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Heat brushed his fur, singeing the tips as he laid as still as possible. Dead? No, but pinned by his own weapon, taken down by the enemy. It crushed him down into the flaming ground, darkening the dirt and removing any of the small bundles of grass around.
“Fuck! Technoblade! Shi-” Bullet fire drowned out the voice that came from above, just as Technoblade regained consciousness. The flames seemed to retreat as Technoblade finally opened his eyes; the ringing faded from his ears, instead replaced by the screams and gunfire of friend and foe.
Technodead, L, K, Blood Chat laughed, and yet there was a hint of worry buried in the mockery. If Technblade didn’t know better, he’d think they were just mocking him for the fall from the sky and weren’t actually worried for the piglin. Techno barely lifted his head before his vision was painted red, stinging his eyes and highlighting the immense pain he was truly in.
Agony was the best way to describe it as he squeezed his eyes shut and bit his tongue to keep any sound in. Techno knew the dangers; he was the one leading the assault. Now he was down, alone, pinned down, with sharp needles and lightning in every fiber of his lower half, and with a pounding headache to match. Techno waited, just a moment. Maybe the pain would ease up just enough to be able to move.
To be able to do something but then wait till a gun was at his head. Even if he wouldn’t be able to see it.
Just needed a moment.
The voices panicked as the pain flared in waves, every breath drawing it out. Technoblade had no time left to waste. War was upon them, and they couldn’t wait. He got his arms under his chest, blindly. The blood had slowed its relentless flow over his eyes, but he couldn’t waste time wiping it away. His arms burned, maybe just from the bruises or maybe from the flames that still lingered around.
Move Chat screamed as Technoblade slowly pushed up. The weight on his lower back shifted, rolling back at a snail’s pace. He moved up, till his elbows were locked straight, holding himself in a semi-push-up position. He couldn’t push up anymore, his legs still caught under his weapon, unable to give any leverage. The stillness of the weight caused the continuing feeling of needles to fire and burn deep into Techno. Blood coated his mouth, as his teeth ripped into his tongue. His body screamed to be released, as Chat screamed to keep it up.
“Techno!” A voice called, as footsteps pounding against the ground got louder, and louder. He was a sitting duck. Or Piglin. The specifics didn’t really matter when Techno was going to be attacked, but Chat didn’t hesitate to argue with him even with the panic in their energy.
It was a surprise when the weight shifted again, rolling off enough that Technoblade could roll forward and out of the burned zone. He tried to jump to his feet, but his legs gave out at the slightest bit of pressure, sending him straight to the ground. If it was any sign of his cursed luck, he was able to tip back to fall on his behind.
“Techno!”
Pete, that was Pete. Techno was almost embarrassed it took him that long to recognize the empire’s right hand man.
“Pete?” Techno swiveled his head toward the owner of the voice, who didn’t hesitate to wipe the blood away that was coating his eyes. It took a few blinks to open his eyes and stare at Pete who was decorated in the enchanted diamond armor Techno had made for him, giving off a slight glow.
“Hullo-” Technoblade tried to greet his friend before he broke off into a coughing fit, the smoke having irritated his body in many ways.
“Oh, fuck, oh, okay, shit.” Pete cursed, pressing a cloth to Techno’s forehead, barely missing hitting Techno’s snout before he settled on crouching close to Techno’s leg.
Blood, bone, bad, Technohurt. Chat screamed in a fury of emotions, so Techno actually looked at the cause of panic.
His legs were red, pants ripped around the knee, revealing his bloody and clumped fur. His right leg was the worst, fully mangled, twisted at an impossible angle, and its bone was protruding from his fur-covered skin. The grey edges were jagged and covered in patches of blood and dirt.
“Oh.”
“No ‘oh’, what do-” Technoblade started to move before Pete could even finish. The man protested and stopped Techno’s attempt to stand by pushing down on his shoulders, and sending new pain into Techno’s already bruised and injured frame. Techno kept his usual deadpan look though, but his brows scrunched, and not just because of the sudden headache and dizziness that also came on. Technoblade started his own protest, even as Chat rang in his ear.
“No no no!” Pete echoed the chat. “You’re not moving - NO!” Technoblade still tried to rise, using his strength to successfully push Pete away a few times. But the man had a lot more energy than the piglin had at that very moment, so he quickly returned to push the piglin down.
“Pete.” He growled, watching his friend's face, spotting a small flash of fear before a return to his determined mask. Pete said nothing as he locked eyes with Techno. “I’ve got an army to lead!”
