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Tommy knew he wasn’t a piglin like his brother; hell, he wasn’t any kind of hybrid.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t hear the yelling through the walls.
Now don’t get him wrong, he was grateful Techno was putting so much effort into keeping the argument away from him. But honestly, would it kill his brother to remember that human hearing wasn’t actually like being deaf?
“Tech- all I’m saying is-”
“It’s my house Phil, it’s my choice in who gets to stay here.”
“But-”
A deep growl rumbled through the wooden walls, low and threatening. The silence seems to echo in its wake.
“That’s one way to end an argument,” Tommy mumbled to himself, sinking even further into the blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He had been staying with Techno for almost a month now, and Phil still hasn’t stopped harassing him. It was honestly funny to see how fast Techno and him could get into a fight.
(if he didn’t laugh about it he would cry.
stupid little tommy tearing apart another friendship. as if destroying his own life wasn’t enough, now he was dragging tech down with him)
The hand settling on top of his head startled him out of his thoughts.
Grey eyes meet ruby as Tommy studies his brother’s expression. If it wasn’t for how well he knew him, Tommy would assume Techno was perfectly fine. The subtle tightness around his mouth and weariness clouding his eyes spoke volume to the blond. Techno was upset, horribly so, and tired of fighting with his best friend.
Guilt gnawed in his chest, carving at the soft skin of his heart.
“Hey bitch. Wanna go horse hunting?”
“Heh?”
“What do you mean heh? Oh look at me I’m Tech-no-blade and I don’t know how to talk. I just grunt and make weird noises because I’m socially awkward,” Tommy grumbled as he pushed himself up off the couch.
“I want a horse. So we’re going fucking horse hunting because Carl deserves a poggers friend.”
The exhaustion melts from Techno’s face and fond amusement takes its place.
(the guilt settles like a heavy weight in his ribs; content to wait until the next argument to continue tearing into him)
“Alright Thes, let's go on a horse hunt.”
—————
The two spend the next few hours combing through open fields. If a horse was strong enough then it wasn’t fast enough, if it was fast enough then it didn’t want to be ridden, if it was rideable then Carl didn’t like it, and if against all odds it met all those requirements then it wasn’t pretty enough for Techno.
(his baby brother deserved only the best.
tommy ignored the growing warmth in his chest as his brother passed up yet another perfectly good horse)
They spent nearly the whole day searching until they found her.
She was white, with ink-black spots speckled across her coat, similar to the spots of a cow. She was fast, had an even temper, and Carl had been playfully nipping at her shoulder ever since Tommy lured her in with an apple.
What sold it was the heart shaped blot in between her eyes. Tommy fell in love immediately and he knew Techno could see the way he melted when the mare snuffled his hair.
It was with little fanfare that Ariadne joined Carl in the stables.
(tommy knew what he was doing with the name. the cheesiness was worth seeing his brother devolve into a fond puddle of headbuts and rumbles.
besides, he had a feeling ariadne would have no problem leading him out of trouble)
Exhausted from a long day of tramping through fields and chasing around wild horses, the two brothers settled in the nest upstairs; content to curl around each other and drop off into unconsciousness.
—————
Tommy woke to yelling.
For a moment he laid there, sinking into the bed and the scent of ink-spruce-sounder. The muffled argument only grew more vague as he allowed his mind to wander. How in the world did this become their regular routine? It was almost like clock work at this point. Phil would attempt to follow some part of his and Techno’s usual daily routine before realizing that no, Techno had not thrown Tommy out like the fucking leech he was, and the two would devolve into bickering. Eventually Phil would toe the line too far and either chat or instinct would have Techno lashing out at the man.
(thankfully, nothing had reached the level it had during their first fight while tech was still addled with instincts.
at least…not yet.)
It was once the faint yelling reached a crescendo that the blond finally forced himself out of bed. Though, not without snatching one of the thick woolen blankets from the nest. Fucking sue him, he wasn’t ready to part with the scent of his older brother.
