Chapter Text
The sky fell when I was three. I don't remember much. Just the screams. I remember the hurried screaming of my father as he thrust me into my big brother's arms and told us to run. He went back to find our mother and our oldest brother.
I remember the wind blowing through my curly mop of hair as I was carried away in a rush. A stuffed animal in my arms as I was confused and just rudely awakened from a nap.
I'm sure I cried. I'm certain I cried a lot that week.
I hear the door click open and I jump back. I know it's my big brother, who else would it be? His presence shakes me out of my memories.
"Hey nerd," Technoblade laughs, it's forced, but the affection behind it is true. He smiles, his sharp teeth and piglin tusks unmissable now. His once long and beautiful pink hair is cut short and pinned back with a single tarnished gold barrette with an emerald in it. He comes and gives me a hug. I welcome it; it's been a long day.
After we break the hug, he stretches. I can see the fading on his clothing. I know he wears armor for most of the day. I pretend I don't notice the blood caked under his nails, or caught in his hair. But I notice the aches he has at the end of the day, some days he's dull when he comes home. I hear his nightmares. We sleep in the same bed after all.
I feel Techno ruffle my hair. I smile, I love it when he does little things like that. I still swat his hand out of my blond curls. "You make it to school?" He asks as he dodges my erratic attacks.
I frown. "Yes. I was present and accounted for. Don't worry," I grumble.
Technoblade sighs. "Do you need help?"
I raise an eyebrow. He sighs.
"Are you having trouble, and that's why you're skipping? Frustration? I can help. Or I can find someone who can," he says gently.
I shake my head. I don't want him to send me away. He's all I know.
Techno nods. "Do I need to beat someone up then? Someone giving ya trouble pipsqueak?" He smirks and plops down on the bed beside me.
"No!" I laugh, trying to push him off the bed. "I'm a big man! No one would dare bully me!" It's because they all know I'm your little brother.
Techno laughs, a hearty loud laugh. Like the ones that his twin used to get out of him. I'm glad I'm able to now that he's gone.
"Well I'm glad my little brother is able to protect himself huh?"
I chuckle and continue pushing him off the bed. "You're still in work clothes. Get off the bed!"
Techno rolls his eyes and lets me push him off. "Come on! I made sure I got all the blood... Off..." He trails off when he realizes what he said. He coughs.
I shift in uncomfortably on the bed. I know what he does, but I don't want to know. I don't want to remember that I know what he does. I don't want to think about what my (adoptive) big brother does.
Techno sighs. "Did you eat today?"
I nod. "Niki gave me food. I had lunch at Tubbo's," I whisper. "I had three meals today. Don't worry."
Technoblade nods. "Good."
I smile comfortingly at him. I know he's doing all he can. He's barley an adult by human standards.
Techno sighs. "I gotta go back to work."
I frown. "Again?" He's leaving more and more now.
Techno nods. "Sorry kid. It's better that it's me," he whispers.
I sigh and nod. "Can I go to Tubbo's?" I ask quietly.
My brother smiles a bit. "Yeah I'll walk you over."
I look up when we exit what counts as an apartment building down here. The red stone powered ring of lights across the ceiling of the cave flickers a little bit as it counts closer to sunset. Or eight pm. I don't know if that's sunset. Apparently the planet shifts and the time of sunset changes according to my science teacher. Not that I remember the sun anyway. I've always wanted to see it.
Techno offers his hand as we walk down the cobblestone and andesite paths that weave through what buildings are down here.
I take his hand and stay close as the light lessens as people turn off main shop lights and the ground lights turn off for the day. They say it's to simulate night.
But they never let it get dark enough to be night. That's too dangerous.
We reach Tubbo's soon enough. He doesn't live far away. His family lives in a smaller house. Him, his dad and his aunt and her two kids. All that's left of their family. All squished into a three bedroom furnished cave.
Techno gently knocks on the door. In a moment the tarnished wooden door opens up to reveal a tired looking woman with a big poof of white fuzzy hair tied back in a kerchief. She smiles. "Nice to see you both!" She gestures us both in, and I hop inside without hesitation.
"Thank you Puffy!" I laugh and run over to Tubbo and Schlatt's room.
I find Tubbo, dutifully copying my homework onto his.
I jump onto him.
"Gah!" He yelps and screeches as I push all of my weight onto him.
I laugh as he easily lifts me up and drops me down beside him. "Doing good homework?"
Tubbo smirks and rolls his eyes. "You know perfectly well I can't read."
I chuckle. "Yeah the two of us make one functional human."
"Na, neither of us are picking up the women."
Tubbo rolls his eyes. "Who needs women Tommy," he snickers.
I glare. "I'll have you know I have many many wives. They all adore me!"
Tubbo just laughs. I smile.
It's nice having a friend.