Archive of Our Own ^beta

Techno Blade had been searching the lands for a place to call home since he was 15, and now a year had passed since he first began his journey. His parents had thrown him out after he expressed interest in magic and enchanting his tools.

Techno had wandered outside the maps he had, daring to go beyond the lines drawn.

So there he was, fishing with a freshly made rod. He sniffled and sneezed loudly as the pollen drifted in from the wind. Techno silently cursed his allergies to the yellow dust, rubbing his reddened nose on his long tunic sleeves.

He was minding his own business when a crow hybrid landed a few feet away, startling Techno. The man had blonde hair that went to his shoulders with a wide-brimmed black and white striped hat. And he had a very pretty enchanted rod. 

The hybrid waved and smiled brightly, and then began fishing alongside Techno. Techno watched wide-eyed as the man received plenty of fish from his enchanted rod. Techno felt his rod was rather pitiful compared to the other man’s fishing rod. He sighed, leaning his chin into his palm as he waited for another bite. 

“Ya know, I don’t see many humans around here.” The man smiled at Techno.

“I’m just passing through,” Techno muttered, reeling in a measly-sized cod.

“There’s a village nearby. You can restock there and buy some enchanting books,” the man brushed off his pants while standing up. “My name is Philza, by the way,” he offered Techno his hand.

“Techno Blade,” Techno muttered and took it.

~ – ~

When Techno and Philza entered the village they were surrounded by dozens of hybrids and humans who used magic. It was nice to see humans and hybrids getting along for a change, he had longed to see such a sight for a long time. 

Techno excitedly began looking around the shops, eager to barter for enchanting books.

Philza watched from a distance with a soft smile. The blacksmith, a large bull hybrid snorted at Philza as he handed over Philza’s new sword.

“Collecting another child, Phil?” he rumbled out a laugh as Philza’s cheeks heated up.

“Oh fuck off, Dave. He was lost and I showed him the village.” Phil ruffled his feathers.

“Uh-huh, that’s what you said last time.” he laughed as the crow hybrid scurried off with his new diamond sword. 

Phil grumbled under his breath as the young human bustled about the shops. He was not adopting a teenage human, he was not… His eyes softened as Techno eagerly bartered with his fish for an enchanting book for his fishing rod. This kid reminded him of his children who were now grown up and had left the nest. 

“Ah, fuck it,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. 

His instincts had flared up the moment he saw the teenager while flying to the riverbank. He was so small and all by himself. So Phil had landed beside him, an acceptable distance away, keeping an eye on the human. His heart ached at the kid sneezing and rubbing his poor nose on his sleeves. 

He couldn’t help but introduce himself and offer up a safe place. Techno Blade was an odd name, but then again so was his own. And here he was, showing the kid around the village. Dammit, he barely knew this kid and now he wanted nothing more than to hide him under his wings. Phil went into the healer’s house and bought an allergy potion for the runny nose.

“Hey Techno, use this.” he tossed the potion to him.

“Huh- oh shit,” Techno fumbled with it, barely catching the small bottle. 

“It should clean up your allergies. Anyway, do you have a place to stay for the night?” Phil watched as Techno pulled the cork out of the potion.

“Uh no’d, not yet,” Techno replied, voice muffled from his stuffy nose.

“I run a pub that has a few extra beds for folk who get too drunk to go home. You can take one of the beds if you want.” Phil offered.

“For free?” Techno raised his red eyebrows.

“It wouldn’t be free per se. I could use some help setting up the bar for the night. You don’t touch the alcohol, you just need to clean up the floors and wipe down the countertops.” Phil offered kindly.

“Oh, uh sure.” He wiped his nose on his tattered sleeve.

“Alright, follow me then.” Phil smiled.

He bagen to head to his pub, Techno trailing behind.

“I started the pub as a way for people to bond with good food and drinks. My wife cooks and I am the barkeeper.” Phil chatted with the teenager as they walked. “But since my kids grew up and decided to move away, we need extra hands to help clean.” 

“That’s cool. Um, is there a reason why you asked me?” Techno said, his voice was much clearer after drinking the potion.

“I think you could use some new clothes, and I can’t just leave a teenager alone on the streets. Even in this peaceful town.” Phil replied.

Techno scratched the back of his head. “Do my clothes look that bad?”

“Well for one, they’re filled with holes and you have dried snot on your right sleeve.” Phil ruffled the kid’s hair without thinking.

Techno stared at the man, wide-eyed with surprise before he regained his composure. Phil smiles and keeps walking, leaving poor Techno shell-shocked at the affectionate hair ruffle.

 ~ Present Day ~

By now Techno was used to Phil’s odd hybrid instincts, having lived with the man since he was 16, now 17. So he wasn’t surprised when he saw Phil doing his usual fall cleanup, preparing the pub and sleeping quarters for winter.

Techno rolls his eyes as Phil squawks in indignation as Sneeg “accidentally” knocks books onto the floor. Techno picks up his enchanted pickaxe and slings it across his backpack. 

“I’m going mining Phil,” he hollers out before heading out, not waiting to see if Phil has heard.

It is unusually cold for fall in this area, his breath visible in the frigid air. The fall leaves crunch under his leather boots as he heads for the mines to search for iron ore to forge. He wanted more iron bars to craft a new sword since his old sword was missing chunks. 