(especially with the possibility of interacting with his da- phil. interacting with phil.)
Swaddling himself in the still warm fabric, Tommy began to make his way downstairs. Maybe if he was lucky Techno would hear him getting up and move the fight outside. With that in mind, he made sure to step on all the creakiest floorboards and it seemed to pay off when he finally reached the end of the stairs.
The house was empty; from the looks of it Techno had just started making breakfast for them. Until of course, Phil probably showed up expecting Techno to go totem hunting or explore a sea temple or some other bullshit with him. Techno would have turned Phil down and insisted he had to be here for his “runt” (the term didn’t fill tommy with warm affection- it didn’t). Phil would get mad, the two would fight, wash, rinse, dry, repeat…you get the point.
The three of them had settled into some twisted semblance of a routine at this point, so Tommy picks up where Techno left off and begins cooking breakfast.
He didn’t mind it in all honesty, he liked caring for his brother. Especially when he was going through so much with Phil just to defend Tommy. Measly little Tommy who never had anything of value. Who took and took and took, leeching off of anyone who came close enough.
(who abused techno’s instincts and used them to trick the man into caring for him.
…at least that’s what phil had always told him. even as a child.)
It’s as Tommy is placing the silverware on the table that the cabin door opens before slamming shut. There’s a muffled thump and a low, exhausted sigh. Biting his lip, Tommy stares at the two steaming plates of eggs on the table. Should he go see Techno, or would the pink haired man prefer some time alone? Whenever Tommy was fighting with Tubbo he craved comfort like a plant craved sunlight but Techno had always been a bit more…emotionally stunted than Tommy. Would his presence only be a bother?
(as if it wasn’t already one)
He could feel the guilt in his chest, nestled close to his ribs, begin to perk up. It tugged at the paper thin walls of his heart as more exhausted sounds left his brother. He was the one causing this. Tommy was the reason Techno was hurting so much right now. It was always Tommy wasn’t it? He was always the one hurting his brothers, and now that Wilbur’s dead Techno had to face the brunt of his horrible-
“What in the world did you make and why does it actually smell edible?”
The blond’s head snaps up at the low rumble. Techno was slightly rumpled, in a way that has Tommy wishing he could curl up into the older’s side and never leave. His pink hair was scattered around his head as his braid from last night fell into disarray. He was also still in his clothes from last night, a pale blue poet shirt and black pajama pants with a cloak half heartedly thrown around his shoulders. If it wasn’t for his piglin nature the man would probably be freezing and some part of Tommy considers getting back into knitting (if only because the thought of his brother bundled up in a sweater he made had every “piglin” piece of Tommy melting).
“Fuck you! Everything I make is delicious, people eat my food and they fuckin sob because they’ll never eat anything as amazing as it again!”
“I think they might be crying for a different reason, runt.”
“Oh that’s it! Come here you overgrown pig bitch!”
The guilt soothes again, settling back into his ribs for later. There would be plenty of time to rip the blond’s self worth to shreds.
—————
It’s about mid afternoon when Tommy decides to go pay Carl and Ariadne a visit. He would normally take the time to visit all the animals, but with Techno and Phil fighting so much…well someone had to do the chores. And despite the blisters and the splinters, Tommy didn’t mind chopping firewood or scrubbing the floors. Techno was always so relieved when he saw it done and the blond would do anything to keep his older brother happy.
(dream made him work too. but instead of soft smiles and gentle affection, all tommy got was cruel words and harsh hands.
tommy would work as much as techno wanted if it meant he continued to treat him so sweetly.)
The gentle snuffling of Ariadne brought Tommy out of his thoughts, her warm breath contrasting starkly with the icy wind of the arctic. He giggled and gently ran a finger across the mare’s nose. “Hey Ari, how are you doing sweet girl? Has Carl been hogging all the apples?”
The aforementioned horse huffed, as if offended by the comment. Tommy grinned cheekily and reached a hand out to pet Carl’s nose as well. “Don’t act like it’s not true Carl! You’re a very noble horse who loves apples more than me. And that’s saying something big man.”
