Chapter Text
The icy air of the tundra pervaded Tommy, reaching to his bones, and made each step harder than the last, leaving footprints in the deep snow. He hugged himself tighter, desperate to keep warm and make his way to the Technoblade's house. The teenager hoped that his brother would not reject him, or at least let him warm up and not kick him out in thin clothes. What was he thinking when he decided that going God knows where in a thin coat would be a good idea.
It was getting dark early in the tundra, the imperceptible sun had already begun to set, turning the blue sky gray and making the forest darker - an ideal opportunity for mobs to get him dead.
His breathing was so prominent that it seemed like it was turning into small clouds, Tommy is confident that he will get frostbite in his lungs or problems with them, and hopes that the potions can correct these ailments.
Finally, the outlines of something and light are visible, the blonde hopes that it’s Techno's house and begins to walk faster, but falls, stumbling.
“Heck! Nothing left and I fucking die here?” The snow melts on his skin, but Tommy hardly feels it and tries with all his might to get up, but tired lanky limbs refuse to work, and hot tears, as if boiling on his icy skin, flow down his cheeks.
There were moans of zombies, footsteps of skeletons, and straining, he closed his eyes tightly, waiting for his end, and remembering the last months full of pain, despair and regret.
What if he followed the server's rules? Would he suffer like this, would he not have lost everything? Would Dream be kind? Would he be loved?
Suddenly, it becomes audible how bones break and death rattles are heard, there is silence in which heavy footsteps are heard, and they stop. He opens his eyes and sees boots in the snow, and then someone crouches in front of him.
“Tommy?”, a familiar deep voice is heard, and the teenager jumps.
“Techno”, he says, trying to get up. His efforts were in vain, he could not even lift his head.Techno immediately grabs him by the shoulders, hot wide palms warm him, and he leans in search of warmth. Something heavy, but insanely warm envelops him, then Tommy is taken in his arms, and he just lies on his chest, closing his eyes.
“Don’t sleep”, Techno says tensely, starting to run. “Wait a bit.”
“I'm tired,” Tommy whispers quietly, barely audible in the rising wind.
“Be patient” Techno continues, making his tone more threatening. Tommy tries, his palms clenched into fists and nails digging into skin, but he doesn't feel anything. The half-asleep brain realizes this with horror, and by all means keeps him awake.
Eternity later, he hears a heavy door creaking loudly, and warmth blows on him. Tommy is put somewhere, but Techno begins to take off his clothes.
“Co-cold”
“I know, but if I don’t change you, it will be worse.” The teenager, after months of denial, obeys and says nothing.
Techno turns out to be right when his cold clothes are removed from him, leaving only in his underwear and he is wrapping blonde in a woolen blanket, pushing the sofa. Hearing the crackling fire, Tommy realizes that he is being pushed closer to the fireplace and thrown something else from above. Mentally apologizing to the Technoblade - surprisingly, he closes his eyes in exhaustion and falls asleep.
***
“Techno?”, a voice is heard in the doorway. “What happened?” Dream asks softly, seeing tension and anxiety envelop Techno's figure. Entering the hall, where the fire crackled in the fireplace, he saw a light hair wrapped in a woolen blanket with a red cape on top. “Is that Tommy?”, the pink-haired man nodded as Dream approached.
“I found him lying in the snow nearby. I think he got hypothermia”, says Techno in the most dispassionate voice - he is very worried.
“I'll cook something hot then”, Dream comes up to Tommy, touches his icy cheeks, which are starting to heat up, and sees his blue lips. “Damn”, he continues as he removes the covers and can feel his skin. “After a blizzard, you need to go to the village for a doctor” Techno is even more - it would seem he has already reached the limit - strains and wants to start an argument, but Dream shakes his head - it's not time, and Techno succumbs.
“I'll bring more blankets”, the pink-haired man turns away and walks upstairs, trying not to make excess noise.
Dream sighs and looks at Tommy again, notices how thin and tired he is, and only wraps him tighter, wondering what happened. He gets up, throws more wood and begins to collect the scattered clothes. Picking up coat, he notices that it looks like Wilbur's coat, but looks pretty worn out, like the rest of the clothes. Folding it into a neat pile, Dream decides that it is necessary to get rid of it, but after talking to Tommy.
