observe a small red structure in the distance coated in thick snow, a pang of realisation hit him and he remembered that that was where his younger brother's exile was held, before he. He stopped himself attempting to shake the thought from his head as the voices begged him to check it out. He tried to steer away from it but he found Carl pulling on the reins and going towards it.

Conflicted on what to do he went towards the camp, the closer he got the more visible the dirt tower became , looking at it hurt. He jumped off of carl to continue looking around, there was something in the snow, if it was something of tommys he needed to get it. He wouldn't admit it but he missed his brother. Continuing to walk over to the object he observed the area before kneeling down next to the snow covered thing, he placed his hand on it carefully before pulling it back at the biting cold. He then began brushing it off not expecting to feel the frozen cloth causing him to pull his hand back again, he looked around the area again and began feeling around finding the end of the thing and lifted it up, the snow falling off. He looked down at his frostbitten younger brother, the voices screeching in the back of his head, looking at his colourless face and frozen wings. He practically ran back to Carl clutching who he hoped (prayed) was tommy. Before he reached Carl he grabbed the fabric of the falling apart tent and wrapped it around his brother, he climbed onto Carl still clutching Tommy to his chest.

“Please let him be alive”.

Chapter Text

The ride back to his cabin was silent except for the howling wind. Looking down at the boy in his arms, every few seconds, flooded by worry. By the time they got there snowflakes were starting to fall as another wave of storms brewed, he raced Tommy inside placing him in front of the flickering fire. Techno tried to remain composed as he unwrapped the moldy tents fabric from his brother, several feathers coming off with it, despite no color returning to it the ice had melted off his face. He gently tried to pry his damaged wings from his back but to no avail.

He walked through the house collecting the few blankets the piglin had to wrap around him. When returning to his brother by the fire he ruffled the snow out of his hair before wrapping the blankets around him to something resembling a nest. He chucked a few more logs onto the fire causing a burst of flames, the warmth didn't bother him despite how cold his cabin normally was. A stir of movement startled techno out of the fires trance as he looked down at the bundle,with the twitch of tommys thawed wings relief washed over him. Now that he knew Tommy was alive he had to focus on making sure he stayed alive.

He thought about notifying Phil of tommys presence but decided that he would do so tomorrow. All his attention had to be on Tommy; he didn't want to lose another brother.
He had talked to Wilbur once after his revival and it ended with techno slamming the door in his face and hadn't seen him since. He had been told by phil that he had come around a few other times when techno was out insisting he needed to talk to the piglin but as techno instructed after he came around the first time phil turned him away.

Techno sighed he missed when they were younger.

Chapter Text

The howling wind of the tundra was harsh, Wilbur crunched through the snow, large brown wings wrapped around his back securing him for the biting cold. His visit to his father and twin brother was unplanned but important nonetheless, he needed to see techno, check he was okay. He hadn't seen him since Tommy's death As the light of the commune started to draw closer his mind eased, surely his brother would stop being so stubborn and let him in this time, he had to.

He sighed, thinking of times as children when he and techno got along, always by each other's sides , inseparable. He laughed how people had alway questioned if the twins were actually twins because of how techno was a piglin and he was an avian, it reminded him of when people would ask if fundy was really his. He missed Tommy as well, the happy carefree tommy not the tommy that was there the last time he saw him. No, he missed his tommy, the tommy who was loud and obnoxious not the tommy who was quiet and reserved, always glancing around his surroundings as if waiting for someone to jump out at him. That was nothing like the Tommy he remembered.

But then again it was unlike techno to be this distant from his twin, perhaps he had missed a lot more than he thought in limbo.

Regardless this wasn't gonna stop him from trying to get his brothers to go back to acting normal , well as normal as Tommy could be.
As his distance between the lights of the commune and him drew to an end he found a new pep in his step and determined glint back in his eye, one that was rivalled only by the one when he started lmanburg.

“I swear techno if you don't open the door I'm gonna kick it down” he grinned.

Chapter Text

A loud knocking interrupted Techno in his newfound routine.
Read, check on tommy, continue reading, check on tommy again, throw a log on the fire, repeat.
He was currently checking Tommy for the 7th time. His condition wasn't ideal but at least he knew that if he kept Tommy in the current conditions he would most likely be okay.
The knocking came again. Techno sighed and made his way over to the door, opening it to reveal…
Wilbur aka the one person he didn't want to see right now.
“ ah Techno you're finally home then i've been mea- “
Techno went to slam the door in his face but Wilbur blocked it with his foot.
“Oh come on tech dont be like that”.
“Sorry i don't vote find someone else to enlist in whatever stupid election campaign your running now”.
“Oh techno cut out your middle child nonsense and let me in, plus you know my presidency days are behind me dear brother of mine” he said as he pushed past techno and walked into the foyer of the cabin.
“I find that hard to believe”.

“It's rather toasty in here aye” Wilbur joked as he removed his jacket and placing it on top of one of techno many chests “Nice place though you build it”.
“Nooo fucking faries did, what do you think”.
Wilbur chuckled.
His eyes fell up the lump of blankets next to the fire.
“Are you trying to burn your house down” he said making his way over to the lump “do you not remember phil teaching us fire safety.
He reached out to grab the blankets before recoiling at the touch.
It felt as if all the warmth in the room was gone as he shoved his hands in his pocket and looked over at his brother who was standing in the doorway.
“You remember Tommy right”.
Wilbur stopped.
“Of course I do but what does he have to do with anything he's-” he cut himself off if he started talking about his dead baby brother he would surely cry. He missed him.
Techno gestured to the blankets and walked over to his brother.
“Are you sick or just delusional?” Wilbur asked, his grin slipping from his features.
“Neither”.
“Listen tech i know you have a weird thing with change but”
Techno rolled his eyes.
“Techno listen Tommy's dead he died in exile remember”.
“He's not dead wilbur hes-”
“No techno He's dead okay”.

The blankets rustled next to the arguing twins.

Chapter Text

Tommy awoke to yelling and a painful throbbing in his head. The warmth around him didn't seem to help the aching in his chest. He peered through whatever was covering him and he was met with a flickering fire and the familiar look of technos cabin. He closed his eyes again hoping it would help sooth his pounding head before it struck him.
Why was he in Technos cabin? Had he been hiding from him and fallen asleep, was he being held hostage!. The arguing voices seemed to only get louder but he couldn't understand what they were saying. He began to think back to the events that got him here, he remembered being in exile and it was snowing.
His fire went out and he couldn't relight it.
He was cold.
He cried for Dream but Dream was in prison.
No one came.
He should have died.
Was this heaven, it didn't feel like heaven.
Maybe he was in limbo, stuck forever having to listen to his brother's insistent arguing.
His limbo was different last time.
Wait his brothers were here he could hear them.
He let out a sigh he had hoped that he was in limbo.
Why couldn't he just finally die.
He should have died back at the tower.
Why didn't he?

He groaned before suddenly feeling a heavy object fall down on him. He yelped as he struggled with whatever was holding him trying to get the object off of him.
“What the fuck” he yelled, his voice hoarse.
When he finally untangled himself from his bindings he looked up only to see his yellow clad older brother standing over him looking like he was about to cry and his piglin brother sitting on the floor next to him attempting to help remove him from the blankets, before Tommy burst into a coughing fit.