The blond continues to coo over the horses for a few minutes, slipping them sugar cubes and compliments in equal measure. It’s as he’s declaring Carl the bravest horse prime ever made that the soft crunch of snow reaches his ears. Tommy immediately freezes, shoulders tensing as he curls into himself.
Whoever is behind him isn’t Techno.
His brother would have been purring and chuffing a mile a minute at the sight of Tommy playing with the horses. He would never be silent. He would never grab his shoulder in an iron grip. He would never yank him away from the horses so hard he nearly fell.
“What the hell are you doing to Carl Tommy?” Phil questioned, his voice icy.
“F- fuck off Phil. I don’t have to answer to you,” the blond stuttered as he scrambled to stand up taller.
The man chuckled, a sharp, bitter sound that had Tommy tensing. “Oh yeah mate. You’re here as Techno’s guest, how could I forget? Not like I’ve been trying to have him come to his senses for weeks now.”
Tommy forced himself to straighten, despite Phil’s bitter tone, he was right. Tommy was Techno’s guest, which meant Phil couldn’t talk to him like that. The older blond was only allowed to live here out of Techno’s good graces after all.
“I’m Techno’s brother,” he declared, puffing up his chest in false bravo, “If he wants me here then I can stay here. There’s no ‘sense’ to come to.”
This only seemed to enrage Phil as his damaged wings began to puff up in outrage. “And you’re abusing that!” he hissed, “You’re using the fact that Techno sees you as pack, as his runt, against him! You’re forcing him to care for you even after you betrayed him!”
“No- no I’m not-“
“You’re leeching off him like a fucking parasite! And he doesn’t even see it because he’s so blinded by those horrible instincts of his!”
It was hardly the first time Phil had said these things to Tommy, but that didn’t mean it stung any less. To hear Phil call him runt, like it was some awful, wretched thing…it made him feel dirty.
He felt like the parasite Phil always insisted he was.
Distantly, he recognized that the blond was still yelling at him, eyes filled with hatred and teeth bared in anger. Tommy knew he should be doing something; fighting, crying, even just fucking talking. Except he couldn’t. He could do nothing but watch as the man who took him in, who gave him a home, who gave him his brothers, told him he was nothing more than a filthy leech.
At some point, Phil left.
Tommy went back inside the cabin.
Techno ruffled his hair and called him (rat).
(Parasite) smiled and made his way to the kitchen.
Even leeches could scrub the floor after all.
—————
Ever since his argument with Phil, Tommy had been living in a sort of haze. He did his best to hide it from Techno, but he could tell his brother was getting suspicious with how much more protective he seemed to be. Even through the fog covering his mind, the blond soaked up the affection like a flower soaking up the sun. Every kiss and hug and chuff warmed up the icy indifference in his chest just a little more.
It isn’t until Techno and Phil’s next fight that Tommy finally finds the strength to fight through the fog.
He was curled up on the couch when his brother came back inside from the latest screaming match. Normally the piglin hybrid would make a beeline to Tommy, the ability to hold his runt soothing his screaming instincts. This time however, he breezed right past the blonde, grabbing a book and sitting in an armchair across from him.
Tommy barely bit back a whine. Though he wasn’t piglin, he might as well have been for all the second hand instincts he had picked up from Techno. That part of him, the part that knew he was fire-laugh-little and that Techno was his sounder was throwing a fit. He wanted to be held, to have his protector curl up with him in the nest and chuff fondly at him, he wanted to be drenched in gold and seen as precious, he wanted to be loved and cared for.
It was only after the wailing of his instincts pushed past the self hatred and haze of his mind did he actually notice just how upset his brother looked. The man was sitting stiffly, his entire body rigid with discomfort. His fingers were practically tearing into the book with how tightly he held it and though his eyes were trained on the page, Tommy could see the way his pupils had widened.
Holy shit.
