Techno and Tommy cannon divergent hurt/comfort
Technoâs boots trug deep into the frozen over snow as his rope burned hands grasp the lead attracted to Carl. He is furious. Rage radiates around his body in a mass of untamed heat. How dare they? How dare they hurt Phil? How dare they threaten Carl? They betrayed him. They used him. And somehow heâs the bad guy for fighting back. Heâs not a traitor. He never lied, he told them he wanted to get rid of the corrupted system no matter what. Then after everything he retires. He quotes his violently, blood soaked ways for a peaceful pacifist life. With PhilâŚAnd then they had the audacity to hurt and trap Phil so they could hunt him down after he told them of his retirement. Hunt him down and execute him with no trail. Not even a chance to defend himself. Sure, the evidence against Techno was pretty damning but thatâs no excuse. He shouldâve known better. These people are the government. They just want power. Â
The voices in Techno demand blood. Heâd been ignoring them for so long. Depriving them of what they so much desire. Now they scream at him desperately.
Blood. Blood. Kill. Kill. Kill them. Kill them. Blood. Blood!
Oh, Techno was going to give them blood alright. Lâmanburg thought it was bad before? Just wait until their streets flood with blood. He tried to warn them. They didnât listen. Thatâs not true, Techno realizes. Wilbur listened. And now Wilburâs dead.
Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill-
Carl halts moving and starts stomping his hooves. Techno stops walking instantly studying his horse in concern. Carlâs nostrils are rigid and his lower lip is tight against his jaw. Techno looks out across the winter landscape for a potential threat but all he can see through the windy snowstorm is the steps of his own cabin. Techno exhales, he is so tired.Â
ââItâll be alright buddy, Iâll get you somewhere safe.ââ Techno promises calmly to Carl as he starts to move faster, longing to get inside. The horse follows without complaint but he continues to grind his teeth in distress. Techno puts Carl safely into his stall silently worrying over the horse associating his home with bad memories.Â
Techno turns, aiming to start traveling up the stone staircase to his cottage when he sees it. A vibrant splash of red across the glistening white snow. He freezes, not sure what heâd just seen in the corner of his eye. The piglin grabs his last remaining weapon, a netherite pickaxe, from his belt and turns the corner to face whatever is on the other side. The voices roar for violence as he stops in confusion at the sight before him. Is thatâŚTommy?Â
A small boy lays crumbled up against Technoâs house. He is shivering violently curled up into a ball only having a short t-shirt and thin pants to protect him, both pieces of clothing appear to be torn and ripped. Techno numbly lowers his pickaxe genuinely not sure what to make of the scene in front of him.Â
The last time Techno saw Tommy he was promply told to ââfuck offââ. At the time Techno wasnât complaining. Tommy had used him to complete an illegal government takeover and the bitter taste of betrayal hadnât quite faded from Technoâs month. But Tommy is still just a child. And Techno would be lying if he said he wasnât riding on a high after watching Tommy get thrown out of the corrupt system heâd sworn and sacrificed so much for. Maybe heâd finally learn. Tommy was doing well then. Sure, he wasnât thriving but Ghostbur was helping him build a little area for shelter and Tommy was already mining to get more resources when Techno visited him. Now though the kid looks, well, like a kid, a small and fragile child. Techno is surprised when the voices in his head suddenly shift at the sight. Their bloodthirsty demands fade shifting into one panicked obversevation.
Techno squints at Tommy struggling to see through the storm and the fuzziness of his own damned eyes. He doesnât quite believe that Tommy is actually in front of him, at his own hidden cottage, not screaming cuss words at him. Why is Tommy here? Why is he soâŚTechno moves closer, shielding his eyes from the snow. Tommyâs eyes are squeezed shut in pain as his body involuntarily huddles closer to the stone wall of Technoâs house. Techno kneels down in front of him not quite sure what to do. He reaches down one of his hands and gently shakes Tommy, doubting the kid wants to stay asleep in the cold. Why is he sleeping here anyway? Logstedshire is in a much warmer climate than this, and certainly safer.
Techno is shaken from his thoughts when he realizes that Tommy isnât waking up.
ââTommy?ââ Techno question shaking the boy a little harder. ââWhat the hell are you doing here:?ââ.