Wilbur was getting angry, he understood grief, he understood that this must be hard for his twin, but when techno started insisting that Tommy was alive he just lost it. As much as Wilbur wanted it to be more than some kind of delusion of Technos he just couldn't.
His brother was dead and there was nothing he could do.
Dream had killed him.
Despite what everyone said he knew that dream had. He hadn't been seen since long before dream was arrested. as much as he hated that it was true, Tommy hadn't made it through his exile. He had died, probably suffered. He was gone and he just needed techno to accept that. He didn't even know why techno cared, he and Tommy had never been as close as Wilbur had been with the boy. It just didn't make sense.

Wilbur lost it and shoved Techno causing him to trip over the lump of blankets(?) which then caused a yelp of pain to ring through the room as techno hit the floor. But the yelp had been way too high to be technos voice and as the lump began frantically struggling and as Techno began to frantically try to unwrap whatever (whoever) was in the blankets.
“What the fuck” a hoarse but oh so familiar voice yelled.

Oh.

Oh.

Wilbur wanted to cry. That voice couldn't be real but he had just heard it so it had to be. As the blankets were finally removed from the boy Wilbur was met by the piercing blue eyes of his dead baby brother and wilburs heart just about shattered. His baby brother was alive. He was alive and okay and here right in front of him staring at him. He began to bend down to hug him but before he could his brother burst into a fit of coughs. Techno immediately went over to him in an attempt to soothe the fit and Wilbur just stood there.

Techno continued to soothe the boy and checking over him.
“Why am I here?” Tommy croaked out.
“Do you remember what happened?” Techno asked.
“I was in exile and the fire went out , but that still doesn't explain why I'm here”.
“Theseus you almost froze to death your lucky i got there when i did”
“Why?”
“I- Tommy you would have died, we could have lost you”
“So?”
Wilbur didn't think one little word could ever break his heart like that did, he felt like crying again.
“Because we love you Toms” Wilbur's voice shook.
Tommy let out a dry laugh “no you don't”.
The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it.
Wilbur sucked in a breath.
“Where would you ever get that idea toms” he said as he rubbed circles on his back.
“Dream said so, I'm just a nuisance” Tommy said as if it was a universally well known fact.
Wilbur stood up causing Tommy to flinch back.
“No you listen here Tommy” he placed his hands on his shoulders as techno took over rubbing Tommy's back.
“I don't know what Dream said but whatever he did just forget it because he's wrong, sure you can be loud and over the top and overly excitable”
“Wilbur”
“Sorry, but you are in no way unlovable-”
Tommy pushed Wilburs hands off his shoulders and stood up.
“I dont need your fuckin pity, now i would like to return home”.
“There's no Lmanburg anymore remember” Wilbur attempted to joke.
“To Logstedshire”
The twins were taken aback by the answer.
“But-” Wilbur started.
“Why Theseus?” Techno asked bluntly.
Tommy stopped walking towards the door and stared for a second and thought.
“Why stay there Theseus Dream isn't around to keep you there anymore”.
Tears sprung to Tommy's eyes.

“Because I deserve it”...

Chapter Text

“No you dont”.
“What”
“Theseus you don't deserve to be there” technos voice was stern.
“Besides, your exile should be over now anyway,” Wilbur joked despite his voice shaking.
Tommy blankly stared at them, confused.
Wilbur sat back on the couch, patting the empty spot beside him, an invitation.
“Come on toms” Wilbur practically pleaded.
Tommy only took a few steps towards the couch before Wilbur pulled him into his arms, despite the new found warmth the chill still sat thickly in his bones refusing to budge.
Wilbur had to stop himself recoiling as he held his little brother in his arms due to the icy cold of his skin. It worried him. Tommy buried his face into wilburs shirt hoping that somehow his brother's presence would cause the cold to disperse. He looked down at his hand, his blackened fingers hurt as he flexed them, he could feel wilburs eyes staring down at him pulling him closer.
A weight settled on the couch beside them, “Phil will be home in a couple days”.
Tommy felt wilbur tense beside him.
“I figured that I'd wait until he got back to tell him you're here, to make sure I didn't get his hopes up in case you” wilbur jabbed him in the side.
“I'm sure he’ll be very happy to see you toms” Wilbur patted his hair.
“He’ll be overjoyed”.

Phil was to return to the commune in three days,he had begun packing to return just needing to tie up a few loose ends before leaving. His trips to the nether had grown longer and more frequent after his youngest son's death. This one had been about two weeks, he’d been gone longer than previously expected and he was excited to return home to technoblade, he had not received any message from his son in about 4 days but techno always had, had a weird way of coping. He had probably disappeared into the woods around the cabins to go hunting for a few days. He worried for all his boys, even more after tommys passing, techno was almost never home and wilbur…
He didn't see much of Wilbur these days.
The last time he saw him was when he came looking for techno, about 3 weeks ago.
He hoped that he didn't hold what happened in L’manburg against him, sure he himself wasn't exactly happy with how the situation had played out but it had to be done and there was nothing he could do about it now. He wasn't even sure if Wilbur knew that Tommy was dead.
Those words didnt belong in the same sentence, Tommy and dead. His lively mischievous little boy, his baby. He was yet to speak with Kristin on the matter as his travels took up most of his time. Maybe that was the point of them. To avoid the topic. He was sure his wife knew of his demise. He was trying to justify his avoidance, his self aware musings were pulling him deeper into his mind, causing him to drift back to the empty place in their broken family, Tommy…

He needed to get home, just a few more days.

Chapter Text

Wilbur, Techno and Tommy sat around the coffee table, Techno sipping coffee from a plain mug, a hot chocolate sat untouched in front of Tommy, Wilbur was swirling water around his glass. The three sat in silence until-
“Techno my amazing brother”
“Yes”
“My strong, cool, brother”
“Yes wilbur” , Techno groaned.
“My very poggers brother-”
“Wilbur!”
“Can I stay here?”
Techno was taken aback by the question.
“What?”
“Well given that Tommy will most likely be staying here, I figured that perhaps I could stay here and help keep an eye on him at least until Phil gets back”.
“Yes,” Techno sighed.
“Look i know we've had our differences and i'll be out of your hair the minute you- wait what” Wilbur paused for a second “your being serious right”
“Yes I am Will, stay as long as you need”.
“Really i wouldn't want to overstay my welcome considering that phil”
“I'm sure he wouldn't mind”.
The twins locked eyes, sitting silently for a moment before techno spoke again.
“Given that phil is probably gonna go all momma bird on tommy the minute he gets here it’ll probably be a while until tommy is able to leave the commune for a while”.
Silence engulfed the room again.
“I'm sure that dadza would be fine with you staying” Tommy mumbled, startling the two out of their silent battle.
Techno smirked at that, giving Wilbur a look as if to say ‘are you really gonna say no to him right now’. Wilbur sighed an admission of defeat before nodding his head.

