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Not being able to get back to Tommy was Techno's biggest regret.
When Techno had called Tommy doomed, a false hero, like Theseus, and left his little brother crying his name for him in the rain, he truly had tried to go back to him. It wasn't his fault the asshole enforcer kept him back, putting that chlorofoam over his nose and dragging him to Stillwater for 7 years. Staying in that cell and being beat to a pulp had really helped him think about his little brother- about how much he wanted to apologize, to hold him in his arms and never let go until Tommy forgave him.
That's the whole reason he decided to go with the enforcer that broke him out of his cell. Not because he owed him one- that was only half of the reason. He already had a plan in his head; lead this kid through the fissures, and get back to wherever Tommy was. The enforcer- Ranboo, was his name, had told him that he thought the firelights weren't behind whatever attacks transpired while he was in jail, and it was somehow connected to Dream- the damn bastard that started this whole debacle.
See, watching Ranboo be embarrassed by the brothel they walked through and fighting Sapnap wasn't a part of the devise plan Techno had, but he supposed it had paid off in the end- even if he did end up getting stabbed, Ranboo saved his ass. They had gone down in the undercity- the parts no one talks about- to rest up. Mainly, it was because Technoblade was on the verge of death. But he always had these voices in his mind telling him he couldn't give up now. That he hadn't even found Tommy yet. They were uncanny- and he couldn't tell if they were hallucinations, mere thoughts, or both.
Still, they helped him with the bare minimum- staying alive. He had let out a scream when Ranboo fed him that Shimmer-infused healing potion, the Shimmer obviously going down the wrong pipe. And as they stepped out of the tiny, stone house that had once been a playroom for little kids, they were cornered by Dream himself. He knew deep, in the back of his mind, that Tommy had changed. When Sapnap had knelt down, answering his questions about where Dream was keeping Tommy, and murmured, "Tommy? You mean Theseus? He works for him.. he's like his son.", Technoblade knew that him leaving his brother had triggered something he never wanted.
But keeping himself in denial was better than facing the truth, or so he thought.
Quickly, they escaped from Dream, and started making their way away from the undercity, when something red caught his eye. It was like he was entranced as he turned and looked at the thick, red smoke trailing through the sky. The torch he had given Tommy so long ago. The one he told him to ignite when all hope seemed lost. That red smoke- It had to be Tommy. He doesn't know when Ranboo had turned back to look at him, but by the time he had, Techno was already running in the direction of the red. Like a predator drawn to blood. He ran, and didn't stop, until the only thing dividing him and Tommy was the thick fog of the undercity. And with a shaky, but steady voice, he spoke.
"Tommy?"
Techno saw the figure covered by the fog in front of him tense, before the fog cleared, and he could see his brother's baby blue eyes staring back at him, wide with fear. "Techno?" His brother spoke- his baby brother. Techno let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding, initially walking to Tommy before closing the distance and wrapping him in a hug. "Oh, Tommy.." He said, holding his brother in his arms until he felt the other bury his head into Techno's shoulder, stray tears staining Techno's shirt. The hug was all he had been waiting for. He pulled away reluctantly, instantly cradling his brother's face in his hands as he stared at him.
The golden hair he had always loved was now to his shoulders, and tied up in two, short braids. His baby blue eyes had dulled over time, it had seemed, and he was more pale. Studying his clothes, he realized he was wearing scraps of his old ones, just designed into ones that fit. Techno sighed once more. "Tommy, I'm so sorry, I-.. I tried to come back, I promise, I did. But I got arrested-" He got cut off slightly by Tommy muttering "Punz?", but Techno just smiled warily, "I don't know- but it doesn't matter, I.." He studied those baby blue's again. "I just never thought I'd see you again." He watched as those same eyes widened, before Tommy pushed him away slightly, swallowing.
"Are you real?" Tommy asked him, and Techno put a hand on his shoulder. "Yes- of course, it's me, Technoblade, your brother." He said, comforting the other instantly, quelling his fears. "I'm here- I'm right here." Techno watched almost helplessly as Tommy began to cry. "Things changed when you left- I changed." He said, through small sobs. But Techno just spoke in the most gentle voice he could, like he wasn't even fazed. "I know, Toms, I know. You did what you had to do to survive, and that's okay. I did too." He admitted, then sighed, holding both of his brother's shoulders. "What matters is we're together." He spoke.
In the happy reunion, Technoblade had forgotten he had been showing a Piltie around until he heard footsteps behind him. Techno immediately stiffened, stepping back slightly to look at Ranboo. But he heard the sound of a gun being drawn, his eyes shifting back to his brother who now stared at Ranboo with disdain and shock. "Who's he?" Tommy asked, looking at Techno for answers.
Ranboo raised an eyebrow at that. "Who are you?" He asked Tommy, but Techno was comforting Tommy first. "It's okay, he's a friend." He said, trying to diffuse the situation. Tommy scoffed slightly, moving away once more. "Sapnap wasn't lying? You're traveling with an enforcer.." He said, like he couldn't believe his big brother was doing that. And Techno thought, well, that's valid. Only a few days ago, he would've shouted and punched someone for accusing him of being with an enforcer. Now, though, it was a reality..
He heard Ranboo gasp slightly, and step forward towards the two. "Your brother is Theseus?" He asked, in disbelief. Techno really doesn't know why people kept on calling Tommy that. Obviously, his name wasn't Theseus. It was Tommy- he hadn't changed that much, had he? Techno now stood in the middle, the situation only being ignited more as they talked. "Ranboo, listen, we can work this out-" Techno watched as Tommy shifted away even more, his eyebrows furrowing in anger. "This is a trick. You're playing me!" He said, then looked at the railing with more disdain than Techno had ever seen on his brother. "Shut up! I'm in no mood-" He replied, to.. no one. Ranboo looked confused. "We didn't say anything.." He said, the words enabling Tommy to glare at Ranboo. "I wasn't talking to you!" Techno stepped closer to Tommy, trying to lay another hand on his shoulder. "Tommy, it's okay-"
Tommy snapped at that, it seemed. "Stop calling me that!" He said, glaring at Techno before darting his eyes away. "It's Theseus now. Tommy fell down a well." Techno pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are not like Theseus, god.. I should have never-" Tommy was yelling now. "Stop talking to me like I'm a child!" He said, before laughing almost manically. "Was that why you came? For a stupid fucking stone?" He asked, scoffing and chuckling. Techno looked at him like he truly was insane. "No, I- I don't even know what that is.. I-" Tommy now got up in his face.
"You're a class act, Techno. Sibling, thought I missed him, bet you wouldn't miss him.." Tommy's voice held an edge he didn't like, especially when the gun got aimed at Techno now. He put out his hand, lowering the gun himself. "Tommy! I'm here for you- and only you." He said, moving to hold onto Tommy's shoulders once more. "I'm never going to abandon you again." He said, the truth seeping through his voice. Unforutantely, it seemed Tommy didn't hear anything he was saying. He watched as Tommy jerked away, holding up a hand slightly. "Everyone shut up! I need to think." He said, holding onto his head, before his gaze snapped up, locking onto the sewer pipes protruding from the wall.
"Do you hear that?" He asked.
Slowly, the low hum of familiar boards filled the foggy air, the only thing that could be heard was that and a crow cawing in the distant. And in an instant, it seemed.. they weren't alone.