Work Text:
This was most definitely not how Techno expected to be spending his day. Sitting at a round table in the backroom of a nice restaurant run by one of Dream’s henchmen wearing a nice black button up and slacks under a red velvet vest branded with the symbol of the Esempi.
But in reality, this was not really how Techno expected to be spending the past month and a half. Though, no one really expects to become the random that has just recently been allowed to walk around the headquarters of one of the biggest mafias in the area.
The day this whole thing came about was relatively normal. He had gotten up, gotten ready for work, done everything he usually did in his generally dull life. He worked… works? Whatever, he worked at a jewelry store, oftentimes him along with another piglin hybrid making the wares that the store sold. Until the one fateful day.
Instead of doing what he normally does which is sitting in the back in silence other than the music he and the other piglin were playing as the two of them make bracelets, rings, necklaces, you name it, he had been tasked with working the register and being forced to interact with people. And then it happened. At nearly the busiest time of day (Techno has no clue as to why they chose the busiest time of day, that’s just more witnesses and more people to get in the way of their plan) three quite peculiar looking people burst in through the doors.
It had gone as a cliche height would be expected to. They burst in, guns ablazing, yelling at everyone to get on the ground as one of the three men jump the counter and hold Techno to their chest, cold metal of the gun’s barrel to his head making cold soak into his skull, with the usual ‘make one move and this guy gets it!’. One guy then took to watching the crowd of scared people while the third made quick work of grabbing whatever was on display that seemed of value to them.
Eventually Techno heard a voice come from the earpiece of the person holding him to their chest. The person on the call sounded panicked as he told the group to retreat, that someone had called the police and they were very close.
“You're coming with me.” The person holding him had said in a rough voice, whispering low into his ear. It was a gruff voice, one with more of a country accent than Techno had, although it wasn’t fully country. Techno just sighed, although he tried his damndest to make it sound more scared than annoyed, more nervous that like this kidnapping was a mere minor convenience in his day. He tries his hardest to put up a fake defeated fight as the man walks him through the door and into a nice sleek black car. The man holding him shoves him into the backseat with himself and one of the other guys while the third gets into the passenger seat. As soon as their doors are closed, the driver pulls away and speeds out of there, hitting high speeds as soon as possible.
And suddenly Techno felt a weight on his shoulder. Of course this wasn’t the first time he had been held at gunpoint, though those were memories from long ago. Times he desperately wanted to forget about himself. However, the sudden feeling of anxiety surged through him at the thought that he may fall victim to the things that he had seen--hell, that he'd ordered to be--done to other people.
That’s what sent him into a panic attack. His spiraling thoughts of not only his fate but also of his past life flashing itself into his head, creating that burning in his throat that he had long forgotten the feeling of that did absolutely no help to him in this situation. The addition of the man that had taken him to the car shouting at him about his name only made it worse. Eventually the other person sitting in the back with him noticed his quick-paced breathing and was able to calm down the yelling man, allowing Techno to calm down a bit before just straight up being knocked out by one of them.
When he had come-to, he was chained to a wall by his hands, which were tucked behind his back, and by his ankles. He took a minute to allow his eyes to unblur before taking in his surroundings. He was in a bland room, fully made up of gray brick. There was a table by the door, presumably for interrogating whoever was in here at the time as well as splatters of dried blood on the walls behind him and to either of his sides as well as on the floor. It wasn’t hard for Techno to guess what this room was used for.
Day after day people would come in, there was probably a group of two or three that came in the most consistently, all with different approaches. Probably to see if the differences in personality would get him to talk. They would ask for his name and when he didn’t answer would go on trying to figure out more information about him. But Techno knew better than to answer them, to allow them to get information about him.
One day, though, it changed up. The man with black hair that had the same voice as the one that had taken him hostage that fateful day had walked in. He was the one that usually threatened Techno when the pinkette didn’t give him any information so Techno just sighed, sure that it would be a very long day.
However the man didn’t get to directly yelling at him or interrogating him. No, instead he walked the short length of the room before clicking the chains off of his ankles and taking the handcuffs on his wrists from the chains they were connected to previously.