The sky darkened outside as night fell over the tundra, techno sat by the window staring out into the dark. The peaceful atmosphere unnerved the piglin, he appointed himself as the watchman to protect his brothers as they slept.he didn't think he’d slept a full 8 hours since long before Pogtopia. Incoherent muttering came from one of his brothers rooms, he assumed it was Wilbur, his insomnia keeping him awake. His thoughts went to his younger brother, he didn't know if he would stick around long enough for Phil to return. He wasn't exactly sure that the other two were on good terms with their father. The family hadn’t exactly been close since the events of Pogtopia and the Doomsday War.
Shuffling from behind him startled the piglin from his thoughts, he spun around only to find-

Wilbur.
He let out a sigh of relief at the sight of his brother knowing that it wasn't an intruder or another government rally coming to execute him.
Wilbur stared at him.
“Whatcha doing Tech?”Wilbur made his way over to his brother and glanced through the window Technoblade had been glaring at, “is something out there?”.
“No i don't think so” Techno grunted.
“Then why are you still up?”.
Techno rubbed the bridge of his snout, a sigh of frustration escaped his lips “i could ask you the same thing”.
Wilbur chuckled “why do you think”.
“I have to keep watch”
“Why?” Wilbur gave him a questioning look.
“I just do”
Wilbur looked between him and the window.

“Let me help”.

Chapter Text

Phils final 3 days in the nether passed quickly and he had begun the trek to the portal and then the long walk through the tundra to get back to technoblade. It had now been a week since he had heard from his middle son and he was beginning to get worried, it was unlike his son to ignore his messages for that long. He had considered that maybe the connection wasnt strong enough, but he'd been able to communicate with others perfectly fine. He had tried to rationalise that his com was just broken but techno had backups, he would have fixed it by now.
He quickened his pace, he could see the portal in the distance.
“Almost home,” he smiled.

Wilbur sat on his brother's couch staring at the door, he was both excited for and dreading his fathers return. On the one hand Phil coming back would probably be good for Tommy, given that he was an avian and could probably help fix up Tommy’s wings better than Wilbur and Techno could, but on the other hand he had to see his father if he wanted to stay with his brother.
Leaving Tommy again wasn't an option.
His eyes glanced over to the clock watching the seconds tick down, his father would be home any minute now. Maybe he could convince Tommy to run off with him again and find somewhere else to heal, maybe Quackity’s new nation, Las Nevada or whatever it's called.
No he couldn't run away from his problems again.
At Least not with Tommy this time.
Without Tommy there was no way Quackiy of all people would let him into his nation.
Running away wasnt an option.

He could hear crunching out in the snow, next thing he knew the door was being flung open by a familiar winged figure.

He watched Phil look around the room before his eyes settled on Wilbur draped over Techno’s couch.
Too late to run now.

“Wilbur, what are you doing here?”.

Way too late.

Chapter Text

Phil stood in the door of Technos cabin, half expecting to be met by nothing, only to see his oldest son lounging on his brother's couch. The same son who Techno told Phil to send away if he ever showed up. The same son who Techno swore he despised for running a government. Techno swore to Phil that hated his twin, yet here he was.
Proudness washed over the man that Techno had taken his advice and given his brother a chance.
Wilbur was staring up at him running over his fathers question, he went to say something when Technoblade walked into the room a smile slipped onto his face when he saw his father.
“Phil welcome home”
Something was off with the way techno spoke, far louder than it needed to be.
Techno glanced over at Wilbur, who stood up sticking his hand out.
Phil stood there for a moment taken aback by the formal gesture. He was so used to his son being a hugger, he’d always been clingy especially to his family. He hoped it was just him growing up and that he didn't hold what happened back in the control room against him.
He took his son's hand reluctantly before receiving a hand on his shoulders from Techno. He watched Wilbur disappear down the hallway.

“We have a lot to catch up on, Phil”.
Phil looked back at his best friend, a concerned look on Technos face.
“I'm sure not much could have happened since i've been gone but, i'm glad that you and Wilbur made up, he probably needs you more than you think” Phil paused, “especially after what happened to Tommy”.
Techno let out a long sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose before speaking.
“That's what i need to speak to you about”
“What, Wilbur?”
“No, I mean about Theseus”.
Phil stiffened.
“I- “.
“I found him”.
They sat in silence for a second before phil sighed,
“His body you mean”
“No phil i-”
“Techno, Wilbur won't leave me alone!!!”
Tommy rounded the corner, Wilbur following behind. Tommy halted and Wilbur wrapped his arms around Tommys neck into an impromptu hug.
“Can you blame me Toms, I haven't seen you in months. I have to catch up on all the stuff I missed out on”.

Phil was about to cry, his baby boy who he’d been told was dead, was standing across the room from him, complaining as his older brother rested his chin on his head. He felt like he’d been taken back in time to when his family was whole again. Before kristin had been pulled away by her godly duties and his boys were young again, happy.
A tear slid down his cheek as he stood up, Tommy looked over at him.
“Hi Dadza,” Tommy mumbled.
Phil rushed forward, tears pouring from his cheeks. He pulled Tommy into a hug.
The still everpresent chill didn't seem to bother Phil, he didn't recoil when he held his son.
“You're here, you're alive” Phil sobbed into Tommy’s shoulder.
Tommy just stood there, unsure of what to do to comfort his crying father, if his wings were not excruciating to move he would have wrapped them around Phil, like he had done for him when he was a kid.
He settled on just patting him on the back.
“Mm sorry” Tommy mumbled, which only caused Phil to hold him tighter.
“You scared me so much” Phil was no longer hugging him but instead kept firm hands on his shoulders as Tommy stood in front of him.
“I know, I'm sorry”.
“Where were you? We thought you were dead”.
Before Tommy could speak, Techno spoke.
“He stayed in exile”.
He turned to look at Techno “they said they searched exile, they said they couldn't find him” anger replaced the sadness in his tone.
“Did they now”.
Wilbur was glancing between his father and twin.
“They did look, i-” he looked sheepishly at his father “I hid from them, they left after they saw the tower,” Tommy confessed.
“Why would you-, Tommy, Dream was imprisoned when they went looking for you, there was nothing to-”.
“Keep me there I know, I stayed by my own free will”.
Silence descended over the room.

“Anyone hungry?” Wilbur grinned.

Chapter Text

Tension hung in the air as the group ate in silence, the only sound was stew sloshing around bowls and the crackling of the fire. It was the first actual meal they’d had together since long before Wilbur started Lmanburg, even when they all lived in the same house spending time together was uncommon. Tommy’s eyes were darting around the room, flicking between each member of his family, he was yet to eat anything. It wasn't that he wasn't hungry, he was but, he just couldn't. The thought of eating made him want to vomit.
“So wilbur” Phil finally spoke, “long time no see”.
“Mhm” Wilbur hadn't looked up from his food, “maybe there's a reason for that”.
Wilburs sudden coldness towards their father seemed to shock Phil.
“Wilbur” Techno shot him a look.
“Mind telling me” Phil was smiling, having not picked up on his son's tone.
“I'm sure you know exactly why” Wilbur was glaring at his father through slitted eyes.
Phil looked confused for a moment before he realization washed over him.
Tommy gulped.
Phil stood from his seat, “I did what i had to do, you literally told me to kill you” he shouted.
“I didn't think you actually would, I figured given the fact I'm your son” Wilbur yelled back.
Wilburs fists slammed down on the table.
“Didn't expect me- you had just blown up your own nation”.
“You did the same thing after I died”.
Wilbur was standing now, waving his hands to further punctuate his sentence.
Tommy flinched back.
“I was insane sure but that doesn't mean you had to kill me”.
“You literally told me to”
“You still did it”.
Phil and Wilbur stared at each other for a moment.

