Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It's a crisp fall afternoon, a Sunday in fact, when Technoblade heads to his local library. Techno had the weekends off work, but he made sure every Sunday was dedicated entirely to what he wanted to do. Sunday also happens to be Technoblade's favorite day of the week, and more often than not he spends it at the library. He found the place whilst on a walk, back when he first moved to Kinoko. He had been upset because he never wanted to move away from his family, but the company he works at wouldn’t listen. Techno couldn’t even quit, the contract he signed wouldn't allow him to leave even a week before the contract’s time was up. Sighing, he runs his fingers over the wood of his desk, tracing the indents he made during his first week in Kinoko. The period feels like a lifetime ago.

 Techno slams his briefcase down on his desk, not caring about damaging either item. He turns off his phone and shoves it in his pocket. He paces up and down the hallway, running his fingers through his hair, trying not to pull on it too hard with all the angry energy he possesses at the moment. Techno tries, but he can’t think clearly so he makes an impulsive decision. The hybrid makes a b-line towards his door and snatches his sneakers from where they were perfectly placed on the shoe rack. In his haste, the tip of his shoe gets caught on the rack, making the entire thing fall onto Techno, only adding fuel to the fire of his fury at the moment. Technoblade growls as he picks the shoe rack up and slams it against the wall. After shoving on his shoes he all but flies down the stairs, barely remembering to close and lock the door. Technoblade shoves his hand into the pocket that holds his phone, taking a frustratingly long time to get a secure hold of the device. he shoves his earbuds in his ears, not bothering to detangle them when his hands were shaking with emotion, all it would do would anger him further and waste his time. Techno picks a random playlist and hits the start button, perhaps a bit too harshly, but he can regret abusing the technology he holds when he calms down. The piglin turns the volume up to max when he hears the waltz start to play, letting the clear sound of instruments drown out his thoughts. 

 His focus is entirely on matching his steps with the music, ignoring the surroundings of his new “home” and just trying to get away both physically and mentally. One foot after another, the pace slowly speeding up, so as to stay in time with an increasing tempo that works to blend seamlessly into the upcoming crescendo, one that when at its peak, had Technoblade completely separated from his body as the loudest note was rung. Techno, now out of breath because he had gone much faster than he meant to, and was much farther from home than he intended to be, greedily sucked in the cool air even though it made his lungs burn. Techno didn’t pick up on the fact that the world seemed frozen, even the song he had just been listening to was seemingly holding its breath. Unaware he turns a corner with no caution, anticipating the song starting its decrescendo but not the person he slams right into.

 It was as if someone had pressed play on the world, all the natural sounds people tend to tune out flooded into Techno’s ears as he is thrown off balance, making him stumble back a step, but other than that the hybrid was unaffected. The same could not be said for the stranger though, not being able to catch themself in time they fall to the ground disturbing the fallen debris of the trees, sending leaves spiraling into the air. As Techno watches the scene unfold a guilty feeling begins pooling in his gut, he should know better. Time and time again he’s been told to control his temper for an angry piglin – especially a brute – is dangerous, and he can not afford to be dangerous. But, Techno can also hear Phil telling him that it's not his fault, that just because he’s a piglin, something he can’t control, doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be allowed to feel. As his conscience battles it out, Techno decides in either case he should help the poor soul that ran into him. Of course, Techno isn’t really used to talking to people, much less apologizing, so as he takes in another breath, he reaches up for his earbud and makes a wild guess.

 “Oh uh, shit, are you okay?” He asked as he held the earbud, still unsure of how to break the awkward air. The other didn’t answer, their eyes unfocused and drifting in Techno’s general direction. Techno would’ve been concerned the stranger hit their head if not for the conflicted expression on their face, almost as if debating something in their head. Not knowing what else to do, Techno lets his earbud fall onto his shoulder, and offers the person a hand. After a few seconds pass they close their eyes tight and open them rapidly blinking. They look down and quickly shake their head, then reach out to meet Techno’s hand. Gripping the other, he braces and pulls them up. Unfortunately, it seems he overestimated the amount of force needed, and the stranger is pulled forward a step as Techno stumbles back. The two release each other’s hand as they both regain their balance. Techno huffs a half laugh/half wince when straightening, and looks at the other. Guilt sits heavy in his chest for running into the mystery person in the first place, and now even more for making them trip. Techno is reminded that even though he is already berating himself, he is still very much in the moment when the other raises their head to meet his gaze.