“Up.” Was all the man said, grabbing under Techno’s armpit and pulling the pinkette to his feet. This time, Techno walked with him willingly. “Because you keep refusing to talk, you’re meeting the boss today.” Techno just nodded, feigning an ounce of fear. He knew he needed to appear scared but he really couldn’t muster much fake fear, he never was a good actor. The rest of the walk was in silence as the man led him through hallway after hallway, no doubt leading him through the same hallways a few times to try and confuse the pinkette before they finally stopped at a door. The door was a simple black one with a golden plaque that had ‘Dream’ carved into it and Techno had to stifle a chuckle as he thought back to his old pair of grand double doors with the plaque on it reading ‘bsoiso s man’.
The man knocks on the door before pushing it open at the words ‘come in’ coming from inside. He roughly shoved Techno into the room, causing the pinkette to have to catch his balance, then informed the boss that he had gotten him from the ‘room’. The door then shut and Techno had time to take in the room.
It was quite the nice office. Mostly black walls had green and gold designs on them as well as a few paintings. Large blood red curtains covered a large window behind the man sitting at the dark oak desk (cliche I know). There was a green velvet couch against one of the walls and a few leather seats against the wall opposite and one sitting at the side of the desk opposite of the man at the desk. Finally he allowed himself to look at the boss himself. He couldn't see much of the man. What looked to be dirty-blonde hair mostly hidden by the hoodie of his bright green hoodie and a mask covering his face. It was really a simple mask. Just white and round with an off-putting basic smile carved, almost looking like it was burned, into it.
“Take a seat.” ‘Dream’, Techno supposed, said as he gestured to the chair in front of his desk. Techno practically scrambled into the comfy leather seat, intent to keep up the act of a scared civilian. The pinkette settled at staring at his clasped hands resting in his lap as he forced them to gain a slight shake.
“Now,” The man started again, “Would you be willing to tell me your name? I know that just asking is a bit of a stretch considering you’re hard to crack, but I would at least like to know a name.” Techno looked up with a glare, shooting daggers into the man before starting to act like he was desperately searching the room, hoping that the man had caught onto the action and was taking kindly to it. And luckily, he had.
The man allowed a sinister smile to break across his face, “Getting bold are we?” He readjusted himself, moving to cross his ankle over his knee and leaning back with his hands moving to rest in a steeple position, “Would you please tell me your name. Then maybe we can talk. At least something that I can call you during your stay.”
After a moment of consideration he finally gives in, “Technoblade.” He whispered, keeping his voice low.
“Oh.” Dream had said in response, “Interesting. Your name is definitely a unique one and I wasn’t expecting for your voice to be that low.” You’re one to talk, the words sit themselves on Techno’s tongue at the blonde's words, but they never find the ability to leave past Techno's insistent lips.
From there Techno eventually started to let his guard down, though never giving up on the fact that he was scared or at least intimidated by the people there and that he most definitely didn’t want to be there. However after about two more weeks (already a week into the second month of him being there) he was allowed to roam the halls as long as he didn’t get into trouble or get in the way of things. He still barely talked to anyone there, and if he did it was Dream and a man he met named Skeppy and occasionally Skeppy’s boyfriend Bad.
So Techno really has no clue as to how he woke up today to this. Just a few hours ago he had been woken up to the door of his ‘room’ being opened abruptly. Then the feeling of something relatively soft being thrown on his face brought him closer to full consciousness. That was soon followed by Dream’s voice telling him to hurry and get ready then change into the clothes given to him and be downstairs as soon as possible.
Without much argument--though the amount of grumbling will not be mentioned--he got up and changed into the nice outfit before slipping on his shoes and walking downstairs to meet up with Dream and a brunette he had learned was named George. They all walk out into the car that was waiting for them, the driver that drove him and the others the day of his kidnapping named Karl was waiting along with it inside the driver’s seat. He and George slipped into the backseat while Dream went to the passenger’s seat. Karl soon pulls out of the parking lot and sets down the road.
“So why am I here?” Techno grumbles, crossing his arms slightly.