Techno comes up, with some thick blankets, a warm sweater, pants, and a couple of pillows. Dream's lips rise - his husband was very forward-looking, and they make Tommy more comfortable. The teen's face becomes relaxed, his cheeks glow with a blush, and when he touches his forehead, Technoblade feels the temperature rise. Voices in his head start to fuss and most of them demand the blood of those responsible for Tommy's condition.
“Already?” Techno mutters in surprise after Dream's remark.
“He may have been sick before that”, he says, hugging the hybrid from the back, and Techno releases the tension slightly. “We should cook dinner and light food for Tommy - his bones are sticking out a lot”. Turning, Techno bends, hugging Dream, burying his hair in his hair, and inhales the scent of omega. The voices subside, the crackling of wood and the howling wind soothe them, and Tommy's snuffle sounds loud in the quiet living room.
***
“We should contact SMP”, Dream says wearily, stirring sugar in tea on the third day of Tommy’s stay. He does not wake up and is in a fever all this time, only occasionally opens his eyes, eats small portions of food and potions. They follow him every minute of the time, changing in order to have time to follow the other person.
This is reminiscent of the first months after Ambrose's birth - sleepless nights, a lot of crying, screaming and tired quarrels with Dream, but the similarity is only in fatigue and constant observation. Techno remembers their quarrels over little things, Dream's breakdowns, and their relief after realizing they got it over with. They were used to everything by the end of the third month.
“No”, Techno firmly answers, drinking coffee and looks out of the corner of his eye at the hall.
“We need to find out what happened to Tommy during our absence,” the blond continues, realizing that they are again bringing up the topic over which they argued a lot.
“I don't trust them. They have never contacted you in the last year and a half”, Dream purses his lips in displeasure, but realizes that Techno is right.
“Nevertheless, it is worth finding out. You saw what happened to him”, the blonde insists. “At least with Phil,” he adds, placing his hand on the hybrid's arm.
“Let’s do it after Tommy regains consciousness?” the blond is silent, but agrees, jumps up abruptly, hearing the cry of the baby, and runs into the room on the second floor.
Techno sips a bitter coffee and looks at the hoarsely breathing teenager trying to kick off the blanket, a rag has dropped from his forehead. He gets up, walks up to him, picks up a rag, touches up the blanket and runs his hand through his hair - a gentle gesture that he does not show to anyone and shares only in the most intimate moments. Thinking, continuing to run his hand through his sweaty hair, he nods. Yes, this is a secret moment in which he must be with his younger brother and console him. Tommy wheezes and coughs - rough, wet and very hoarse - Techno is afraid it's pneumonia, but he still dips a rag in cool water and gently wipes the teen's forehead, cheeks and chin.
Footsteps and babbling are heard, and Dream enters the room with Ambrose in her arms. She happily screams when she sees her father's face, and tries to grab onto his pink hair, the same as on the top of her head, but does not have time - Techno gathers his hair into a bun and takes her in his arms.
“Who is woken up?” he coos, lifting and circling her. Dream smiles and warmth is spreading across his chest - he never expected to see the impassive and icy alpha, called Blood God so soft and gentle with their - their - child. They sit in armchairs - usually standing on the sides of the couch, but joined together for their comfort - and Ambrose mumbles merrily, playing with rattles and hitting Techno with them. At one point she frowns - just like her father - and babbles - tries.
“D-d-dua” she drags out , Dream and Techno look at each other with admiration, sitting in anticipation.
“Come on, baby, you can” says Dream, stroking her daughter through her silky hair. Techno looks at her focused face, and his hands tighten, but don't touch Ambrose in any way.
“Isn't it too early?” he doubts.
“They start talking at about this age,” the blonde soothes.
“Dua-da” says Ambrose and Dream laughs with delight, picks up his daughter and kisses her all over her face. The baby, catching the mood of the mother, screams in the same admiration. He then sits down on Techno's lap, kissing him and giggling. The hybrid smiles a little, presses his forehead against the omega's and whispers:
“I love you” Dream gently runs his free hand over his cheek and touches his lip, kissing him briefly.
“I love you too” he replies.
***
The snowstorm ends only by the end of the next day - for the first time in a while, a forest and snowdrifts can be seen outside the window.
“Tomorrow we have to go to the village” reminds Dream. It is nine o'clock in the evening and Ambrose has recently been put to bed. He sat beside Tommy, whose fever had not abated, and watched him restlessly. Techno, sitting next to him and reading a book, looked up.