Hurt! Hurt! Hurt! Hurt! The voices cry out and Techno physically shakes his head moving his hand away from Tommy. Hurt! Hurt! Hurt! Hurt! They continue and for the first time Techno fully takes in the child in front of him. His heart rate picks up as he realizes something is deeply wrong. Tommyâs clothing is indeed torn to shreds, his shirt ripped open in all the wrong places and his pants torn at the knees as if heâs been crawling on them for weeks. Tommy doesnât have one of his shoes anymore, relieving a blistered and red foot from the cold. Tommyâs exposed toes and fingers are white and hard numbed to the brim with frostbite. The tips of Tommyâs ears are bright red and frozen blood clings around his nose. The teenâs face is splattered in colourful bruises that cause Techno to cringe. Techno has been in many fights and heâs never seen injuries this bad. Technoâs eyes quickly flick to Tommyâs knuckles expecting red marks but they, unlike the rest of his body seem to be unharmed, almost as if Tommy didnât even try to fight back. Techno notices that Tommy is no longer shaking now just laying still a pained expression etched on to his face. Thatâs when it hits Techno.
The piglin thrashes his long hair away from his face violently before softly moving his hand to Tommyâs wrist. At first nothing. For that agoning half a millisecond Technoâs mind goes so many places. What he could have done. Should have done. Tommy is a child. Sure, when Techno was Tommyâs age he was fighting many battles and ruling over an empire. But he is the blood god and Tommy is a small human. And when Techno was sixteen he had Phil. He always had Phil. Tommy has no one. He has no parents. The only person that truly took care of him was Wilbur, and heâs dead. And heâd just been exiled from his only home. Techno did want Tommy to learn a lesson and he was pretty sure Tommy can handle himself but Techno is starting to think he should have forced his assistance onto the boy anyway. Tommy never would have accepted help from him butâŚwhen Techno said he wanted Tommy to learn a lesson he didnât mean like this.
The fateful thumping returns and Techno lets out a heavy breath. His relief doesnât last long. Tommyâs pulse is weak. Too weak. Techno has lived in cold climates long enough to know thatâs anything but a good sign. Unsure of any other options Techno uncomfortably scoops up the small child in his arms. Tommy instantly curls into the heat nuzzling into Technoâs chest. The piglin freezes in place not used to receiving such affection from anyone, let alone Tommy. He starts moving again knowing he canât exactly afford to waste any time. He climbs the stairs as the voices switch their tune again.
Hurt! Hurt! Hurt! Help! Help! Help!
He places Tommy down on his couch, the boy letting out a weak whine at the loss of warmth. Techno flinches at the hoarse sound and instinctively goes over and picks up his old red cape from the hook by the door. Techno hesitates a mere moment before coming to his senses and draping the cape over Tommy like a blanket.Â
It doesnât take long for Techno to start up a fire and collect a few blankets to pile onto Tommyâs thin body. And god, is he thin. At first Techno doesnât understand. Tommy isnât completely helpless; he knows how to scavenge and hunt. But then Techno realizes that might not be true. Tommy is nothing if not mischievous. When he was first orphaned Techno wouldnât be surprised if the raccoon-like child didnât just steal his food. Then Wilbur and the other residents of Lâmanburg were there to help him, and in Pogtopia Techno farmed most of their food. Heck, Techno should be surprised that Tommy found anything to eat by himself at all. Techno looks over at the strong-willed teenager huddled under a mass of blankets with a happy smile and he curses Lâmanburg, curses the government, for putting Tommy in such a position. Tommy and him should be at each others throats with swords and fiery comebacks, Techno shouldnât be here watching every rise and fall of Tommyâs chest begging gods he doesnât believe in to keep it moving. Eventually Tommy starts tossing and turning in his sleep and though it doesnât look comfortable, Techno relaxes glad Tommyâs body is no longer shutting down.Â
After a few more minutes Techno finally convinces himself Tommy is stable and risks leaving the room. Techno is tired. So tired. He nearly died today, but Techno doesnât care, he canât let Tommy suffer. He just canât. The voices agree.
Techno roots around in his cupboards until he finds a small kettle. He smiles ignoring the throbbing of his muscles to reach for it. Technoâs plans on heating up some water knowing that a warm beverage will help Tommyâs condition greatly. Techno silently wishes he had something more caloric but he doesnât know what Tommyâs small body will be able to handle at the moment, so water it is. Techno starts filling the kettle with some of the water heâd saved in a cauldron, the kettle clatters to the ground when a scream rings out.Â
Itâs high and strained. Itâs Tommy. Techno does not rush into the room, that is not how he fights.
Techno moves his feet slowly and deliberately. Rage fuels Technoâs every moment, preparing to murder whoever or whatever dared hurt his Tommy. Even if it isnât something he can physically tackle Techno is going to make whatever it is hurt.
When Techno strides into the room, power radiating off of him even without his armour and crown, he sees Tommy sitting up on the couch. The boyâs face is a ghastly pale clearly indicating he shouldnât be upright yet. His eyes are wide and glassy and his boney right hand is clasped around his throat as if heâs begging for air. Sweat rolls down Tommyâs forehead but Techno can tell from the boyâs blue lips it isnât because heâs warm.