Techno was fighting his instincts.
And for a moment Tommy understood chat’s bloodlust.
Phil. The man who found Techno in the nether. Who took him to the overworld and raised him. His fucking father. That man had the fucking balls to convince Techno that there was something wrong with his instincts, that there was something wrong with him.
Techno. Protective, caring, sensitive Techno who would give someone the entire world in exchange for their affection. As if he could be anything less than perfect.
Tommy was going to rip Phil’s throat out with his fucking teeth.
(piglin runts were often seen as weak, defenseless things due to how protective the rest of the sounder is of them.
and they are.
at first.
there was a reason explorers try to kill off runts before they can grow up.)
But, before any blood could be spilled, Tommy needed to get his perfect, idiotic brother out of his head. So, in order to soothe both of their instincts, he whined (alone-sounder-love?). It was a high sound, needy and lonely but not distressed. It should have been just enough to push his brother over the edge. Key word being should.
His pupils had nearly swallowed his eye and he could hear a subtle rip from the pages gripped between Techno’s fingers.
Oh Phil was so fucking dead.
His second whine (sad-alone-abandoned?) had his brother immediately leaping to his feet. The now ruined book was quickly forgotten as Tommy was scooped up into Techno’s arms. “Runt. My runt. Mine,” his brother rumbled. He quickly sat down and began to bundle Tommy up in the few blankets scattered around the couch. “You’ll always be mine. Never alone, I’ll always be here for you.” The words were a mixture of English and piglin that only Tommy could have understood. A language just for the two brothers. Kisses were pressed along the bridge of his nose and hairline as chuffs and purrs poured from Techno. “Mine. Sweet precious gold. My brother. My baby brother. Baby.”
Melting into his brother’s hold, Tommy grunted in contentment, “Protector. My sounder. Gentle-protector-pink.” Phil could wait to have his shit rocked, first, Tommy was going to enjoy time with his big brother.
—————
Phil was working on one of his farms when Tommy eventually found him. He barely stopped himself from tackling the man to the ground, though he couldn’t help the warning growl that tumbled out of him. While it wasn’t nearly as deep or intimidating as Techno’s, it was still enough to have the older man twisting around in shock.
“Tommy? What the-“
“How fucking dare you!”
Phil’s face briefly dropped into an expression of shock before morphing into one of indignation. “Don’t-“
“How dare you ever convince Techno his instincts are wrong! I don’t give a damn what you say to me, but don’t you ever say shit to Techno! Let alone anything about his fucking instincts!” Tommy hissed, rage smouldering like a hot coal in his chest. With each exclamation he drew closer and closer to Phil.
“I always knew you were a piece of shit father, but you couldn’t even do right by Techno? I may be a rat, and a leech, and a goddamn parasite, but at least I can make him happy,” he snarled, “and you, as his dad, can’t even get remotely close to that. What a pathetic waste of space you are.”
“You know Phil, I think I’ve actually seen pieces of cow shit with more-“
A harsh slap across the cheek cut Tommy off.
In the bitter, icy winds of the arctic, Phil’s blue eyes somehow managed to be even colder. They were bright with anger and resentment, while his face twisted into an awful scowl. Tommy could only bring himself to stare.
Phil just slapped him.
His dad just hit him.
(dream had done so much worse, and yet…this somehow hurt so much more)
Tommy was running back to the cabin before he could even register the tears streaming down his face.
He found Techno sitting at his desk, covered in ink stains and surrounded by papers. He didn’t hesitate to slam into his brother’s back, burying his face in the soft material of his shirt. He wanted to- to talk or whine or something- but all he could do is sob. Techno had already turned around and was pulling Tommy into his chest at the sound of his cries. It wasn’t until his brother got a good look at his face (at the bruises already blooming across his cheek) that Techno went from being worried to burning, incessant rage.
“Who?”
“P-phil.”
He knew, to an extent, that his wobbling confession was a death warrant.