 “Wow, not even a scratch!” They said rather excitedly which surprised the hybrid. Techno is well aware he may not be an expert at social interaction, but even to him, that does not seem like the most appropriate response. But as Techno studies the man(?) he finds it’s true, other than slightly rumpled clothes and some dirt the other dusts off themself, they appear to be fine. The stranger suddenly turns to Techno, a mischievous look flashes across their face as they open their mouth.

“My name’s Karl,” they said, offering their hand with a blindingly bright smile, and kind, knowing eyes.

—

 A wave of warmth is what brings Techno out of the memory, re-tethering his mind back to his body and bringing his consciousness back to the present when opens the doors to the old building. Walking into the main entrance he is greeted by none other than the one and only librarian, and owner of the library, Karl Jacobs. 

 "Technoblade!" Karl calls excitedly, after seeing his regular. Karl is… let's just say ‘peculiar’ would be a fitting title for the man. Karl has warm brown hair, pale skin, and eyes that are a spiral of brown and purple that can be seen in person, but strangely not on camera. The man is always seen in loud-multicolor clothes that reflect his bright demeanor, somehow making neon shades work as only he could. Karl may seem like a complete mess from a passing glance, he can even appear as if he just rolled out of bed, but those who take a closer look can see all the detail and effort that make Karl, well Karl. He makes anything he wears look stylish, comfortable, and cohesive with an effortless aura that radiates around him. Something you wouldn't necessarily know from his appearance is the seemingly always cheerful attitude he displays with pride, one that Techno knows is genuine (what Techno wouldn't do to know the secret of how he does it).

 Karl's voice had sounded from somewhere in the middle of what could only be described as a tower of books. The brunette had somehow surrounded himself with enough books to block any view of him completely, and to make matters worse, the entire thing looked extremely unstable. Techno was afraid to even breathe in its direction for fear that it would all collapse on top of the librarian who Techno admittedly got attached to.

 "Hullo Karl" Technoblade calls back carefully maneuvering around both the desk and the books. Something Techno always loved is how his monotone voice blends perfectly with the calming atmosphere, making it feel like he truly belongs. Techno rights himself after avoiding the mess, and looks over the library, taking in everything about his favorite (well second favorite) place. From the bookshelves bursting with well-loved books, organized in a way that practically forms a labyrinth, to the spiral staircase that leads up to a loft with soft pillows, plush armchairs, and beanbags that threaten to swallow you whole in an abyss of comfort.

 The smell of books will never get old to the hybrid. It reminds him of simpler times when he would have Tommy on one side, practically laying across his lap to try and peer at the pages Techno’s reading from. And of course, he had Wilbur on the other, who loved to lazily doze in both the warmth that radiates off the piglin and to the sound of Technoblade’s voice with his familiar monotone drawl, which Wilbur he had grown up alongside. But also stressful times, ones where reading was his only escape from the brutality of the nether both when he actually lived there, and the memories of the hellish place that plagued his thoughts. There really was nothing like getting lost in pages upon pages of words woven meticulously into tales that transport you into worlds you could never even dream of. Impossible myths of old, which recite glorious battles between titans and gods, lessons told through heroes and villains, brilliant adventures in the most fantastical of landscapes, and the somber songs of both love and tragedy.

 Techno weaves his way through the walls of text, a dance he has perfected after all his time escaping to the haven and makes his way towards the fiction section. His eyes scan for any books that catch his fancy, running his fingers along the familiar cracked spines and creased pages, every once in a while correcting a book that had been put back wrong, or picking a pile up from the floor so that the beloved tales would not be trampled. Unfortunately for Techno, he could only unsuccessfully search for so long before the mess and disorganization got to him. So the hybrid finds himself at a familiar bookshelf that calls to him time and time again. Taking a seemingly intact copy of Pride and Prejudice off the shelf, Techno makes his way towards the old spiral staircase, climbing the same steps he has braved so many times before. Ignoring everything else, he wanders to the window nook he "claimed" on his first visit here years ago. The nook in question is a ridiculously large window ledge that Techno discovered when his ADHD brain would not let him get comfortable in any positions considered “normal”. 