Techno stops walking lost without something to throw his pickaxe into. Tommy stutters for a few seconds before his head lolls back and Techno races over just in time to stop Tommy getting a concussion on top of everything. Techno cradles the childâs head in his hands with an uncharacteristic amount of softness as Tommyâs eyes flutter. The boyâs breathing is slow and shallow as his glazed over eyes stare up at Techno. It causes the piglinâs heart to lurch.
ââDreamâŚââ Tommy chokes out weakly, his eyes bubbling.
ââWhat about Dream, Tommy?ââ Techno questions, knowing Tommy canât really see him, lost to the panic of his mind.
ââWhereâŚââ Tommy coughs. âââŚis Dream?ââ. Techno doesnât know what to do with such a question, confusion clouding his thoughts. Doesnât Tommy hate Dream? Dream was the one that gave Wilbur the explosives that collapsed Lâmanburg and Dream is the one thatâs been helping Techno, one of the boyâs enemies. The voices answer Techno themselves.Â
Dream! Kill! Dream! Kill! Â
Tommyâs expression suddenly switches to something more urgent. He jerks out of Technoâs grasp and struggles as if trying to sit up but his body isnât strong enough.
ââDream!ââ Tommy screams. ââI have to find Dream!ââ. Technoâs anxiety skyrockets as he tries to hold Tommy down to stop him from hurting himself more. The boy gives in clearly standing no chance. Tommy slumps down his eyes unfocused. ââDreamâŚââ He says his speech slurring. Techno cautiously removes his hands. What in hellâs name is going on? Tommy is clearly delusional; that much is obvious, but why is he screaming about Dream? Why does he think he has to find him? The voices prevoid no help only continuing to latch onto the word ââDreamââ mixing it into their bloodthirsty cheers. Techno isnât surprised as the voices seem to quite enjoy the fact that Techno is the only one ever able to defeat the god, ââDreamââ in combat.
ââTommyâŚââ Techno starts the normal edge to his voice noticeably absent. Techno struggles unsure of what to say to the broken child. But then Tommyâs eyes lock onto his and they dilate in fear. Tommy tries to scream but his dehydrated throat stops him, so Tommy only admits a strangling rasping sound. Techno wonders how he ever could have brought so much harm to this kid, heâs so destroyed and Techno knows part of it is his fault. Tommyâs eyes have held many emotions, anger, hatred, resentment and a long time ago even awe, faith, and trust. Techno has never seen them carry so much fear.
ââDream!ââ Tommy calls out as if expecting the god to come to his aid. ââWh-who are you?â Tommy asks Techno, his eyes blurred with tears. Technoâs heart canât take much more, yes Tommyâs condition is clearly messing with his head but Techno canât help but want to break at seeing the boy not remember him. The boy who used to look up to him, used to scream at strangers how he is a ââTechno stanââ, who celebrated continuously when he joined pogtopia. ââWhereâs Dream!? I need to find Dream! I need to find DreamâŚââ
ââTommy.ââ Techno says again this time with much more certainty. The boyâs eyes snap to still hollow with fear. ââYou know who I am. Iâm Technoblade, remember?ââ. Tommy blinks a few times before wincing away covering his eyes. Quite sobs ring out and Techno swallows his unease and moves to kneel beside Tommy on the couch.Â
ââWhereâs DreamâŚ?ââ Tommy mumbles through his tears.
Dream! Kill! Dream! Kill! Kill Dream! Kill Dream! Kill Dream! Â Â Â
Techno shifts, heâs never been a touchy person but Tommy needs something more than words right now. Techno moves slowly giving Tommy lotâs of physical warning before wrapping the shaking child in his arms. Tommy goes rigid, his sobs calming down. Techno feels Tommyâs cheek brush against his piglin ears. The boyâs hands move wobbly up to touch the ear, Techno stays still afraid any movement would shatter Tommy.
ââT-Techno?ââ Tommy says his voice wavering with uncertainty. Techno nearly cries himself at the sound of his name falling out of Tommyâs mouth. The piglin quickly contains his emotions, but not before tightening his grip on the child in his arms.
ââYeah, itâs me kid.ââÂ
Tommy practically melts against Techno, wiggling into a curled up ball in the warmth. Tears spill down Tommyâs face as he mumbles millions of apologies burrowing his bruised face in Technoâs shoulder. Techno holds him close, protectively holding Tommy against him. Technoâs arms are gentle and careful, fear of hurting the boy keeping them from shaking with rage. The piglinâs eyes are burning with an unquenchable hatred. Lâmanburg abandoned Tommy, his friends had allowed this to happen, and Dream did something to him. The voices match Technoâs anger.
Hurt! Hurt! Hurt! Kill Dream! Kill Dream! Kill Dream! Blood! Blood! Burn Lâmanburg! Burn Lâmanburg! Make them pay.