Techno cringes at the thought of Dave seeing his badly damaged sword. He would get an earful for not using his sword properly and how he “should be more careful”. He sighs at the thought and heads down the old mineshaft, his footsteps echoing loudly in the empty cavern. 

As he heads deeper into the mines, he notices that the last person down there had placed proper torches to light up the way. He’s glad for the light, now he doesn’t have to light one of his own and can use both hands. He heads deeper into the mine shaft.

Techno hums softly to himself as he begins mining some coal ore. He’ll need more coal for forging anyway, so he might as well grab some coal, right? It’s better to have extra so he doesn’t have to go out in the cold to mine for more coal. He wipes the sweat off his brow and plops the coal into his bag.

After getting lost twice (cough cough, distracted) he finally goes down to the iron ore section of the mine. He hums softly to himself again as he mines the iron ore he needs and places it into his bag. He clambers out of the small hole he had made from constantly mining one spot to get the small iron veins. 

He stretches with a yawn escaping his lips as he picks his pickaxe into his bag. His footsteps don’t echo as badly as before, dirt and sand crunching under his boots. He yawns again.

A faint rattling noise catches his attention. He turns around to see an undead skeleton. Techno freezes, as it draws back the arrow on its bow, panic clouding over his training as he realizes he has gone outside the safety of the torches.

His boots dig into the cave floor as he sprints, desperately trying to get into the safety of the torches. He hears a faint twang and excruciating pain engulfs his right shoulder. He cries out but he forces himself to keep going. He tells himself over and over he can’t stay in the cave, or he’ll die, he needs to get out. His breaths come in desperate gasps for air, his legs aching.

Techno’s vision tunnels as he runs down the long halls of the mines. He stumbles and falls to the ground hard, his vision spinning. He feels a cold nose bumps his cheek and he gasps air into his burning lungs.

“S-steve?” he gasps, his uninjured hand gripping the dog’s fur. The great Pyrenees licks his face.

Steve sniffs Techno’s wounded shoulder. Techno lets out a pained whimper when the dog nudges the arrow. Steve whines in distress and paces frantically.

“Steve, g-go get Phil,” Techno begs the dog, hoping that the dog will understand. Steve takes off, his paws pounding into the frozen ground.

Techno loses track of time as he lies on the ground, his blood soaking his shirt and dripping down his side. His vision becomes blurred as he struggles to stay conscious.

“Techno!”

His vision swims as a blurry Phil comes into view.

Everything is foggy as he drifts in and out of consciousness. Nothing makes sense to his blood loss addled brain.

He hears Phil murmuring something, a spell, maybe? The pain faded, a brief relief before everything went black.

~ – ~

He didn’t wake up until days later, stomach down on a bed.

His eyes open slowly, it was a struggle to even attempt to open them but he needed to see if Phil is okay. Techno couldn’t shake the terror in Phil’s voice when he yelled his name. His eyes finally open half way and he searches with them for Phil. 

Phil is fast asleep in a wooden chair, his head leaning far too far back to be comfortable. His feathers look ruffled and unkempt. Techno feels a stab of guilt at the sight, Phil is proud of his shiny feathers and usually takes good care of them. 

Techno tries to move but a sharp searing pain stops him. He turns his head and whines into the pillow, his eyes watering. His shoulder is wrapped up in thick bandages and he suddenly becomes aware of the stitches holding his skin together. His skin crawls at the feeling before calming down. 

“Phil?” he rasps out, wanting some comfort from his dad/mentor figure. He hasn’t quite figured out what to call him yet, even after a year of living in the village.

Phil jolts awake, his wings puffing up in surprise. His dazed expression lands on Techno and his face softens.

“Hey Techno,” he murmurs as he rubs his eyes.

Phil gets out of his seat and moves the chair next to the bed before sitting down again.

“You’re safe,” Phil gently runs his fingers through Techno’s sweat-soaked hair. 

Techno lets his tears fall down his face, so glad for the gentle reassurance and touch. He lets out a shaky breath and melts under Phil’s touch. Phil begins to hum softly, a soft lullaby in the tune.

“You can rest peacefully, Techno, I’ll keep you safe.” Phil murmurs and Techno drifts off to sleep once more.

Techno spent the first week of winter inside with Phil, resting up his shoulder with his arm in a sling. He quietly stares out the window as snowflakes silently fall down to the ground. He wants to go outside and experience the snow but he knew it wasn't a good idea. If he slips and falls, he could bust up his stitches, and then Phil will be upset with him. He doesn't like it when Phil gets upset.

Phil quietly comes up from behind him and gently squeezed his uninjured shoulder.

“Why don't you go outside, mate? I hooked Steve up to a sled so you can have fun.”

Techno looks at him in surprise. Phil smiles and holds up a heavy wool blanket. 

“It’ll keep you warm and you won’t have to worry about wearing a coat.”

“Yes! Thank you, Dad.” Techno grabs the blanket and scurries out the door, leaving Phil standing there, blinking in shock. 

Phil heads out the door behind Techno, grinning ear to ear as they head out to the sled where Steve was waiting. The large dog barks in excitement as Techno sits down on the small dog sled. Phil adjusts the wool blankets around Techno before backing up to make sure everything was done right. 

He smiles in approval and pats Steve’s head. “Take good care of him, yeah?” Steve barks eagerly and zooms off, pulling Techno around the yard.