“Come on Tommy, we're leaving”.
“Wilbur” Techno joined the other two standing.
“No Tommy is staying here, if you want to storm off you can do so on your own”.
“Phil”.
Tommy was back to glancing between the three other members of his family.
Tommy stood up “I have to go check something” and sprinted out of the room.
He could hear the others call after him as he ran out of the house.
If he ran fast enough he could probably reach logsteadshire before the others caught up to him or lose them in the woods.
He continued running before stopping in a clearing, great, he was lost.
He heard footsteps crunch behind him.
“Ayyup” it was Wilbur.
“Leave me alone Wil”
He thought for a moment, “no”.
Tommy groaned and began walking again, Wilbur followed behind him.
“You know where we should go”.
Tommy stayed silent.
“Quackity’s new nation, Last Nevada or whatever it's called”.
Tommy rubbed his eyes.
“Come on Toms it’ll be fun” Wilbur whined.
He wrapped his arm around Tommy’s shoulders and spun him around “this way sir Thomas”.
Tommy shook him off but continued following him.

After walking for a little over an hour they saw a large structure in the distance, and there it sood in all its glory:
Las Nevadas.
“Welp, I'm gonna look around and see if i can find Big Q” Wilbur began to walk off as Tommy just stood there gawking at the giant buildings and bright lights.
It took him a minute to notice Wilburs growing distance and he sprinted after him.
“Don't just leave me,” Tommy coughed.
Wilbur chuckled before heard loud voices in the distance, he looked towards the source of them only to see the man himself.
Quackity was in the distance speaking with a shorter horned figure.
“Big Q” Wilbur called out “long time no see”.
A look of annoyance appeared on Quackity’s face when he realised who it was.
As the two of them approached the brothers a look of confusion overtook the horned figure’s face as Tommy realised who it was.
Tubbo!
“Wilbur, what are you doing here?” Quackity scowled.
Wilbur draped himself over him dramatically, “what am i not allowed to come see an old friend”.
“Dont fuckin touch me”.
Meanwhile Tubbo had stopped dead in his tracks.
“Tommy” his voice wavered as he reached out to touch him, “you're, you're here, you’re not a ghost”.
“Not a ghost Big Man”.
Tubbo pulled him into a hug.
“Holy fuck you scared the shit out of me, i thought you died”.
“Nope”.
Tubbo pulled away from the hug, “where the hell were you, we searched for you everywhere”.
Tommy patted Tubbos shoulder, “long story”, before trailing after Wilbur.

“Hey i want an explanation” Tubbo called as he chased after him.

Chapter Text

Back at the Antarctic commune Philza was staring at the door his three sons had just run from, he shouldn't have yelled at Wilbur at least not in front of Tommy, he should've just waited for a time to pull Wilbur aside so they could talk like adults. He sometimes had trouble remembering that his boys were no longer children, they could drive, they could fight wars, they could drink, well at least two of them were. He was just sick of being blamed for what happened in Manburg, his son was far from seeing reason and while he wished it could have ended differently, that was easier said than done.

He stood by the door for a while longer until Techno returned, “I lost them in the woods, although I'm pretty sure Wilbur got to Theseus so he's not alone out there”.
“That's good then”
“Yep” Techno grunted “they'll probably be back soon once Wil’s cooled off”.
“I should have just left it for later,” Phil sighed.
“Yes you should’ve, but Wilbur never left his melodramatic phase, I'm pretty sure it just got worse after he got revived”.
The two stood in silence for a minute before Phil spoke.
“He was beyond being helped right?”
…
“What?”
“Wilbur, back in Manberg, I couldn't have helped him right”.
Techno was silent as he thought.
“It would've been long and hard but if we had tried hard enough… then I believe he could have gotten better” he looked out the window “ i don't think it was handled as well as it could’ve” .
“He begged me to kill him!” Phil spat.
“But you would have stopped him if he tried to kill himself”.
“I-” Phil stuttered before answering “of course I would have, he’s my son”.
“Look you know i'm not upset with you for that happening and we all could have done better with things regarding L’manburg, he was sick” Techno inhaled before turning back to Phil, “could you try to put that aside just until we sort everything out with Theseus, for his sake.
Phil stared at him before nodding.
“I'm going to be having a conversation with Wilbur about this and not dragging Tommy into his tantrums”.
He smiled at Phil before going into the kitchen to begin clearing the table and cleaning the dishes, Phil flopped down on the couch and stared out the window thinking over what Technoblade had said.
He could have helped Wilbur, he could’ve helped his son, but he had killed him instead, he definitely wasn't gonna get a best dad award anytime soon.
He thought about his youngest son, still processing that no he wasn't dead and he had just been in his living room, his son was alive yet he had just let him leave, another stupid move on his part. When he got back he was gonna wrap him up in his wings and never let him go.
He still didn't understand why he would want to stay in exile, he shuddered at the snowy winters his son would’ve had to endure, especially the current one, it was one of the coldest the smp had had in years.
He watched the snow fall outside the window, discomfort and worry filled his chest when he thought of his boys out in the chill, Tommy hadn't even been wearing a coat.

He just continued staring out the window, waiting for their return.

Chapter Text

As the commune came into view a feeling of relief washed over Tommy, he had half expected Wilbur to get them lost.
As Wilbur swung open the front door loudly proclaiming their return his eyes fell on his startled father on the couch, as did Wilburs.
He watched his brother walk past Phil without an acknowledgment and disappear down the hallway, leaving him with the man.
An awkward silence settled in the air as Tommy glanced between his father and the hall Wilbur had just walked down.
“So Tommy, how was your walk?” Phil broke the silence.
“It was okay, we went and visited Quackity” Tommy half mumbled.
“How was he, i haven't spoken to him in awhile,”
“He’s good, started a new nation”.
“Well that's good”.
Silence descended over the room again.
“I saw Tubbo” Tommy finally said, “it was nice to see him”.
“You're not angry with him?”.
“No should I be?”
“... he exiled you Tommy, aren't you at least a little upset”.
“...”
“...”
“I'm not angry at him”
Phil nodded his head.
“He did what he had to do, it was my fault anyway” Tommy continued.
“Tommy”
“There's not really much of a point in being angry at him anyways, it's in the past now, im happy i got to see him”.
Phil hummed in response.
“Did you know he got married, and to Ranboo of all people, they’ve got a son too” excitement picked up in his voice.
“I’d heard about that”
Tommy continued to ramble about Tubbo for a few more minutes before abruptly stopping.
“Are you alright Dadza”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
“Well you're staring at me all spacey like, are you paying attention?”.
“Sorry Toms, I'm just still having a hard time believing you’re here”.
Tommy stopped for a second, “sorry”.
“It's alright there's no need to apologise, it's just” he paused. “I missed you so much tom, when i heard you had died in exile, i-, i didn't believe it” his eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't believe it was real, i was so sure that you were hiding away somewhere and that's why no one could find you-”
“I mean you weren't wrong”
“I know that now, but back then i was so deep in denial that by the time Techno had accepted that this wasn't some cruel prank you were pulling, which believe me took a while, I still spent all my time searching for you”.
“Techno thought it was a prank?”.
“Yes, he laughed when the others told him, saying that ‘he wouldn't believe you weren't just being an dick until they found your body’ “.
Tommy looked like a kicked puppy which Phil picked up on.
“He was in denial as well, it didn't help that when they came and told us how they thought you died, he was so sure that that wasn't something you’d do, but we also knew there was no way Dream could have killed you. But once he finally accepted it-”.
He paused again, reaching up to brush tommys golden hair from his face.
“He thought it was his fault, he thought he was the reason you y'know’.
Tommy looked at him, confused.
Phils breath hitched “killed yourself”.
Tommy had felt that was what phil meant but even still the words hit him like a ton of bricks, that and the fact that they had almost been right.