“No shit, but you are badly fucked up for getting shot out of the fucking sky!”
“But I’m not de-“
They continued like this for at least 5 minutes. It's a pointless argument; one of the leaders of the Antarctic Empire, and an army general wouldn’t ever abandon his troops. Technoblade had spent weeks preparing for this battle ever since the rumors had started. Sleepless nights of collecting information and preparation weren’t going to go down the drain, let alone because of Technoblade’s own oversight. He really should have gotten shields for the planes or even reinforced the metal more than it was.
He couldn’t change the past, but he was for sure not leaving his troops alone while they carried out his plans. He argued these very points and included the point that he wasn’t useless. He’d put way too much into this to just walk it back now—or rather crawl it back in his current condition. As much as Techoblade didn't want to admit it, with his leg broken like it was, he wasn’t really in any state to fight. They kept going around in a circular argument, pushing back and forth about the state of Technoblade and the battle. They only paused when the rapid beating of wings against the warm air flew right over head, bringing the avian emperor with the sound; landing just a few feet away.
“Philza!” Pete pushed down on the piglin’s shoulders to keep him still again, as Phil sprinted over to the duo.
“Mate, what-” Techno knew the exact moment Phil saw his legs, as many curses spilled out. Techno didn’t dare meet the avian’s eyes, lest Phil reiterate Pete’s own points to him and try to get him to back down. It’s not often they butted heads, but he had seen Philza do it multiple times with other soldiers, often winning.
He wasn’t even fighting Pete’s hold, just allowing the pressure to distract him from feeling the muscle spasms and cramping of his body like knives carving into his muscles.
“Mate Tech-” Technoblade wasn’t sure when Phil had crouched down to his eye level or even arrived by his side, but he wasn’t giving up on his goal to win this.
“No, Phil, I’m not leaving.” He met Philza’s eyes for the first time at that moment. Techno's brows were slightly pinched, and his mouth tilted down in a barely concealed threatening scowl. He wasn’t going to leave, he had to be strong and lead them to victory. Phil’s expression was the very opposite: deep-seated concern only about Techno. His eyes were wide, for a moment before they sharpened, at Techno’s own words
The voices stilled for a moment before erupting. Concern, Dad Phil, heal, help, Techno L, Trouble, ooooooooooooo.
“Technoblade,” Philza’s tone was sharp, daring Techno to speak up and get cut.
“I’m not leaving our men, Phil. I have to lead them with my plan.” Techno could feel darkness trying to take him, make him rest, but he wasn't about to give up now, not when the fighting had just started.
“You. Are. Hurt!”
“Yeah, doesn't mean I cannot fight; I've got gapples, and potions.” He really should have taken both of those sooner to start the healing process, but he'd been a bit distracted.
“Don't you fucking dare.” Philza hissed, grabbing the collar of Techno’s shirt, making the piglin wince at the pressure of twisting to meet Phil’s eyes. “You know these wounds need more than just a potion slapped on them. You big dummy.”
Techno wasn't going to argue about that; they've clearly lost precious ground just sitting here.
An explosion rang out, way too close to the trio. Techno barely noticed that Phil had shielded him till the feathers retracted, while his ears were still ringing. Philza’s scowl was pure anger as he glared at Technoblade.
“No.”
“Phil.”
“I said no, mate. You go out there, and you die. I’ll drag you back just to kick your ass and kill you again!”
Technoblade paused, mostly ‘cause he didn’t really want to test that, and he didn’t doubt Philza wouldn’t do it in some way or another. But Techno was stubborn, and maybe it was the blood loss, but he was sure they could win as long as Techno was there, guiding everyone in the invasion.
“Phil-” Techno started, when the sudden sound of smashed glass caught him unguarded. The bitter, numbing smell flooded his nose quickly. He looked up at Phil and caught the anger change to relief on the avian’s face as the world faded.
*****
Silence.
That was what greeted Techno as he came back to his senses. Slowly sounds returned, mostly being quiet footsteps and Techno's own strained breathing. The pain also came back in a fury, pulling a whine from the man.
“Morning, mate,” Phil said as he readjusted Technoblade in his arms, shifting the man who was a piglin in the battle field but now is a human and was being carried by someone who was almost half his size.
Chat also woke up, laughing at Technoblade as he was carried by Phil, to... somewhere. He barely opened his eyes, almost forgetting he could, and starting to look around.