 He climbs over the couch that both seals in the spot and hides it, trying not to disturb any more furniture in the process. When Techno looks up, he freezes upon seeing not just the pillows and blankets that pad the ledge, but also something, or rather someone who had never been there before. There, nestled in the nest of blankets, he sees a little black kitten with white spots stretched out lazily in the sun. Upon hearing Techno arrive the kitten lethargically blinks open its eyes, which Techno realizes are different colors, one being a brilliant emerald green, and the other a stunning vermillion, and tilts its head to look at him. 

 "Hey… buddy…" Techno sighs at the attempt of a normal greeting. "It's comfortable there huh?" The kitten just blinks at him and tilts its head to the other side. "I'm gonna come over and sit there too,  i-if that's okay with you of course". The kitten seemingly had no problem with it, only letting out a small "mew" as he sits down. Techno chuffs and holds his hand out to the kitten. That's what he's supposed to do right? The kitten sniffs his finger and then shoves his head into Techno's hand, getting a laugh out of the hybrid.

 "You're just a little thing aren't you," Techno says, more to himself than the kitten. Technoblade was uncaring, no, unfeeling to the outside world. Techno’s reputation paints him as a ruthless, and emotionless weapon. And to those who don’t know him, he might as well be. To those who don’t bother themselves enough to view him as nothing more than a piglin brute hybrid, a race that has been considered violent and less than human. And Techno was a piglin with too many scars, and too horrid a history to be viewed as anything but a monster. He gave up a long time ago on trying to convince people otherwise when they are just looking to belittle him or change him. He should not have to be the one to change simply to appease a world of those who will never see him as an equal, as a person worthy of the effort it takes to climb over the wall that is his exterior.

 But for those who had earned the honor of getting close to him, to those who had shown him true kindness, they have the privilege of seeing the hybrid's soft side. The side of him that comes from what many forget is a brute’s purpose. Piglin brutes are there to protect the sounder, and more importantly, the ones who can not protect themselves, like the elderly, the injured, the younglings, or even the animals brought into camp. So you can say he has quite the soft spot for this kitten which in his opinion it shouldn’t even be away from its mother yet, let alone fending for itself, completely on its own. Unfortunately from just looking at the poor thing's ribs, he could tell it hadn’t had food in a while, much less a source of food with all the nutrients it needs to grow. And judging by the grime trapped in thick mats in its fur, the baby wasn’t receiving any care at all. Techno can’t just leave the little one be, while he doesn't have any food for it with him, he can still do the bare minimum and give the little one some attention and love, something it was definitely missing out on.

 "I guess I need a name for you now that I'm attached, since calling you 'the kitten' or ‘the baby’ in my head is getting a little repetitive,” he said with a small smile. Techno wanted the kitten to have a name that had meaning, but also came from a tale or story considering where they are. The hybrid was most familiar with ancient Greek and Roman mythos, along with the history of L’manburg, fortunately for the kitten, his inner anarchist won’t even entertain the idea of naming the sweet thing after a government official. Taking that into consideration, it's narrowed down to Greek or Roman names, and after a few minutes, the hybrid decides on Greek since those names are less common. Techno is racking his brain, scrolling through years of learned legends when the perfect name surfaces in his mind.

 "How about Nyx, little one? It fits since your white spots kind of look like stars," the kitten only purrs in response, eventually blinking up at Techno and nudging his hand from where it was stilled in the air above its head. 

 "I'm taking that as a yes," Techno says with a bright smile, moving his hand to scratch its chin. Nyx closes its eyes and leans into his hand, the purrs from the little one making its ears wiggle.

 Techno sits down and opens his book with one hand (his other still petting the baby), and starts reading aloud. He does so softly since he’s still in the library even though the piglin is sure Karl is the only other person there. As Techno reads, he continues scratching the little one, only knowing it's awake from its quiet "mews" whenever he pauses his reading or petting. At some point the kitten inched its way up Techno's arm and is resting on his chest, matching the rumbling of Techno’s voice with its own purr. Technoblade was shocked to find he had started purring along the way, granted it was the piglin equivalent but he had forgotten he could even do that because it had been so long.