“We had a meeting with another big group and figured that with your way of words, you would be useful.” Dream briefly explained.
“Ah, so you want to use me to win something against, I would assume, this other group that I know nothing about. I see.”
Dream sighed, “I don’t know if you know them but they're called ‘Nevadas’, it’s run by a man named Quackity.” Techno nodded, acting like he didn’t know anything about the group. In reality, he had run into Quackity multiple times and had a problem with him each time. The pinkette sighs, glad that he had changed his appearance in his years of disappearance from the whole mafia world so he doesn’t get recognized easily. As much as Techno didn’t want to be in this situation, he had grown quite fond of some of the people in the group and didn’t want to be detrimental to them.
This leads him to where he is now, sitting cross-legged next to Dream with George on the other side of the blonde and staring down the man Quackity himself as well as two other people he didn’t seem to recognize. Quackity had taken over the group and completely rebranded it after Schlatt’s--the original owner--death as well as hired a new plethora of people. Techno wasn’t sure how true that was, as it was just gossip he had heard here and there, but the two other people on each side of Quackity really let him know that those rumors were most likely true.
“Ah, nice to see you, Dream.” Quackity smiles, a sinister smile, and Techno has to hold back a smile as he gazes at the large scar running from his forehead to cheek as well as the slightly foggy blind eye--the scar that he had given the ravenette himself years ago--while it moves with the smile. “Nice to see you George as well, and who is this if I may ask?”
Dream barely glances at Techno as he answers, “We call him Pinky, he’s a new recruit and we figured we’d bring him along for some actual experience.” Dream had started calling Techno ‘Pinky’ in response to questions on who he was, figuring that Techno wasn’t very fond of people knowing his name. Quackity nods at the response, eyes lingering on Techno for a moment longer than usual before they turn back to the blonde.
“Well let’s get down to business shall we?” And with that the two groups spiral into a conversation. About what? Techno couldn’t care less about what it’s about, only keeping enough track of it to add on every once in a while when asked to or he felt it needed. His main goal was to keep as quiet as possible to allow his voice to remain unrecognizable.
However Techno was forced back into reality when he felt two pairs of arms reach under his armpits and try to lift him up. He allows them to lift him to his feet, for more mobility for himself in all honesty, before quickly knocking back into the two men Quackity had brought along with him. Quickly he grabs the pistol from the holster of one of the men and quickly shoots at Quackity’s hand, making the ravenette drop the gun he was holding as the bullet makes contact with his wrist.
“C’mon you two.” Is all he says before grabbing at Dream’s wrist and pulling the man out of the seat he was sitting in and pulling him through the door, George not far behind him. They rush outside the restaurant and Techno expertly weaves through the bullets flying at them, no doubt from men that Quackity had deployed. He had even turned to shoot a few down whenever he saw one, shooting with scary accuracy. Accuracy that would take years of practice to be that skilled. He quickly pulls the two of them into the car and tells Karl to drive, in which the brunette does. A long, awkward silence fills the air as Karl drives them down the roads of the all-too familiar city.
“What the fuck was that Techno?” Dream asks suddenly, about halfway to their headquarters.
“We’ll talk about it when we get back. Karl, do a few quick circles around the block right here to make sure that we don’t have people following us. Then just to be sure to take the hardest route to follow back.” Techno says before giving his instructions. Karl just silently nods, doing as Techno said. Eventually when they get back all three of them go to change before going to sit down with the rest of the main gang.
“Alright, Techno.” Dream says, glaring into Techno’s soul, “George and I have already caught everyone up on what’s happened today. Now you need to explain where the fuck any of that came from?”
Techno sighs and takes a minute to think, trying to figure out the best way to start this story, “I’d hope that you are all aware of the old mafia named ‘Sleepy Boys Inc’?” A chorus of hums and agreement ring through the room as people nod.
“How could we not?” Skeppy asks, “Everyone knows about them, they were the biggest mafia group in America and even had a huge name in the UK!”
“Correct.”
“Why are you bringing them up?” The man that had initially kidnapped him, Sapnap, asks.