‘Welcome home theseus’
’You want to be a hero tommy then die like one’
the air atop of the tower was thin and cold, Tommy shivered in his raggety clothes wishing for warmth wishing for the pain to end, he thought of his older brothers words, he wouldn't die a hero, he wouldn't even die as someone that mattered, someone that people would miss, he would die a worthless nobody. He should have taken the chance when he had it, to die with honour on the battlefield but he hadn't and now here he was, taking the “easy way out”. He stared down at the ground from his dirt pillar before rubbing his face, his wings pulled tight to his back feathers matted and falling out. He stood up and inhaled deeply, the fresh air was soothing, reminding him of long joy flights with Wilbur and soaring above the clouds with his father after he had finally learned to fly. He took a step forward and he was plummeting through the air, he fell for a few seconds before panic took over and he flapped his wings desperately, tears flooding his eyes. He pulled a water bucket from his inventory, a water bucket he wasn't supposed to have, he placed the water with second to spare still hitting the ground hard. He would rather be a bit bruised than dead.

“Well done” a sinister voice came from in front of where he lay, punctuated by slow claps. Relief drained from his body as he glanced at the now empty bucket; the bucket he wasn't supposed to have.

“To-”
“T-mm-
“TOMMY!”
He felt himself being shook from his daze but heavy hands on his shoulders, he looked up meeting his fathers worried eyes.
“You alright mate”
Tommy stood there still dazed for a second before replying “yeah i'm fine Dadza” before shaking of Phils hands.
He suddenly felt himself being pulled into a hug
“I missed you so much ℸ⍑𝙹ᒲᔑᓭ”
“I know dad i missed you too”
Phil squeezed him tighter and stroked his wings, “you sure you're okay Toms”.
Tommy looked at the floor “yes dad” , his voice flat.
“Are you sure”
“Yes Phil i'm fine okay” agitation spring into his voice.
“Alright”.

As night fell over the commune Wilbur finally left his temporary room, he walked into the now empty living room and sat at his usual spot by the window, staring into the snow waiting for Techno to come join him.
When he finally heard footsteps he spun around ready to bombard his twin with his grievances of the day “Techno finally i've been-” he came to a halt when instead of his twin he was met by his very exhausted looking father.
"Oh it's just you "Wilbur said flatley.
"look Wilbur Im sorr-”
“Don't apologise”
“Listen Wilbur I have to do this”
“no, no you don't”
“yes Wilbur I do”
“Phil just stop,“ Wilbur yelled “just fucking stop” he sighed.
Phil stared at him “i'm sorry about Lmanburg, and for everything after”
“Ok, i'm sorry too, for yelling not for Lmanburg”
“Ok”
The two stood in silence.
“Is Tommy alright?” Wilbur asked.
“I don't know, there's something he's not telling us”
“He’ll tell us when he’s ready”
“ i know will i'm just worried”
“ i know”
Silence took over the room again
“So we good phil”
He nodded.
“I'm gonna head to bed, I suggest you should too” Phil said walking towards the cabin door.
“Mhmm”
Wilbur listened as the door opened and closed and watched as Phil trudged through the snow to his own cabin.

Soon techno walked over and sat beside his twin brother,
And if while they watched the night Wilbur lay back against his brother and Techno wrapped his arm around him, as if to assure him that all would be okay.

Neither of them said anything

They just continued to stare into the darkness, as if it was made for the two of them.

Chapter Text

When Tommy woke up the next morning he was greeted to Technoblade leaning against the doorframe to his room.
Techno finally spoke when the two locked eyes.
“Morning Theseus”.
“Why the fuck were you watching me sleep?!”.
Techno blinked at him.
“Why did I expect an answer” Tommy mumbled to himself, rolling his eyes.
“Once you're ready I'd like to speak with you on the porch.” Techno paused “and before you ask yes you have to” and then he walked off, presumably to wait for Tommy.
Tommy sighed and climbed out of bed.
“aNd beFoRe YoU aSk yEs YoU hAve tO” Tommy mocked as he changed into his day clothes and pulled his blue woollen cardigan over his shoulders, Phil had scolded him in the past for wearing the ‘improper clothing for the cold’ and that ‘with his current state it was unsafe and that if he went hypothermic again he would surely die’ ;Tommy however couldnt find any fucks to give.
As Tommy walked towards the cabin's door he flexed his left hand before running the frostbitten fingers of his other hand over the spot his pinky should have been. The pinkish scarred flesh and small mound where the axe didn't line up well enough to cut off the whole finger, now covered in new and old cuts and burns, formed an interesting texture, meaning he always had something else to focus on in moments of stress. Why was he so stressed about speaking to his brother in the first place, he hadn't done anything wrong, at least he thought he hadn't.

The memory of how he lost his finger was fresh in his mind, Dream had come back early and had seen Tommy scrambling to hide some stuff that Ghostbur had given him, it hadn't been much but he didn't want to lose the ghost's gifts. When Dream had tried to question him about it he had apparently gotten too ‘mouthy’ with him causing Dream to believe he deserved a punishment. Maybe he had deserved some form of punishment, such as a stern talking to or scolding of some kind about being disrespectful and whatnot, he didn't think he had done enough to deserve being held down and having his finger whacked off with a blunt axe and being left to deal with the aftermath being told it was “for his own good”.

“Uh you okay Toms” Tommy jumped “you've been standing there for like 15 minutes”
He looked over at Wilbur, it was very clear that the man had just woken up, he stared for a few seconds before answering.
“Yeah i'm fine just tired i guess”
Wilbur nodded unconvinced, he opened his mouth to begin speaking but Tommy rushed out the door.