Gentle, callous thumbs brushed against his still tender cheek while chapped lips pressed against his forehead. Soothing chuffs filled the silence between Tommy’s shuddering sobs. The blonde could only bury his face into Techno’s chest, attempting to chase after the reassuring sounds.
One of Techno’s hands gripped the back of his head, gently pushing it to rest under his chin while he picked Tommy up. His brother made quick work of the stairs and soon enough the blond was being wrapped in blanket after blanket. Techno held him like he was glass, precious and lovely and delicate, perfect in a way that had Tommy sobbing even harder because how could his brother communicate so much love and care for him with just a simple touch?
(how could he be a leech when techno so clearly adored him?
but if he wasn’t a leech, a filthy fucking parasite, then why did phil scream at him?
why did his dad hit him?)
—————
Chat had begun screaming for bloodshed the moment Techno had seen the purple bruise blooming across his brother’s pale skin. He had been in the middle of writing a letter to Ranboo, the kid was sweet and as much as he wanted to deny it, Tommy needed someone to talk to besides Techno. He was nearly finished writing when he heard the soft creak of the door opening.
The distinctive smell of tears and the even more recognizable scent of his brother had him dropping his quill and immediately wrapping Tommy in his arms. Then he saw it out of the corner of his eye. Just a flash of red and purple, easily dismissible if not for the fact that his runt was sobbing his heart out in his arms.
So Techno pulled back slightly, despite the screaming of his instincts, and he saw it.
A bruise.
A newly forming bruise painting his baby’s face in sickly purple.
And then he saw red.
His instincts and chat wailed in unison and he could only growl out one word: who? Who the hell would ever dare to lay their hands on him? Who the fuck would ever think that Techno wouldn’t slaughter them for ever even thinking of harming his runt? They had to be the most foolish, arrogant, idiotic-
“P-phil.”
…
Oh.
Rage clashed with guilt and the piglin barely held back his own tears. This was his fault. His runt was hurt because he had been foolish enough to hope. He had thought Phil would know better, that the man would keep their arguments between the two of them, but instead his gold was caught in the crossfire.
Still, Techno ignored the stinging in his eyes. Tommy needed him, he needed a protector and Techno would be damned if he ever failed his duty again. So he did the only thing he could and focused on his brother. Phil had hurt him, had undermined his worth and Techno wouldn’t stand for that. So he brushed the tears off of his cheeks and pressed kisses to his temples and poured every ounce of wonder and love and awe he felt for his brother into the actions.
When he finally sat the blonde in the nest, he wrapped him in the softest, fluffiest blankets he had, chuffing and rumbling the whole time. When the urge to smother his runt in gold arose, the piglin didn’t hesitate to pull off his own jewelry while chat called out places to put each piece. Nothing but the best for their beloved treasure.
And when it was all said and done, Techno pulled the bundled up child into his arms and rumbled out every possessive and protective thought that swirled through his mind.
“How dare that filthy piece of shit ever lay his hands on you. Gold. Mine. Precious, perfect treasure. He doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you. My wonderful baby brother. Nothing could ever compare to you, Thes. Nothing.
I understand Icarus in his entirety because here I hold the sun in my arms and I would burn for you a thousand times over. My brilliant sun. My fiery runt. Fire-laugh-little.”
“Techie,” his sun whined, high and watery.
“Toms,” he murmured in turn, pressing a soft kiss to his bruised cheek.
—————
Techno found Phil inside his cabin, sitting in a soft armchair with a cup of hot tea. His blood boiled at the sight, how dare he look so calm after what he did, as if Techno wouldn’t come for him after seeing what he did to Tommy.
Kill him!
Blood for the Blood God
He hurt the runt
Theseus
Precious golden child
Made Our treasure cry!
It was the most angry Techno had ever heard chat, and he couldn’t help but agree with their rage. He loved Phil. He adored the man who cared for him and raised him and helped him with chat. But he had crossed a line. He hurt Techno’s sounder, his runt, and he wouldn’t get through that unscathed. He hurt him, had been trying to have Techno abandon him for months, and made him feel worthless.