“Phil, ‘hat’s going on?” The piglin said as he tried to pull away from the avian’s body, specifically the feathers of his wings, tickling Technoblade’s cheek and nose. The movement allowed Techno to also see the stone walls, and red tapestries that were hanging on them. Ones that Technoblade had picked out himself.
Phil clicked his tongue at the action, shifting Technoblade closer, and brushing his beard against Techno’s cheek. “You aren’t allowed to move, mate, till we’re at our room.”
“How'd you—?” Techno started before being cut off by a cough. It pulled every muscle as he tried to sit up a little. Philza stopped, holding him tighter as he coughed up what felt like an entire lung. After the coughing fit subsided, everything ached even more if it was possible. His body hurt, and his leg still felt like it was on fire, so he just laid back, resting his head in the avian’s feathered limbs.
“Got you back pretty easily. Sophia saw us and dropped off her plane so I could get you back fast. Oh, I’m going to have to return it later, try to make sure I don’t forget that.” Philza chuckled as he stopped by their room’s door.
Techno flinched, trying to not to move, as Phil pushed open the door to their chambers with his hips. Techno immediately saw the Antarctic Empire flag hanging just above their bed, its light blue fabric looking very pale in the candle light. It’s night?
“You shifted to your more human form after I knocked you out, so it was a bit easier to move you into the plane. Still amazed by the size difference.” Phil whispered the last part.
Techno mumbled out a ‘jerk’ as best he could. Everything felt so heavy and sharp and just hot. Philza chuckled, rocking Techno with a laugh and making the room seem to shake as well. He squeezed his eyes shut as Phil coo’d low and steady. A tactic that Phil had used on other injured soldiers or kids. Technoblade barely remembered that that technique was something like a comfort to the avian.
“Those late nights have caught up to you, too.”
Technoblade barely hummed a note of confusion, as Philza finally walked to the bed, and continued, “You're hot, feverishly so.”
So Techno was sick? He paused, thinking it over as Phil placed him on the bed, ever so slowly, adjusting the piglin to lay flat—well, as flat as a man could be with a broken leg. It made some sense, since even a simple brush from Phil made Technoblade jerk, electrifying his nerves.
“Sorry, mate.”
“‘S fine. ‘M fine.” Techno muttered, slowly moving his arm to cover his eyes. Heavy, everything felt so heavy. Just a breath through his nose was a painful struggle, not to mention the suddenly irritating tickling from his facial hair. The constant pain and ache from his leg wasn't helping. He just had to grit his teeth and bear it. The quicker Phil patched him up, the quicker he could see himself returning to the field whether Phil liked it or not. Techno can feel the cold steel of a knife as it ripped through his pants, right about the knee. Philza slowly peeled the burned fabric from Techno’s skin, with some of his fur burned into it.
“You will probably have to shower soon as well.” Phil said nonchalantly as the sliced fabric pulled at Techno’s skin and the many wounds littering his body. He bit down harder, squeezed his eyes closed more firmly, as the pain flared, crawling up like spiders, biting every inch of him as they went.
Philza stopped finally, leaving the strip of fabric who knows where, and retreated, cursing under his breath. Maybe he’ll just slap a potion on it, Techno pleaded silently, just so he could get out of there faster. Maybe it's not as bad as Philza thought and he was just grabbing a new outfit for Technoblade to wear.
The voices echoed two things: Techno being hurt and scolding him for not wanting Philza’s help and at the same time wanting more blood. He focused on them, a great distraction from the pain, a pounding headache of voices screaming, and overlapping.
Techno could barely pick out any words from them but he does get a few. Technobad, hurt blade, Philza! Blood BLood BLOOOD! Panic and anger flooded from the voices into Techno’s veins.
It gave him pause, for just a moment. Why were they so loud?
The cold liquid poured on Techno’s face, halted all thoughts, as Phil yanked Technoblade’s arms away from his eyes. He poured the rest of the potion on Techno's face, where it quickly got absorbed through his skin thanks to its magical properties.
“Wha-“ The heaviness increased, silencing the injured man soon after.
”Got to keep you still mate, just sleep.” Phil said gently closing Techno’s eyes, that were so heavy he couldn't even fight it if he wanted to.
”Once you wake, I’ll have you all patched up.”
The world faded fully as the quiet sounds of Phil working retreated fully from Techno’s ears.