 The last time he remembers was when Tommy had gotten hurt, nothing too bad, but Phil's instincts did not care which caused him to drag everyone into the nest. Though no one complained, well no one except for Tommy since everyone else was lost in instinct. Techno's brain had been hounding him for being a bad protector because his runt was hurt (even though Tommy was at school, and the Piglin physically couldn’t be there). Wilbur's mind was convinced it was his fault because he had been at band practice instead of with his family or looming to phantoms, and Phil was being his usual mother hen self but cranked up to eleven.

 A sprained foot shouldn’t have been too big of a deal, but Tommy was the youngest, so it wasn't unusual for their instincts to take over when it concerned him. It wasn't even a bad fall, the gremlin had climbed a tree to practice gliding when a goose accidentally flew straight into his wing, bringing them both to the ground in a not-so-graceful pile of confused chirping and feathers. So many feathers.

 While in the nest, Wilbur’s instincts needed to help something or someone so he naturally started preening Phil's wings because the old man had let them get out of order. Which led to Tommy preening Wilbur's wings because the phantiling always forgot, and it drove Tommy and Phil crazy. Techno decided to start preening Tommy's wings, fixing feathers that were a complete mess, and even still had goose feathers sticking out of random places. Phil began brushing through and braiding Techno's hair for lack of wings to preen.

 Phil’s wings were midnight black, and had a blue-violet iridescent sheen when taken care of. Wilbur’s wings were a pretty periwinkle leaning more towards the blue side, and were matte instead of shiny. Tommy's wings were a muted yellow at the top and faded towards the bottom, the yellow more like gold because of how shiny the feathers were, with the constant care they received. Technoblade's instincts certainly thought it was close enough because every time he touched the wings his mind was just a mess of gold gold gold . 

 The avians and phantling were basically a puddle of feathers by the end, happy and comfortable, contently letting out sleepy chirps and warbles. Techno was completely lost to the world at this point, not even bothering to muffle his purrs and chuff which only got louder as his family snuggled closer to him, basking in the natural warmth that radiates off him. Techno’s instincts loved that he was trusted enough to protect the flock (the bird brains were really getting to him) that they fell asleep without a second thought. 

 Techno smiles at the fond memory but was hit with a sense of longing. His family was all the way back in L'manberg while he was here in Kinoko for a job that he has come to despise. Maybe if he had just tried harder or even just quit and refused to take no for an answer he could be with them- Techno was drawn out of his spiral when a little head wedged itself underneath his chin. Techno chuckles at the kitten’s antics and resumes reading where he left off before he got lost in his thoughts and memories.

 Sitting there reading in the sun's warmth, time passes quicker than the hybrid would've liked. Techno’s watch beeps telling him it’s time to go home. He frowns and sighs as starts gently petting Nyx's head, "Hey little guy, I need to go home". Nyx blinks its eyes open sleepily and looks up at Techno with a grumpy half glare. "Yeah I know, but I have work tomorrow," the piglin says while scratching under Nyx's chin. "I'll be back next Sunday though, if you decide to stick around."

 For a moment, Techno brought the kitten to the crook of his arm before grabbing the comfiest blanket around. Arranging it to form a small nest, Nyx was soon placed in the center, but not before Techno worried if it was comfortable enough... Techno groans as he sits up, stretching his arms, and letting himself slowly wake up from the heat and comfort-induced trance he had fallen into. He swings his legs over the couch back, and steps from the cushion onto the floor. Techno rubs his eyes as he makes his way to the staircase and down the steps. He meanders over to the bookshelves and returns his book to place. He shoots one last glance towards the loft and starts walking towards the doors. 

 "Bye Karl," Techno calls to the room behind the front desk as he walks by. Techno has no idea what the room holds or what it is used for. Quite frankly it could just be an office, but knowing Karl, it very well could be a portal to another dimension. 

 "Bye Technoblade! See you next week?" The librarian questions from somewhere, Techno being used to the brunette’s antics by now simply laughs and yells back an agreement. He braces himself for the cold air that will rush to greet him when opens the door. Pulling his sleeves down Techno pushes the door open without another thought. He shoves his hands in his pockets and starts making his way home, easily getting lost in thought because the route is muscle memory after years of walking the same way every single Sunday. 

