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Tommy didn’t know what to think when Phil came to collect him, standing outside his dirt hut with a look of barely concealed disgust. Tommy scowled at the older blonde as he stepped outside. Phil just looked so out of place with his neatly brushed hair and his fancy robes.
“What do you want.” Tommy snapped almost immediately; hackles raised at the familiar face. Phil’s expression twisted into something like hurt or maybe even aggravation at his tone, his grand black wings puffing up in what Tommy assumed was irritation.
“I wanted to see you mate,” Phil said, a smile that would seem kind to others on his face, but Tommy knew better, “I was hoping to invite you over to my place for a cup of tea sometime?”
He hesitated, glancing back to his shack. He’d planned on doing… well, he was always planning on doing things that would never get done, what’s the harm in putting off one more day? ”Fine,” Tommy agreed with a sigh and Phil’s lips curled up into a disturbingly satisfied smile, “but no funny business. I mean it Philza Minecraft.” he warned, pointing a finger at the other blonde in a way that would be almost menacing if Tommy wasn’t so obviously skin and bone.
“Of course, mate.” he smiled condescendingly, “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Tommy squinted at Phil for a moment before sighing, “Just let me grab something.” He disappeared back into his hut, grabbing the enchanted netherite axe that hung from his wall, even after all this time. The blade was perfectly polished, no blood or nicks or any imperfections marring the weapon, The Axe of Peace. He shoved the axe into his inventory, rejoining Philza outside.
“Let’s go, old man.” He muttered with a scowl.
Phil moved as if he was going to wrap his arm around his shoulders, making Tommy tense in anticipation of the contact. But Phil never touched him, his arm hovering just inches away from his body. Tommy felt himself slowly relax, reasoning with himself that as long as Phil didn’t actually touch him it was alright.
Tommy was regretting his lack of preparations. He knew where Phil lived, in buttfuck-coldass nowhere with Techno. He shivered in his thin, ragged tee, stubbornly refusing to let Phil any closer and slip under the loose fabric of his robes like he did as a kid.
“Fuck off, Phil.” He said, teeth chattering after the man offered him something to wrap around himself for the hundredth time, “I’m-m-m a f-fuckin’ big man.”
“Whatever you say, mate.” Phil rolled his eyes, having long since draped his wings in some extra fabric to protect them from the snow, “But you’ll catch your death in this cold.”
Tommy snorted, “What’s another dead so- kid to you, Philza Minecraft.?” He hoped to Prime that the avian would ignore his slip up. Wilbur had actually been Phil’s son; Tommy was just some random kid who stayed in their house for about a year or two before Wilbur dragged them off to this hellscape.
Phil stopped dead in his tracks and Tommy cringed at that, refusing to turn around and face him. ”Don’t joke about that.” He said coldly, making Tommy’s heartrate spike.
He nodded, lowering his head and keeping his eyes on the ground. Tommy heard a sigh and Phil started walking again. He followed silently.
It was tense for a few minutes, Tommy stumbling often as he tried to keep up with Phil’s stride. The warm torchlight of houses in the distance was a welcome sight; although, his apprehension, which had faded into the background on the journey, made its reappearance as they grew closer.
The way the houses had been built was the two separate houses joined by a hallway, which made sense as they two were very different hybrids that could not share one house for long periods of time. Tommy knew very well which house was which and his heartrate spiked as Phil paused at Techno’s door a moment but swept past it and unlocking his own. He held it open, allowing Tommy to enter the cabin.
He stepped inside, sighing as the still-cold but much-warmer interior of the cabin hit him. The lack of frigid wind feeling like heaven. Phil guided him to what he assumed was the living room and sat him on the couch before busying himself with the fireplace, starting it up so that Tommy wouldn’t die of hypothermia.
From where Tommy sat, he could clearly see the door that connected the two cabins. He sifted nervously on the plush sofa as Phil when into the kitchen to prepare the tea.
“Hey, Phil?” He called, getting an answering, inquisitive, hum in return, “You- you talked to Technoblade about having me over beforehand, right?”
Phil peaked his head into the living room and Tommy didn’t like the amused smiled on his face.
“Why would I need to, mate?” The avian asked, with a small trilling laugh, “It’s my house, innit?”
Tommy stared at Phil, who had dipped back into the kitchen, jaw hanging open with a bewildered expression.
“Because,” Tommy said, voice strangled, “He fucking hates me? And if he were to visit you out of nowhere, and I know he does so don’t even try to say otherwise, he would kill me?”
His voice rose in pitch as he talked, hysteria evident. Another laugh sounded from the kitchen.
“Don’t worry about it,” Phil called, “It won’t be an issue.”
Tommy highly doubted that but settled against the couch cushions anyways, waiting anxiously for Phil to come back into the living room. He tried to focus on the clanking and clinking sounds of the kitchen to remind himself that Phill was right there, just around the corner.
After a minute or so, Phil reappeared with a tray in his hands. He set it down on the coffee table, pouring both of them cups and nudging Tommy’s towards him as he sipped at his own. Tommy picked up the cup, the porcelain clinking as his hands shook from both the cold and lingering nerve damage.
It looked and smelled like normal black tea with just a splash of cream, so Tommy took a sip. It tasted slightly off, like Phil had steeped it too long and didn’t add enough sugar to compensate for it. Tommy said nothing though, Phil was the Angel of Death and had the temperament to match that title. Tommy had already upset him with the dead kid comment, and he didn’t really feel like being slaughtered over the guy’s poor tea making skill.
“So…” Tommy said, politely sipping at the tea, “Uh, you know that one thing…?”
Phil raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“You know, the thing,” Tommy glanced around, like mentioning the mere object would summon its owner, “The weapon that Technoblade just so happens to be missing.”