*****
Techno held the lantern out, the light shifting from yellow to red, to green and back again. Yet the colors barely illuminated the grey world around him; he could barely see three feet in front of him. The cold metal chains rattled as he walked, the floor shifting and sinking with his weight. It was sand, maybe?
That was Technoblade's best guess at the moment. The small grains slipped between his hoofs keeping him unsteady, and scraping at any exposed skin. He couldn't stop, even as the chains dangled down from his cuffs, trying to keep him down.
He could not stop.
They’d hurt him.
He needed to be perfect, he had to keep leading the way. The whispers behind him were low, and yet so loud despite being the only sound besides the shifting grains.
The eyes stayed locked on him as he stumbled, a rock suddenly hit his leg. Technoblade kept going. He couldn’t stop, he was commanded to save them. He has to or what was all this for? More rocks came, hitting his legs harder, as the chains dragged at him. Sometimes they tightened, just to halt him or drag him back. They usually let up soon after and he kept stumbling forward, until the grains stopped, shifting into some type of liquid. It splashed at his feet—his child-sized feet, confusing Techno. Wasn’t he an adult? Hadn’t it just been sand against his hooves? He stared down in shock, seeing how small he was now. The water lapped, black and glistening, at his feet and absorbed all light from his lantern.
Everything was black and the voices weren't happy. The chains pulled taut, trying to drag the boy back.
He finally fought back.
One step forwards, two nearly tripping steps backwards. He kept his balance by pure luck, as he pulled against the chains. Technoblade wanted to scream as the chains tugged at his fur, his skin, his throat. They wanted him to suffocate.
Suffocate under their words.
Their eyes.
Their rules.
Their orders.
“Nooooo…” He wheezed out, clawing at the chains around his neck, Techno tried to walk forward, even with the tension squeezing his breath out of him. He needed to get away. The water. Yes, they wouldn’t follow him there. They couldn’t, they feared it.
He tugged as hard as he could, wading in the water, just to be pulled back. Ink spilled from the wounds, joining the sea of blood, joining the other lives already spilt for the child.
For the blessing he was.
The blessing he was meant to be.
The one they needed him to be.
He couldn’t.
He didn’t want to be that.
Technoblade fought. And fought. Struggled against the chains as they burned deep into his skin. Even as he grew older, bigger, they stayed the same size, sinking into his fur, skin, bone, becoming one with him.
Snap.
He fell forward, dropping over the ledge hidden by the waves.
He was drowning, but he was free. As the water stabbed him, injecting itself into his veins, playing with his floating hair, the lantern went out, at the water’s edge.
Darkness. Heavy and pressing, pressing down.
All around is darkness as Techno drowned, the whispers rose, getting louder, and louder and louder until they formed a storm of sound around him.
They screamed!! As Technoblade, the blood god, faded.
He gasped, jolting as he found himself at the head of the table, a map laid out in front of him. Philza placed a hand on his shoulder giving Technoblade a smile as the piglin turned to him with shock.
”Spaced out there, mate?” Philza chuckled, causing the rest of those around the table to do the same, just lower. Techno couldn’t even mutter out a word before Phil prompted him to go on. Techno felt so confused, but Philza was persistent, insisting that Technoblade had a plan and everyone was here to hear it out, like he hadn’t already done exactly that.
People stood at the table, everyone of them a member of their army, but their faces were but a blur. Only Philza’s was as clear as crystal.
“Go Wild.”
Techno’s grin went sharp as he knew exactly what plan to run by everyone: World Domination won through the blood of every single enemy. Each plan had a contingent plan, that had a contingent plan, that had a contingent plan—there was no obstacle he couldn’t foresee. And defeat.
*****
Everything felt heavy as Technoblade slowly forced his eyes open. The room wasn’t dark per-say, a small beam of light from the window peeked through, a golden flower in the desert.
A very quiet room, the only sounds audible to a person being the fire crackling. Techno wasn't a normal human though, so he heard much more, including the light tap of feet against the tiled hall, coming closer. Light like air, or like the air underneath the wings of the angel.
“P-“ Techno couldn’t even say his name before coughing up a storm. The footsteps quickened, just before the door slammed open, leaving Techno’s ears ringing.
“Shi- sorry,” Philza quickly apologized, noticing the subtle pinch of Technoblade’s brows, before closing the door gently but still with a noticeable rush.
“‘S fine,” Techno slurred, coughing just a bit. His throat was so dry, any desert would be jealous.
“Nah, mate.” Phil sprinted to Techno's bedside. His smile was soft and very tired. Heavy bags weighted beneath his eyes.