“Hello theseus” Techno greeted as Tommy stepped onto the porch.
“Why do you insist on calling me that?!” Tommy grumbled, causing Techno to chuckle.
“Once again why did I expect an answer” he groaned.
“Don't you want to know why i wanted to speak to you”
Tommy glared at him “yes” he mumbled, crossing his arms.
Techno patted the space beside him on the bench he sat on “come sit with me Theseus”.
Tommy sat down with a huff and stared up at Techno expectantly.
“I've been thinking”
“Dangerous”
“Says you. As i was saying i've been thinking about youre exile and i have some… questions to ask you”.
Tommy immediately tensed up at the mention of his exile “shoot, although i can't guarantee an answer to them all” he said mumbling the last part.
“Look Dream obviously did some messed up shit to you in exile and I'm not gonna force you to talk about it if you don't want to, but me and Phil just want to know, how bad did it get exactly?”
“It wasn't too bad, I deserved it honestly” Tommy stuttered panickedly.
“Theseus don't start with that bullshit” Tommy froze “ look i don't exactly know what happened in exile but you sure as hell didn't deserve any of what Dream did to you” he paused looking down at Tommys hunched over form before slinging his arm over his shoulder “ you didn't deserve to suffer through Dreams abuse”.
Tommy shoved Techno away before yelling “it wasn't abuse he was doing what was best for me” a tear slid down his cheek as Techno pulled him back into his arms “ i deserved it”.

“Theseus” Techno chidded
“The worst thing he ever did was…”
Techno halted and looked back to his brother.
“It was my fault really i disobeyed the one rule he had, i should've known better”
Techno tightened his hold around Tommy.
“ it was when i built the first tower, i jumped off it but” techno inhaled sharply “ i chickened out as i was falling and used a water bucket to break my fall, it still hurt like hell but at least i didn't die” Tommy chuckled as if telling a joke “Dream saw and instead of worrying over the fact that i had just almost killed myself he was angry over the fact that i had had a bucket in the first place”.
Tommy paused waiting for Technoblades reaction before continuing.
“ He came over to me and he-” the words caught in Tommys throat “he started screaming at me about how simple he made it and he didn't have that many rules but yet I still broke them over and over again. Then he pulled out his axe and he just-”
“He just what?”
“Killed me, he just killed me like it was nothing”
“Hold on didnt you only have one life left”
“Yep he used some stupid book thingy to revive me just so he could continue beating me”
“The same book he used to bring back Wilbur”
“Yeah.”

The two sat in silence before Techno spoke
“At Least that means you have 3 lives now, kinda like a fresh start”.
“No.”
“What do you mean no?”.
“I only have one life left, I wasted the other two”.
“How did you-”
“Phil told me that when you found out i died you thought i never would've killed myself”
Techno felt his chest tighten.
“I tried to wait, i really did” tears slid down his cheeks again “ i kept telling myself he’d get bored soon or that someone would save me, but no one did. Dream told me they knew what he was doing, and I figured that if no one cared enough to save me or if they truly knew and were okay with it, maybe i shouldnt burden them anymore.” He was sobbing now “I figured if I caused Dream to have to punish me so much, maybe there was no fixing me, that i really did screw everything up.”
Techno ran his fingers through Tommys hair.
“So I built up until I ran out of blocks and threw myself off of it, that's how I lost the first one. The second one was more of an accident than the first, I kinda just lay down in the water and didn't have the energy to get back up even when I started sinking, I just couldn't do it anymore and before I could die again Dream was imprisoned and I-”.
“I knew i could never go back, i would just mess everything up for everyone again, i deserved to be there”.
Techno placed his hand on Tommys cheek and he leaned into the touch.
“You didn't deserve that Theseus, you're not a burden, you have as much of a right to live as anyone else, ok?”.
Tommy nodded.
“Say it”.
“ok”.
“The rest of it too”
“I have as much of a right to live as anyone else” his voice shook.
“Good, you better believe that”.
“Ok”.

They sat in silence for a while before Techno broke it.
“How bout we go back inside, it's gonna be dark soon and I can see Wilbur staring at us from the window”.
When Tommy glanced over at the window Wilbur shot down realising he was caught.
Techno picked Tommy up and carried the boy inside and ignored how concerningly light he was.
“Do I even weigh anything to you?”.
“ No, it's like holding a couple of grapes,” Techno joked, causing a smile to slip onto the young avian's face.
He pushed open the door, eyes immediately falling on the eager Wilbur sitting on the couch staring at the two.
“Ayyup lads”.
Techno sat beside his brother on the couch as Tommy yawned, seconds away from sleep.

Once Tommys eyes shut and he began to snore softly, Wilbur spoke.
“Long day huh”.
“Yup we had a very long talk”.
“You think he's going to be okay”
“I hope so,” Techno sighed. “I'm going to kill Dream” rage slipped into his voice.
“Not without me you're not” Wilbur said, stroking Tommys hair, “he's not going to get away with hurting Tommy ''.
“I doubt they'll let you into the prison after you beat the shit out of him back when you thought he killed Theseus”.
“I didn't want to believe he would ever kill himself, now i'm wishing i had of killed Dream, this is all his fault”
“He is not the only one at fault,” Wilbur glared at him for the comment, “ but trust me i'll deal with him”.
“I still want to help”
“If they let you into the prison”
“Yeah, yeah if they let me in of course” Wilbur laughed in a sing-song voice, “can't you just sneak me in”
Techno slugged him in the arm.
“Ow what was that for”
“Everything”
“Oh come on what did i do”
“What haven't you done”
“Hey!” Wilbur pouted, before slouching into the couch with a yawn and leaning on his twin brother. “Dreams never going to touch him again, I'm not even gonna let him do so much as look at him” he murmured.
Techno yawned in response and the two drifted off and everything felt as if it was right in the world.

In that moment they were together and that's all that mattered.

Chapter Text

Tommy trudged through the snow, he had a simple goal in mind and he intended to meet it, he was already behind time wise and he sure as hell wasn't going to waste anymore of it. The only reason he was so behind was because it took him like 2 hours to convince his stupid older brothers to let him out of the house for once, they had just about every excuse under the sun to why he shouldn't have gone.

“Theseus it is way too cold, you'll freeze”.
“Can't you just stay here, I'm sure we’d all prefer it”.
“What if you get attacked by mobs and we aren't there to protect you”.
“You're still injured going out like that is borderline suicidal”.
“There's really no reason for you to go out though, it's pointless”.

Some of them may have been legitimately good reasons but Tommy wasn't going to admit that. Thankfully after hours of nagging they finally agreed, as long as he promised to be back before dark of course. The walk would be long normally (not that Tommy knew that from experience) but going around to avoid the main parts of the smp made it twice as long much to Tommys annoyance, but he wasn't going to risk running into anyone he’d pissed off. Though as he spotted Snowchester in the distance that annoyance was pushed from his mind, after walking for a little longer he reached what he believed was Tubbos new home a sigh of relief escaped his lips as he was happy to finally be able to rest before confusion washed over him. A familiar tall figure stood in the front yard of Tubbos home, a figure he had not seen since long before he faked his death.

“Ranboo? Fancy seeing you here” Tommy quipped approaching the enderman.

“Oh Tommy…hi!” Ranboo said nervously.

“What did Tubs not tell you I was coming over?”.

“No no he did its just- its weird seeing you after thinking you were dead for so long”.

“Right…. Anyways how have you been Tubbo told me the big news!”.

“Big news?”.

“Yep so you finally put a ring on it huh” Tommy grinned placing a hand on Ranboos shoulder.

“Oh yeah that! You know how taxes are gotta get the benefits where you can!” Ranboo chuckled nervously.

“I have no clue what youre talking about” Tommy smiled as he spoke, his tone cheerful despite his complete seriousness.

“Why did i expect you of all people would do your taxes”

“I don't know big man but tax evasion is pretty pog you should-”

“No.”