Techno was always one for poetic justice.
An eye for an eye.
Go for the wing
Get his cheek
Blood for the Blood God
Hurt him like he hurt Ours
Scar him
—————
The moon was still high in the sky when Tommy woke up.
He could feel Techno shuffling beside him, attempting to get into the bed without waking him up. Despite his failure, Tommy still felt a fond, sleepy smile creep onto his face. Even in the small things, Techno always had him in mind.
Warm breath ruffled his messy curls as thick arms wrapped around him to pull him into a warm chest. “Did I wake you, Thes?” Techno mumbled softly. Tommy hummed in agreement before turning over to snuggle into Techno’s embrace. Sue him, he was sleepy and soft and his brother was basically a space heater.
“Go back to sleep runt, you’ve had a long day.”
“Mmm…Tec’?”
“Yes Toms?”
“Wah d’you do tuh phil?”
“You’re way too sleepy to have this conversation.”
“Nnnnnooooo.”
A fond chuckle and a kiss to the forehead meet his whining. “I did what he wanted me to do,” Techno admitted softly, pressing his face into wild blond curls. Tommy makes a vague questioning noise in the back of his throat, the thick fog of sleep already clouding his brain. It would be a miracle if Tommy was even still awake to hear his brother’s answer.
“I got rid of the person who didn’t really care about me.”
—————
The next morning, Techno made breakfast while Tommy watched with freshly bandaged hands. He hadn’t been amused when he found out why Tommy’s hands were so blistered. Apparently his brother didn’t approve of him “overworking himself” doing things that were Techno’s “responsibility”, especially if he hurt himself in the process.
There would be other things to discuss, like what Phil had said to both of them or why Tommy had felt the need to take care of Techno despite it hurting him. But those conversations were for later. Now, it was time for breakfast.
“Come on treasure, you can spend time daydreaming later,” Techno huffed, flicking the blond’s forehead. Oh yeah, as if Technk doing the chores wasn’t enough, he had also started calling Tommy every nickname under the sun. Though he wouldn’t admit it, the blond melted under the verbal affection. His brain could easily twist actions and words around, but there wasn’t really a negative spin he could put on baby or runt. It was nice.
“Owww what the fuck Tech? You could have given me brain damage!”
“Eh, probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference.”
“Fuck you! Meh meh meh look at me I’m Technoblade and I like being mean to my brother because I’m an asshole who hates people.”
The rumble of Techno’s laugh had him grinning wildly as he slid into his seat at the table. Though a look of confusion quickly took its place as his brother held out a hand. Hesitantly, Tommy reached out and placed his hand in Techno’s, palm up. Blue eyes scanned across his brother’s face, trying to get an inkling for what exactly he had planned-
Wait a fucking minute.
…
No.
No fucking way.
Now, Techno owns a lot of jewelry, so it makes sense that he would change it out at times. A very normal, very rational decision that Tommy could 100% understand. Except there was one piece of jewelry Techno never took off. Hell, when a thief once tried to steal it from him Techno broke the guy’s fucking hand!
So why in the hell was Techno not wearing his emerald earring?
The new one was stunning, don’t get Tommy wrong. The base of it was the outline of a sun made of thin gold wires and from it hung a chain that held a small sapphire at the end. It was simplistic but stood out prettily from Techno’s long hair.
It wasn’t until cold metal touched Tommy’s fingers that he began to understand. Bringing his hand close to his chest, the blond stared at the jewelry resting in his palm. It was simple. A singular earring with the base of a moon and a metal chain that held a ruby at the end.
Teary blue eyes met warm red.
Techno’s emerald earring had been a part of a matching set with Phil.
And he got rid of it to match with Tommy.
Pushing back from the table, the blond ran to his brother, ramming into him just as Techno stood up. He could do little more than whine and squeal, unable to express the overwhelming feeling burning in his chest.
“I love you too Theseus.”