“You look like sh-“ Technoblade didn't finish, cut off by a cough but it still got Philza chuckling.
“Thanks mate. Spent a night worrying over your stubborn ass.”
Techno rolled his eyes just a bit causing Phil to call him a twat, but it also reminded the piglin to do a self check. Bandages were wrapped around both his arms and his forehead, too, based on the tug on his skin.
“Really patched me up huh?” He said as his eyes finally went to his leg and widened ever so slightly.
“Yeah took a bit, but got it done pretty fast-“
Philza was cut off by the glare Technoblade delivered. The reaction just caused Philza to laugh. He giggled as he crawled over Techno to plop down on the bed.
“Took you-“
”Why is my leg chained to the bed?” Techno said pointedly. His right leg had been put back together, and wrapped in a purple cast, but Phil had also placed a cuff and chain around it at the ankle and attached it to the bed.
“Can’t have you escaping while sick, can we?”
Technoblade winced, as Philza kept on smiling. “Phil—my image– just think of my image.” Techno's pleas did little but cause the avian to laugh out loud again, as he laid down close to the piglin.
“Philza please, free me,” Techno couldn't stop a subtle smile either as he settled in to wait till Philza fell asleep, to escape. Because that was the only option Technoblade could see that would give him any opportunity to rejoin the battle.
“Nah mate, forceful rest time.” Philza said as he flicked some of Techno’s hair away. They both relaxed a little, enjoying the silence of the morning. Techno’s plan was to sneak out as soon as Phil fell asleep, and yet Phil had already clocked the mere thought.
“You can’t leave, already informed the guards not to let you leave and to report to me if they see you out and about.”
Techno sighed, deep and heavy.
“You ain’t going anywhere till I give you a clear bill of health.”
“The battle?”
“Pete's got it. It’s not like your plan wasn't extremely detailed."
Technoblade thought back to the huge map, and back up plans of back up plans. Maybe, Techno was a bit over prepared for every circumstance and plan.
”I'm sorry."
“Heh?”
”You hate when potions are used to take away your autonomy.” Techno just stared at Phil, touched he remembered that but- “I’m sorry I used them to take you down. Twice.”
Technoblade paused, those phantom cuffs, digging into his skin, cracked. It was a small crack but it was there.
”I'm sorry, too. Shouldn't have fought you on that."
“It's alright mate, we were all worried about the invasion. Though I will say they didn’t seem as prepared as we were.” Phil said as he moved closer to Techno, before hovering his head just above Techno’s shoulder. He moved his shoulder up when he saw Phil’s doe eyes, bumping the piglin’s cheek. Phil quickly hugged Techno without another word spoken between them. They just calmly breathed as they rested and it dawned on Technoblade: Philza wasn't gonna leave, and he wasn’t gonna let Techno leave either. So he instead would have to pray for the troops’ safety, and hope to hear good news soon.
Apparently the news was going to come faster than anyone could have expected. Technoblade must have fallen asleep, for seemingly in the next second, Pete was slamming the door open, screaming, “Techno! Phil!”
”The fuck mate!” Phil yelled back, hopping up and off the bed before continuing to scold Pete for waking them up and being loud.
Pete rapidly kept talking about the guards, and the troops, and injuries, and numbers, and there was just way too much info for Technoblade to process. Pete looked like he'd been through it, and they should be worried. He was covered in ash, his armor somewhat scratched but almost clean.
“What’s happening?” Technoblade said, finally when Philza took a breath in the middle of his rant to Pete.
”WE FUCKING WON!!!” Pete screamed so loud that even the guards by the door peeked in.
Pete proceeded to say that with Technoblade's sudden disappearance, the other side started to panic. Obviously, they suspected another trap. They surrendered just before daybreak, and the appearance of the army as the sun rose, helped as well. Which was another of Techno's backup plans. Philza was speechless, till he broke out in laughter. Everyone had a good chuckle at his shock, and then congratulated the emperors on a successful conquest. Philza thanked them all before pushing Pete out and giving him some sort of command.
"Told ya. You prepared them well.” Phila said, as he walked back into the room, and even though Techno really didn't feel the best he still smiled as he told Phila, “No you didn't. You worried about every single one of my plans.”
Philza argued lightly with him over the next few hours until Technoblade fell into a peaceful sleep, with Philza right by his side, holding him closer than his home ever did. This was his new home, and hopefully it would thrive even more.