“Damn. Anyways, how's married life been treating you?”

“Why are you asking me this?” Ranboo raised an eyebrow at Tommy.

“If you hurt him I will end you…” Tommy smiled but his eyes darkened, his hand squeezing Ranboos' shoulder slightly.

“Okay Woah UHH!” Ranboo inched away from Tommy.

The front door of the Tubbos cabin opened and the man himself stepped out, the soft sound of little hoofprints could be heard following him as a small zombie pigman exited the house with him.

“Tommy!” Tubbo smiled excitedly and rushed over to hug his best friend.

As Tubbo hugged him Tommys eyes were fixed on the child that had followed Tubbo.

“Uhh Tubbo”.

“Yeah?”

“Where did you get that child and who did you steal it from?”.

…

After a couple of hours Tommy had grown acquainted with the pigman whos name he found out was Micheal and in those few hours Tommy had come to the conclusion that he adored the child who was currently clinging to his back as Tommy gave him a piggyback while Ranboo watched on anxiously. The trio + Michael spent the rest of the day together, reminiscing on old times happily, Tommy of course was happy to tell stories of the Great Lmanburg War and other adventures he and Tubbo had gone on to the child. Eventually Tommy had to leave knowing it was only a few hours until dark and he still had a long journey to make, he bid his goodbyes to Tubbo and his family, not without Tubbo trying to convince him to stay the night and offer Tommy was tempted to take, and set off.

Tommy travelled for hours bored out of his mind and as his walk drove on and on he realised that the whole getting home before dark thing was completely thrown out of the window. The sky had darkened and stars now speckled the sky, as he walked Tommy occupied himself by searching for constellations not too concerned with whatever was waiting for him when he returned home.

…

The moment Tommy arrived back at Technoblades cabin Wilbur rushed at him, wrapping his arms around him tightly and refusing to let go.

“Where have you beennnn!” Wilbur whined “we’ve been worried sick, we thought you went and dropped dead!” Wilbur draped himself over Tommy dramatically, still not releasing him.

“Theseus we agreed on being home before dark” Technoblade stood there with his arms crossed, anger evident on his face.

“We were going to go looking for you if you took much longer” he heard phil call from somewhere in the house.

“I'm never letting you out of my sight again! Never!” Wilbur whined, being his overly dramatic self.

“I tried okay its not my fault it got dark so fuckin quickly!”

“Nothing you say will change my mind, you are never leaving my sight again!” Wilbur wrapped Tommy in another hug squeezing him tightly.

“Wilbur!” Tommy groaned trying to push his brother away before giving up and accepting the hug.

“Y’know what Theseus? I agree with him, next time one of us is coming with you”.

“But-”

“Shush” Wilbur said hugging Tommy tighter “that's enough” and Tommy listened, relaxing into the hold.

Chapter Text

Tommy was currently sitting on the couch inside Technos cabin, Wilbur clinging to him protectively, making good on his promise of never letting Tommy out of his sight, Tommy was drifting in and out of sleep as Wilbur rambled on and on about something. He moved his fingers absentmindedly watching as all of them moved except for the stump of his missing finger, the phantom sensation that it was still there always fascinated him.

“Tommy, are you listening?” Wilbur grumbled having noticed Tommys mind was elsewhere.

“Huh, oh yeah totally” Tommy murmured which earned a groan for Wilbur.

Tommys wings shifted uncomfortably as he tried to move into a better position which was hard with his brother clinging to him. Wilbur yawned, tightening his hold on Tommy, it was snowing heavily outside and the sky was dark, the two brothers fell asleep like that, the sounds of sirens on the other side of the smp being unknown.

The next morning Tommy was awoken by heavy hoofsteps, he blinked his eyes open and he watched as Techno, who was heading out to do his daily tasks, stared at him.

“You wanna help?” the piglin whispered, making sure not to wake his twin who was still sleeping on the couch.

Tommy nodded silently.

- - - - - - - -

The chilly morning air gave a familiar type of comfort as techno watched as Tommy played with some of the wolves in the snow, from the porch.
The teenager laughed happily as he rolled around with the tamed animals who cheerfully licked his face causing Tommy to laugh harder.
His father and twin brother were still asleep peacefully inside.
He took a sip of his coffee running over the chores he needed to complete that day, when a sudden cold force hit him in the face.
Tommy had thrown a snowball at him.
He glanced over at the giggling 15 year old who stuck his tongue out at him.

“Oh it so on” Techno chuckled a grin forming on his face.

And with that The great snowball war started as the two laughed and joked like they were kids again, all that was missing was the addition of his twin trying to convince one of them to form an alliance against the other and their father shaking his head from his chair on the deck yelling at them to not put rocks in the Center of their snowy projectiles.
The piglin smiled at the memory before launching another snowball at his brother, which Tommy retaliated to by attempting to throw two at the same time, only one actually hit its target, that being Technoblades chest. The wolves Tommy had been playing with ran around barking happily chasing after the rouge snowballs, it was a miracle that Phil and Wilbur hadn’t woken up from the commotion.
Both had dropped their guard leaving the presence of someone lurking in the trees nearby to go unnoticed.

As the two playfully hurled snowballs at each other the piercing sound of an arrow cut through the wind,
The world went silent,
The playfulness in the air had disappeared and A piercing scream replaced it.
The wolves howled, running towards the source of the projectile.
Techno halted, eyes falling upon the his brother,
An arrow protruding from his chest buried deep in the flesh. He ran across the deep snow towards his baby brother who in his eyes had never looked smaller.
He scooped him up in his arms.

“Tech” Tommy whimpered, registering the warmth of his older brother.

“Yeah it's me Theseus” his voice broke.

“It hurts I’m gonna die aren't i” Tommy was crying now the pain evident in his voice.

“No! No Theseus your not you’re gonna be fine”

“Don’t lie to me technoblade” Tommy’s eyes began to close.

“ I think… I think it's finally my time to die”.

“No Theseus no you're not going to die your gonna be fine” he was beginning to panic.
Even when he had wanted Tommy dead, when he actually been trying to kill him, Tommy never died, he’d been impossible to get rid of, everyone knew that, he would always keep coming back.
His baby brother's eyes closed.

“Theseus” he began to shake him “Tommy open your eyes, Tommy!”.

“Phil! Phil!” he cried out for his best friend, his
father.

Footsteps crunched in the snow behind him.
The screaming had woken the two inside.
A strangled cry came from his twins throat, he felt a hand, Phils hand on his shoulder.

“Oh god” his father spoke, techno barely registered the man's voice.

He held his baby brother's corpse looking up at his father, and for what felt like the first time in a long time he didn't know what to do. He felt as if he was once again a little kid looking at his parents for guidance. His gaze shifted over to Wilbur who was barely awake, staring down at the pale boy in his arms.

Blood as red as the boys' wings soaked technos shirt and the white snow around them, the thought that it wasn't just any blood but his brothers made him want to vomit. He had just got him back; they were finally becoming a family again, everything was finally being fixed. There was a visceral aching in his chest.
The voices screamed in his ears but he couldn't make anything out all he could hear were the choked sobs of his twin and the lack of sound from his normally so loud baby brother.
He shook off the hand on his shoulder.
He stood up still holding Tommys limp body,, the sadness being replaced by rage. He had to avenge his brother. His eyes quickly scanned the area.