 Techno's mind goes back to Nyx, he's never seen the kitten around, or any stray cats in Kinoko actually. The shelters are really good at finding animals quickly, sterilizing them, and getting them placed with foster families or adopted. He wonders why this kitten is different, why such an adorable and sweet baby isn't with a family already. Oh gods he's going soft, the piglin can practically hear Tommy and Wilbur calling him Softnoblade and Technosoft.

 How the kitten managed to worm its way into his heart so fast is a mystery, but he has to wait to go back because of work this week and he has plans with his old friend Niki Nihachu who happens to be in the area on Saturday. Techno gets dragged out of thought when he tries to open his locked door. Grabbing his keys from his pocket, Techno fumbles with the keys in his now cold hands until they land in the lock. He turns the metal until he hears the satisfying click that indicates the door is unlocked, he pulls the key out and grabs the handle. He runs his hands over the cool metal before turning the knob and walking into the apartment. 

 As he takes off his shoes, the hybrid begins to dread the week ahead of him. Techno always wishes for it to be the weekend during the work week, but this time he had a different reason than just escaping to the library, and Techno can't help but hope that Nyx is still there when Sunday comes around.

Chapter Text

Ranboo is soaked straight through to the bone. The sharp unforgiving wind pierces through their body and freezes him all the way to his core. Their body tries to stave off what hopefully isn’t a sickness whilst pushing through violent shivers that pass through their small frame. He’s fresh out of a home, so saying they were miserable was a gross understatement. The shifter had just made their house– well maybe ‘house’ was a generous term… it- it was a hole in the ground. But it was their hole in the ground, Ranboo would know because they had dug it themself! The burrow was nestled in between the roots of a giant tree, the walls made of tightly packed dirt that curved to meet the bottom of the tree, giving the room a dome shape. They had enough room to stand up and stretch (in cat form, of course, being a homeless non-human child was way harder than being a homeless cat) but was still small enough that he could curl up inside on their bed of leaves, and feel safe and snug in the dark. 

 Unfortunately, since the fates could never be easy on the kid, a massive rainstorm settled over Kinoko that didn’t let up for days. The relentless rain had completely flooded Ranboo’s home, forcing them to take to the streets once again. The rainstorm never let up, seemingly following Ranboo to whatever makeshift shelter they found, and basically destroying it. They can only hope that the cardboard box they are currently under holds, at least until the rain lets up a bit. It’s not doing a very good job of keeping them dry, but it's better than the milk crate that holds their makeshift entrance to the box would do.

 Ranboo dozes off despite the water droplets that clung to their fur, their body trying to get any bit of rest when a creaking enter’s their ears. He blinks, trying to rid his eyelashes of the water droplets that obscure their vision. They squint their eyes, peering through the small opening that lets light in from the dimly lit street. Their eyes scan the figures cast in shadow by the buildings surrounding the alley, but they can’t see much from where they're nestled in the dark. He begins to stand, intending to move a bit closer so as to see farther into the shadows (Even with his improved vision they sadly still can’t see much through the rain). 

 A ripping noise snatches their attention and causes them to back away in fear, and truly panicking them is the sudden feeling of soaking wet fur that compresses his little chest with freezing, muddy water. Ranboo whips their head around in the newfound blackness, ears flat to their head in confusion, and distress allowing panic to overtake their mind and prevents the shifter from figuring out what happened. Loud, scared yowls pierce through the air, and rip the breath from the kitten’s body. The air burns their lungs as his mind defaults to hyperventilating, letting even less of the heavy, wet atmosphere into their small frame. 

 Through the pounding of the rain, they can barely make out the thumping of approaching footsteps. Their mind instantly wants calls out for anyone that could possibly save them. The walls feel like they're closing in, and it feels like they're breathing in more water than air. Their desperate yowls break through the wall of noise the rain is trying to maintain. Their lungs sting from lack of oxygen, and harsh coughs forcefully stop their cries, but they hear footsteps right outside the wet wall of cardboard. Hope rears its head, fighting through all the panic and desperation, it claws its way up his throat and onto his tongue. It paves over the tremors in his cries and the cracks in his calls. For once in Ranboo’s life, it seems his luck may be turning around for the fingers that snake their way underneath the edge of the box look like salvation to the kitten. The hand lifts the wall to reveal a human, dressed in a pink raincoat with a soft looking inside.