“Because a while before they disbanded, I was the leader of the group.” Techno says again, allowing the bombshell he just dropped on them to settle in amongst the group.
“WHAT?!” Dream shouts, standing up slightly as he was the first to process the information, “You were the leader?”
“Yes, Dream, I was the leader.” Techno sighs again, “I left the group, deciding that I had enough and left The Crow in charge of it shortly before it disbanded.”
“Why did you leave it?” Skeppy asks, “I mean you had all the power you could ever need and you just left it behind.”
Techno chuckles at that question, readjusting himself to be in a more comfortable position, “Well, everyone in that group was meticulously picked by myself or the previous leader before, which had been my older brother. The two of us thought of them as our family, all people who had been abandoned by, left, or lost our families, which made the entire group feel much like a family. I left because I slowly became more and more unsure of what I was doing. Not because I doubted my ability, but because the death of my brother had suddenly hit me. I went a long while of not fully processing that my brother, the only one to care for me for most of my life before the rest of the group, had died. When I finally did, it hurt me a lot to be leading and potentially bringing harm to the people that I cared about most.”
“So you left because you didn’t want to bring harm to anyone else?” Karl asks.
“Anyone else that I cared about. I don’t care much about people outside of that, but you're correct.”
“So you’ve dealt with the Nevadas group before?” George asks.
Techno nods, “I’ve dealt with them plenty of times in my life. Originally it was owned by a man who went by Schlatt or JSchlatt. Our groups actually used to be very close when my brother first started Sleepy Bois, in fact Schlatt helped us get on our feet. But Schlatt eventually began his slow descent into alcohol and insanity. He betrayed us and started the feud between us. From then on it was pure anger between each side, no matter how many times people tried to fix it. Schlatt is the reason for my brother’s death.” Techno pauses, taking a deep breath and choosing to ignore how tense the air had become at the sentence, “He had gotten so into Wilbur’s head that it drove him mad, he had gotten so bad that Wilbur begged for Phil to kill him in front of everyone. Both our group and Schlatt’s group.”
“So how did Schlatt die?” Bad asks, speaking up for the first time.
“He died at my hands.” Techno answers, a sick smile stretching across his lips, making the people in the room shudder, “Not even a year after Wilbur’s death, I woke up in the middle of the night and saw red. I remember getting in the car and driving to Schlatt and Quackity’s apartment. They had been awake when I burst in, immediately getting ready to fight me. Schlatt was very drunk, which is why it was so easy to pin his death on alcohol poisoning, meaning I was able to get the advantage over him. Paired with the fact that Quackity by no means can fight… Well, you can see where this is going. That night is the reason that Quackity has that scar and is blinded in one eye.”
“So is Wilbur the name of your brother?”
“Yes, and Phil is the name of The Crow, who everyone saw as a father figure.
“So why didn’t Quackity recognize you when he saw you?” Dream asks.
“I look much different than I did at our last meeting. I had brown hair that reached my chin. I decided to grow it out and dye it after I left as a sort of way to get away from and differentiate myself from my past. I also wore contacts every day, hiding the colour of my eyes. Plus body language is a very telling thing for a person if you know what you're looking for.” Techno shrugs, “I know that Quackity knows the way I hold myself so I purposely held myself differently, much like I’ve done for you all.”
“Are you still in contact with the people of Sleepy Bois Inc?”
Techno shakes his head, “I have little to no contact with them. The only one I still talk to on occasion is my nephew and his mother, Wilbur’s wife and kid before he passed. Though I don’t talk to them much. I do still keep tabs on what the others do, but I don’t dare reach out to them.”
“You had kids in your group?”
Techno nods, “Multiple. Again, we were a group of people without families. There were four children brought in, two of them when they were very young, one when he was 15, and Wilbur’s son when he was of age. As well as multiple people in their teens when we brought them in. In fact Wilbur and I started the whole thing when I was about 14 and he was 16.” The pinkette shrugs, “It was more of a safe place for the lot of us than anything particularly dangerous when we were still working directly with Schlatt.”