“Techno” he ignored his father.

“Technoblade” he stopped.

“It was Dream i know it he- I'm gonna kill That bastard!” techno yelled.

The voices called for blood, and he wasn't gonna deny their request.
His twin was silent, no doubt some kind of plan or scheme of revenge brewing.
He looked to his father who had placed his hand on his arm, he then took a glance back down to his brother's body.
Revenge would have to wait.

Tommy had to come first.

Chapter Text

Tommy felt like he was floating, the air was cold, the numbing chill overtaking his senses and burying itself deep into his bones, soaking in and spreading throughout him. He sits up and opens his eyes, it's not as dark as he expected, he looks around what appears to be a snow covered landscape, nothing but white as far as he could see except for when he looks behind him.

A burned out campfire, the tattered remains of a tent…the campsite.

“What the fuck am i doing back here” he mumbles before it dawns on him.

Limbo.

He was dead, of course he was. He lays back down, letting the freezing snow eat away at him again. ‘Of course im dead’ he thinks to himself, ‘shit was finally going my way and now im dead’. Tommy lays in the snow for what feels like hours, a feeling of deja vu overtaking him. ‘Of course even the gods couldn't give up a chance to torment me, give me everything I wanted and then put me right back here’. He feels tears starting to spill down his cheek and he quickly wipes them away before they can freeze to his skin.

After what felt like an eternity of lying in the snow he hears the crunching of footsteps, he keeps his eyes closed, ‘its probably just another trick to fuck with me, give me a sense of hope before destroying it’ he thinks. He continues to lay in the snow with his eyes squeezed shut, allowing himself to become used to the biting pain of frostbite once again.

“Tommy” a voice breaks Tommy out of his thoughts. It's a soft voice, one he hasn't heard in years.

He shoots up and his eyes snap open, “Mum?”.

There standing in front of him is the Goddess of Death, his mother, in all her glory, her hat's veil obscuring her face but Tommy can still make out a soft smile on the woman’s black painted lips. He hadn't seen the woman since he was very young, left with only the faint memory of that very smile.

“I didn't expect to see you here so soon my dear”. Kristen reaches a hand down to him which Tommy gratefully accepts.

“What are you doing here?” Tommy tilts his head slightly as he asks.

“Looking for you of course” she chuckles, “you have your father and your brothers incredibly worried”.

“Right…”

“It is not your time yet- your stay here is only temporary”.

“Then why are you here?”.

“I thought you’d enjoy my company, you've grown so much since i've last seen you,” she cups his cheek softly “you're so tall”.

“Mummm” Tommy groans, blushing from embarrassment.

“It's good to see you despite the circumstances” she smiles, “i missed you Tommy”.

“... missed you too mum” Tommy mumbles.

Kristen sits down on the snow, “now tell me how you've been”.

Tommy sits on the snow beside her, staring out at the white landscape once again.

Wilbur is sitting beside Tommys limp body in Technoblade’s cabin, watching as his usually so restless brother lays still, checking his pulse every few minutes. His twin and his father had left on some kind of witch hunt for the culprit. The silence had never been this deafening.

Chapter Text

This is just to say that although I no longer support Wilbur after what hes done i plan to continue this fic. The grammer of this "chapter" is probably not gonna be great as this isnt really being edited or anything, i was originally just planning to put this in the end or beginning notes of the next chapter but due to what a big part of this fic Wilbur is and since i have no clue when im gonna write the next chapter i felt it was important to do this sooner rather than later.

Due to how close to the end this work is and how long and hard ive been working on it i plan on continue working on and finishing this in a couple of chapters, for this work i am trying to seperate the creator and the character like people have in the past with other ccs (Dream, Schlatt, etc). I am no longer in the Dsmp fandom nor do i really enjoy it so its unlikely that ill write anything Dsmp related after this fic is finished (if i do it most likely wont be anything to do with this series as ive run out of ideas for it) but if i do im not going to write anything including Wilbur or atleast anything Wilbur centric. In the coming chapters i will be trying my best to move this back to being a Bedrock Bros centric fic as originally intended. Although this fic is about the characters not the creators i at this point personally feel uncomfortable writing about Wilbur after whats came out about him.

Thank you for reading have a lovely day.

Chapter Text

The icy wind lashed against Wilburs face, he ran a hand through his little brother's blonde and white streaked hair. A sigh escapes his lips as he stares into the vast expanse of the tundra, waiting for the return of his family. He feels the cold seep into his bones, ‘was this what Tommy felt in his exile?’ he thought to himself ‘this biting chill’. He rubs a tear from his eye- he would not start crying again.

He lays back in the snow, his coat growing wet from it, he looks over at his baby brother's body that lay beside him, he remembers when the boy was just that- a baby. A small thing that Wilbur could hold in his arms, that he watched his parents rock to sleep, whose room he snuck into at night to make sure he was still breathing.

Wilbur listens to the sound of the harsh winds and the creaking wood of the cabin, waiting for the crunching of footsteps signalling the others return to reach his ears, most likely they would be covered in gore bearing the head of the man who slaughtered Tommy. He strokes one of the feathers of one of tommys wings, his own wings twitching from their uncomfortable position in the snow. He fidgets anxiously, he was never a patient man, especially not now.

A slight movement catches his eye and he looks over at Tommy again, for a moment he spots nothing, it's all the same, just a lifeless corpse, the red of feathers and blood contrasting the blank snow.

Wilbur stares for a moment longer.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Then suddenly- movement!

Wilbur shoots up when he spots the slight movement of his little brother's chest- the slight rise and fall. In out, in out, in out. He has to rub his eyes to double check it's real, that he's not dreaming. He rushes to press his fingers to Tommys neck, feeling his pulse beat. Wilbur lets out a sharp gasp. He was alive- His baby brother- Tommy was ALIVE!

He quickly pulls the boy's body into his arms, not fussed about the blood staining his clothes.

“TOMMY?!” he yells, “TOMMY CAN YOU HEAR ME?!?!”.

For a moment there's silence and then-

“Wil?...”

Wilbur felt like crying in that moment, he said he wouldn't but this was different- these were happy tears.

“Tommy…”, Wilbur whispers.

Tommys eyes blink open and The two brothers stare at each other- Wilburs eyes wide with joy while Tommys are filled with confusion.

“What?-”

“Don't worry about that!” wilbur interrupts, “you're alive- you're okay- oh thank the gods you're alive”

There's the sound of footsteps crunching in the dense snow as Philza and Technoblade return. Their expressions can only be described as confused and overjoyed.

“Tom!”

“Theseus!”

Phil falls to his knees beside the two brothers, pulling his boys into his arms while techno stands beside, watching before he's grabbed and pulled down into the hug by his twin. Techno accepts his fate, wrapping his strong arms around his family, a relieved chuff escapes his mouth, his brother is alive, his family is back together and although he’d never admit it… that was all he had wanted for a long time. Three of the people he held closest to his heart, by his side, his baby brother in the centre.

Somewhere else, a small smile graces black painted lips… ‘perhaps’ The goddess of death thinks, ‘perhaps a break from my duties is in order’.