"Do you think it's a good idea to let strangers into the house?" the blond looked in his direction with displeasure.
“Techno, they are not strangers. If they don't come, Tommy will definitely get worse. And potions won't help here” he says before Techno can argue. Nevertheless, the pink-haired one stubbornly continues to stand his ground. Then Dream smiles like Cheshire and slowly sits on his lap, running his hands over his scarred cheeks and neck, head tilted. Techno ignores this in every possible way, continuing to read, but his book is snatched from his hands and casually thrown aside. The hybrid raises an eyebrow, clearly not impressed by this, but grabs the other's waist in response, and nuzzles into the neck, right into the scent gland and the mating bite. Dream continues to burrow into his hair and begins kissing his forehead and the top of his head.
“Techno,” he says this time in a serious tone. “I know that it is difficult for you to let in unfamiliar people home, it is really risky. But “ he takes his chin and their eyes meet - bright emerald, the same as their daughter's, and scarlet ruby “ it’s worth the risk for Tommy's sake?” Techno unconsciously looks askance at the teenager.
“I’m worried that you will get hurt” he mutters, inhaling the soothing scent of lime.
“Me too, but if we don’t do anything, he’ll get worse. We can defend ourselves, right?” he is lost in thought. Dream really almost got into shape after giving birth. Also, the village helped Dream give birth to Ambrose and before that they helped him when he was injured. But Techno never invited literally anyone home. He nods slowly, and Dream smiles with relief as he waits for the conditions. Damn, he knows him too well.
“Only if the doctor is under constant supervision and comes without knowing the way” the omega snorts and gets up from his knees, but the alpha's hands immediately return him to his place.
"So, how can this be arranged?” Dream asks playfully, winding his hair around his fingers, which are also covered with small scars. They are interrupted by a hoarse and violent cough, and they jump up to run up to Tommy. Techno lifts him to a seated position and the cough subsides slightly when Dream takes warm lemon tea and lets him drink in small sips. Tommy breathes hoarsely, looks at them with misty feverish eyes says tremblingly:
“Techno?” hybrid sits down in front of him and nods. “Is it truly you?”
“Yes,” he answers firmly but tenderly, grabbing his brother’s hands. “It's me.”
“You won't leave me?” Tommy says indistinctly in a rough voice.
“No. Never” Tommy sobs. Voices begin to wake up and wonder what happened to him, and at the end, as always, demanding blood.
“Do you promise?”
“I swear.” He pulls the teen to his chest, a hot forehead resting on his collarbone, and heartbreaking sobs are heard from Tommy's side.
“Is that true?” he asks again with hidden hope.
“It is.” concludes Techno.
***
“He has bronchitis and severe fever, he was starving and has improperly healed wounds, as well as complete exhaustion of the body.” Dr. Reuben concludes after examining Tommy. Techno monitors every action of the doctor with his red eyes, to which the doctor understands, but still treats with caution. “I will write herbal recipes to alleviate his condition, and I will come from time to time” doctor looks at Dream and asks: “How will it be convenient for you?”
“It depends on you, doctor” the blond says, walking up to Techno and taking his hand. “Every week?” Reuben nods.
“Okay, give me a couple of minutes” he begins to write something down on paper, trying to write legibly, then hands it to Dream and rummaging in his bag, pulls out herbs and ointments. - Also, he had a slight frostbite, it is worth applying the ointment to the affected skin areas” Dream nods gratefully and begins to see doctor out of the house.
As the door closes and Techno begins checking herbs safety, Dream rolls his eyes.
“Give them to me, Techno” throwing one last glance at the medicinal herbs, he gives them to the omega, sits in a chair and says quietly:
“If Tommy gets worse, I personally will make him suffer and kill him” Dream puts his hand over the palm of the alpha, and the pink-haired takes it, gently squeezing.
***
When Tommy wakes up, he is greeted by heavy tired eyes, the heat surrounding him from all sides - a sharp contrast to the last thing he felt - and a severe dry throat. Something large with a heavy weight presses on his chest, making it difficult to breathe fully. Suddenly, a cough begins and hurts his throat and the teenager feels like someone is helping him to sit up. When the cough ends, something is brought to his lips and he obediently drinks a warm liquid (Water? Tea? Potion?). Finally, after a long time (Seconds? Minutes? Hours?), Tommy manages to open his eyes but he, however, instantly closes them back. A moan escapes from his mouth and someone's cool palm rests on his hot forehead (Was he burning?) and unconsciously he begins to reach for the touch.