 “Hey there little guy,” they coo softly whilst moving the box from on top of the cat, they frown and tsk, “you’re gonna get sick in this weather,” they utter whilst looking Ranboo directly in his eyes, as if they knew he could understand them. “I have a towel in my car, and some tuna if you’ll come with me,” they offer with a small inviting smile. And there’s something about them, whether it be the look in their eyes or the warmth in their smile, that makes any of Ranboo’s already little doubt disappear, they inch closer, reaching for the small black and white body. 

 “That’s it, just a little bit closer, and… gotcha!” they say scooping Ranboo into their arms, and adjusting them so that they are cradling him close to their chest. They start walking as they say, “You’re freezing honey, let’s get you warmed up,” the stranger picks up pace as they unzip the top part of their coat to cover Ranboo with the fabric as best they can. Ranboo shivers in the warm air trapped between the layers created by the person’s body heat. They rub their hand up and down his back, trying to generate as much extra heat as they can through the material. 

 Ranboo feels the person’s arms move before they fully shift him onto one arm. They stop walking seemingly focused on their task as they reach their hand into one of the many pockets sewn into the raincoat. They fiddle for a second before pulling out a key ring with (in Ranboo’s opinion) way too many keys on it. Satisfied, they continue walking, wet boots splashing their way through the thin layer of water that covers the ground. They shift the keys in their hand seemingly trying to grip a small, black plastic box with 4 buttons–which Ranboo realizes is probably a clicker for a car.

 The stranger lifts their gaze from where it was focused on the keys and Ranboo’s brain registers that they stopped moving, making them look up as well. When he looks around they realize the stranger took them to a car park. Ranboo looks up at the human’s face and notices they are scanning the surrounding cars before they sigh and click a button on the plastic box. Ranboo hears a faint car horn, confirming his suspicions about it being a clicker–fob? Confirming his suspicions about it being a key fob. 

 Clicking the button again they spin, and move to follow the noise. They seem a bit sheepish about all the noise they're making but they continue on anyway. After turning past a corner, Ranboo spots the flashing of headlights. The car they see is a relatively normal car, a bit on the small side, and is colored what they think is a deep red. The world makes itself known again when a breeze blows past and makes Ranboo shiver. They try to burrow further into the jacket as if hiding from the world as they are carried around to the driver’s side door. 

 They hear a key rattling followed by an almost zipping noise that turns into a click. They peek over the zipper of the coat and see the person pulling a key out of the lock on the car door’s handle. The stranger readjusts Ranboo then opens the door and slides in. They immediately put the key in the ignition, turning it to start the vehicle before letting go to crank the heat. They then point the vents onto themself- or more likely onto Ranboo to dry them off as quickly as possible. They turn their gaze onto Ranboo, as he settles into the warmth, letting out a content purr. The stranger starts combing through their fur, trying to work out wet spots, and mats alike. Ranboo leans in into the gentle hands while blinking back the sleep that is begging to take them. 

 “Dang, I forgot to tell you my name,” the stranger mutters, facepalming. They pull Ranboo closer to their face and direct a small smile at them, “Nice to meet you little one, my name is Karl.” They whisper as if telling the kitten the secrets of the universe. Ranboo begins to yawn as they nod their head, barely keeping their eyes open. The feeling of safety and the warmth they rest in combined with the soft hand scratching under his chin makes the lure of sleep more and more tempting. 

 Ranboo’s body makes the decision for them when he tries to crack open their eyes, only to find that they can't. But before their mind is whisked off to dreamland he hears the beginning of what the human holding them says "I know you can't really tell me your name" Karl whispers to the closed eyes of the kitten in his lap, "but I hope you will one day". Knowing Ranboo didn't hear the last part, Karl shifts the car from park into drive and as gently as possible, and eases the car out of the car park and onto the road. With a familiar library in mind, Karl smiles to himself knowing that the little one will soon be safe and loved.