Phil put down his tea, “Mh, yes, I believe I’ve heard him bitching about it a couple dozen times.” He mused exaggeratedly, “The Axe of Peace, was it?”
“Yeah, that’s the thing,” Tommy said weakly, hearing his heart beating in his ears, “So, if I, I dunno, just so happened to… have it. And I left it in your cabin. You could return it, right?” He asked, fidgeting with the handle of the cup.
Phil narrowed his eyes, “Tommy, what did you get from your ‘house’ before we left?”
Tommy sighed heavily, placing the cup down. With a flash, Tommy pulled the Axe of Peace out of his inventory, holding it awkwardly because holding a weapon that big while sitting was difficult.
Phil pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing hiss eyes shut. He let out a breath, standing.
“Give it here, I’ll take it to him now.” Phil held out a hand, waiting for Tommy to deposit the weapon into his hand.
“Uh, no?” Tommy pulled the axe closer to his chest, careful of the sharp blade, “I was thinking you wait until I left?”
Phil stared at him for a moment before a sinister smile spread across his face, “Oh, Tommy…” He cooed.
Tommy felt his face pale and he tried to stand only to be met with a wave of dizziness and nausea.
“What.. what did you do?” He slurred as he stumbled. Phil steadied him, easily plucking the axe out of his grasp. The warm hand on his shoulder pulled him to Phil’s chest.
“Weakness potion in the tea,” Phil said, fondly carding his fingers through Tommy’s hair. “That assassin’s pot Techno lent me was very useful.”
Tommy whimpered, his limbs growing so heavy that, if he wasn’t pressed against Phil, he would’ve collapse.
“Why?” Tommy managed to ask with his tongue feeling like lead in his mouth.
“Oh, look at you,” His grip tightened, “You’re wasting away chicklet, skin and bones.”
Phil dropped the axe on the table as he sat down again, pulling Tommy to cuddle into his side.
“And, Goddess, Techno was so mad after that whole thing with the Community House,” Tommy stiffened in Phil’s hold; an impressive feat with the weakness running though his system, “Oh, hush, he wasn’t mad for the reason that you think. You left him, sweet thing, abandoned him. He was lost to his instincts for weeks. I had to drag him deeper to stop him from tearing up the server to find you.”
“Didn’t,” Tommy slurred, shaking his head.
“Oh? What didn’t you do?” Phil asked, tilting Tommy’s chin up so their eyes met.
“Didn’ abandon ‘im,” Tommy muttered, “ ‘as scared.”
“You were scared?” Phil crooned, “Why, baby? He wouldn’t have hurt you.”
Tommy whined softly, “Gon give me t’ Dream.”
Phil went oddly quiet before he stood, scooping Tommy up in his arms.
“You need to have a talk with Techno.” He said, Tommy started struggling in Phil’s grip as best he could.
“Shh, calm down Tommy,” Phil scolded, kicking the door open and swiftly crossing the hall.
“Techno!” Phil called, stopping before the other, “Open up, I have a gift!”
A few tense seconds passed, completely silent and Tommy was starting to hope that Techno wasn’t home. But his luck was still shit as the telltale sound of hooves hitting hardwood sounded. Tommy let his head go limp, tears budding in his eyes. He didn’t want to die. The door was pulled open.
“What do you waannnt…” The last word was drawn out as Techno trailed off, eyes locked on Tommy’s form cradled in Phil’s arms.
“Theseus.” Techno breathed, an odd pitch to his voice. He reached out and Phil deposited the now crying teen in the Piglin’s arms. Techno’s head whipped up to Phil, baring his tusks.
“He’s crying,” He snarled, “What did you do?”
Phil rolled his eyes, “He’s crying because of you, mate.” he huffed. Techno made a noise of alarm.
“What?” He looked down at Tommy, brushing the tears off his face, “What did I do?”
Tommy shook his head, burying his face into Techno’s chest.
“He said something about Dream,” Phil, the bastard, pipped up and Techno’s eyes darkened.
“I think the shote and I need some time alone,” Techno said lowly, borderline slamming the door shut and Phil could be heard laughing on the other side.
Techno’s large hand wrapped around the back of his neck, something he had done all the time when Tommy was living with him and as a result, Tommy developed an almost Pavlovian response to the action.
He went fully limp in Techno’s arms, a soft whine escaping his throat. Techno let out a deep rumble, taking Tommy deeper into the house, walking into the room that Tommy knew was his den. He had only seen inside it once, just a glance. He had longed for the dark space, piled with soft things and just the subtle glint of jewels and gold here and there but Techno had pulled him away from the room, pupils blown wide and snarling for Tommy to stay away from that room.
Now they approached it at a speed Tommy wasn’t prepared for. Tommy was deposited onto the pile of blankets, Techno shut the door. Techno climbed in after him, pulling Tommy close. They sat in silence for a moment.
“…Did you really think I was going to give you to Dream?” Techno finally asked. Tommy just nodded. Techno’s grip tightened and he gave a low growl.
“Never,” Techno snarled, “You’re mine, My shote, my runt.”
Tommy whimpered high in his throat, burying his face into Techno’s shoulder. The weakness, which must have been super diluted, was fading fast but his limbs still felt like lead. ””m sorry,” he said after a minute, getting a questioning hum in return, “I hurt you, ‘m sorry.”
Techno laughed a little, “Don’t be sorry runt, you had a reason.”
“Hmmm,” Tommy hummed, snuggling closer to Techno’s comforting heat, “Brought your axe, Phil has it.”
“Hush,” Techno urged, “Sleep.”
Tommy hummed again, eyes growing heavy. He drifted off, basking in the feeling of Techno’s purring against him. But there was this persistent ache in his body, his gums and head throbbing with faint pain.
Whatever, that’s a problem for future Tommy anyways.