“Tommy?” through a muddy veil (of noise? But it was quiet. Water? Was he under water?) a voice was heard, but so far away that he could not understand who it was.
“Did he wake up?” another, deeper (How did he distinguish it? They are similar) voice sounded, and another heavier hand went through his sweaty hair (He was sweating? What the hell is going on?).
"I don't know, but it looks like. Tommy?" a cool hand touched his face again, this time on his cheeks and barely hits them. Gathering all his strength, he opened his eyes and saw with a blurry gaze a pale face with a scattering of freckles, scars and green eyes that looked at him with concern. The teenager would have screamed because of closeness and would have become very angry if he could, but with a feverish mind, he could only close his eyes. “Yes, he woke up” man looked somewhere to the side and walked away from him.
“Tommy? Can you hear me?” a familiar face appeared in the field of view, seemingly looking at him with indifference, but his experienced eye noticed a clear concern on him.
“Tech… no?” he barely says, trying to get up but the limbs simply refused him. There was a conflict inside him: one part of him, exhausted from pain and loneliness, silently demanded to give in and trust unconditionally. Another, beaten and wounded by many people, looking for a catch in everything, screamed and panicked, telling him to run. The second won noticeably, but before the teenager had time to move, palms gently hugged him by the shoulders, and he froze, not daring to breathe.
His unemotional brother, ready to kill because of a damn attempt to provoke anything but anger, a brother whose smell frightened everyone in area, a brother who took him his home, hugs him with all possible tenderness. The screaming part is shut up due to the influx of emotions and the other, silent, takes over. Tommy buries himself in his brother's shoulder, allowing him to see tears - something that Dream himself could not see.
It was like being hit in the head with a hammer every time he sobbed, his throat hurt badly, but the teenager could not stop it, he only could cling to Techno harder and squeez his clothes (Sweater? Jacket? Shirt?), seeking comfort from him. Techno ran through his sweaty hair, occasionally kissing the top of his head, letting his emotions go out. Voices, like his instincts, screamed and loudly clamored for the blood of those who made Tommy cry, who dared to touch his pack and hurt him.
The scent emanating from the alphas tasted unpleasantly on Dream's receptors, causing tears in his eyes, and he hurriedly left the room, hoping to get some air. He sat down on a chair and watched as Tommy cried and clung to Techno while his chest clenched from everything: from what happened to the teenager, what broke him; from the fact that he is sitting here helplessly, unable to help; from a busy week of looking after teenager. Omega sighed heavily, wanting to be back in the forest like never before and scatter, relaxing on the thick branches of trees, perhaps looking at the stars. Leaning on a clenched hand, his gaze darted to the already darkening sky, where dense clouds possessively - like Techno - covered the sky, not allowing even to just look at the stars, let alone look for constellations. Dream notices Techno looking for him and stands up.
The tension and pain, accumulated for months, left the blonde, but left him with a stuffy nose, a sore throat and a strong buzzing head, letting go of his body, which was heavier than all the boulders that he dragged with his bare hands. The body tiredly called him to sleep, but stubbornness, irritated by the thought that only after waking up, he would fall asleep again, did not allow him to close his eyes. Only, his cloudy mind cleared up a little, and Tommy clearly felt that he was burning.
Footsteps caught his attention and he looked up tired eyes (Why is literally everything tired in him?), he saw a man (Omega? How did he know that? Instincts?) With blond hair tied up in a bun (Why the hell is everyone starting to grow hair? It’s uncomfortable), with fading freckles, a faded scar running in an even line from the top of the right eyebrow to the middle of the left cheek, and emerald green eyes. And he could swear he saw them somewhere. A thousand thoughts were noisily bustling about in his head, making it heavier even more, wondering who this stranger was and why he was in Techno's house.
“Tommy?” the stranger gives a voice and he freezes, widening his eyes and starting to breathe even harder, because of which a strong cough immediately makes itself felt, leading to tears in the corners of his eyes. The teenager does not notice how Techno is trying to help him calm his cough. He does not notice how he squeezes the weakened fingers, digging into the skin with crooked nails, until they bleed. All that matters now is that the person from whom half the SMP wakes up in cold sweat, the person who tortured him for several months, the person from whom he ran for days, stood in front of him, in a place where he hoped to find a home and peace. Fuck.