The Kings' Pet

by Fancy_Mouse

Summary:

'Majestic, extravagant, and known for being as deadly as they are beautiful, if he wanted anything more-so he’d have to pull a creature directly from a childs' storybook. From the pitch-black wings that sprout from the mans' back and the claws that imbed themselves deep into the earth to keep him grounded, to the bruises of varying colors that litter delicate skin only being covered by the torn and dirty pieces of clothing still managing to cling to his body. I’d know it when I see it.'

Chapter 1: Pet

When you’re considered the living breathing version of a killing machine there’s only so much you can do with your life. You can be a killer, but I’m not one to perform meaningless acts of violence towards people who don’t deserve it. You could be a general in the guard, but I don’t like authority or taking commands. You could become a mercenary, I thought this suited me quite well.

It provided the freedom I needed to keep my own personal ethics in check. Every war was a choice that equated to nothing more than a test of skill on my end. And if the immense amount of bodies I’ve left in my wake are anything to go by, my skills are quite impressive.

While it’s easy to only live on war money, with a new one being waged practically every year, the endless killing and traveling becomes boring easily. Thankfully, there’s always an odd job or two for a mercenary to pick up. Whether it be to help a village with a bandit problem or a request by a king to hunt something down, there’s always somethin’.

Maybe that last one isn’t exactly a typical job, even when you’re fighting in their wars, kings don’t take it upon themselves to personally meet with you. This is why I decided to take the job in the first place, figured if the king wanted to meet with whoever took the job it must be pretty important. Plus I had nothing better to do honestly.

So here I am, knelt before a king whose name I couldn’t care less to know. I've seen a few kings in my lifetime and I can say with confidence this has to be one of the most pompous. Dressed to the ninth degree and draped in more gold than his impoverished subjects would know what to do with. Could probably fill the stomachs of hundreds with just the gold in this room. “King Billiam, how might I be of your service.” The king smiles at my words as I attempt to fight back a sneer.

He drums his fingers on the arm of his throne, the sound being the only one heard throughout the large room, causing it to echo. “Technoblade was it?” The question comes out slow, almost like the very act of speaking to me is tiring to him. His eyes scan me a moment before he speaks again. “Recently a… pet of mine has escaped. My guards believe it to be wandering around the forest nearby. I assume you can collect it and bring it back to me.” His eyes shift between me and the guards in the room, their faces visibly pailing under his gaze.

I’ve done a lot in my time as a mercenary, but I’ve never been asked to find someones’ pet. And he’s neglected to tell me what this pet of his looks like. “Might I ask what this pet of yours looks like?”

King Billiam stops his tapping and brings a hand up to hold his chin, a single finger beginning to tap at his cheek as he looks off. His eyes finally meet mine and it’s accompanied by the kind of smile that spreads across the face in a way that looks far too unnatural. “You’ll know it when you see it.” His smile grows wider if that’s even possible before he continues. “All you must know is that it’s managed to put a considerable amount of my guards… out of commission.” The faces of others in the room are enough to tell me exactly what ‘Out of commission’ means.

I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge, I’m sure it’ll be the death of me one of these days. If this guy can manage to keep whatever it is under lock and key for however long then I can certainly put it back. “Understood, leave it to me.” The king nods and I ready myself to stand once he dismisses me.

Before he gets the chance to wave me away a man approaches him, having to lean down to whisper into his ear due to his tall stature. At first the king looks annoyed, as if the very thought of this man speaking puts a bad taste in his mouth, but his eyes widen as the man continues to speak. “Ah yes, I had almost forgotten. I will be sending a few men along with you to ensure once it’s found it is returned, wouldn't want you making off with it.” He gives me one more look over, stopping to examine my more memorable features before mumbling something under his breath. I can only assume he’s called me poor or perhaps some other colorful word that he believes perfectly describes my appearance. “That will be all.” He raises a hand sluggishly and I rise immediately at the sign.

I waste no time turning to walk out of the throne room doors and eventually the castle completely. At some point he must have sent the tall man to gather his troops because the moment I exited he brought three men on horses before me. The man approached me with a lead in his hand, holding it out to me. “Your horse, sir.” His voice comes out slow and light, as if he used his voice so little that he felt the need to savor every word. I take the lead from his hands and he smiles before bowing and walking off.

I mount the horse and turn to the men, none of which seem too happy to be accompanying me. “Lead the way.” At my command the men have their horses head off and, with the expectation that this is bound to be the least interesting job I’ve ever taken, I follow close behind.

Our ride to the forest is slow due to the men refusing to make their horses go any faster. It does, however, provide me with the opportunity to learn more about the creature I’ve been sent out to catch. Apparently few have ever seen the kings' pet, only important visitors and the kings' right hand are ever given permission to view it. They claim the creature had its own room in the castle and the guards would trade stories about what they would hear from outside its door.

One said it sounded like no animal they had ever heard before, screeching and clawing at the door with no end some days. Another said he could have sworn it must resemble a bird of some sort, having heard its trills and warbles and even found a feather under the door once. The last was adamant they were all mistaken, claiming that no matter how animalistic it may have sounded to them the creature must be human.

When hes pushed to explain his reasoning his face turns white and his hands grip the reigns a little tighter. He says that he was one of the guards commonly stationed outside the door and while he’s heard sounds come from the creature that resemble what they claim, he’s heard it speak. He stares off into space as he recalls the creatures' cries, saying they would come at night when only he was on guard and he’d have to stand there listening to it scream or sob or make any number of different noises. But when it really shocked him was the first time he heard it talk. He described its voice as soft and under-used, saying it would never come out as anything above a whisper. He went into detail about how it would plead and pray, claiming he’d often find himself pushing an ear to the door to listen further. It was obvious hearing this shook him to his core.

The other men listen to him with bated breath, each going over his story along with those of others and when he finishes no one speaks. The ride is silent until we reach the edge of the forest and one of them speaks up. “Human, animal, whatever it is, it’s killed everyone the king has sent to retrieve it. I say we kill it, bring its head to the king, and tell him it starved.” Neither of the other men argue with his plan and he looks to me for an answer.

I’d like to know what the creature is before agreeing to kill it but at the moment it’s the only plan that’s been proposed. I nod, fully intending to take it back when a better plan arises, and dismount my horse. We tie the four of them to a tree after finding that the forest is far too dense to efficiently ride them through. It is agreed that since I am tasked with returning the creature by the king, I will be the one leading the group.

Our walk is silent, nothing but the sound of our feet crushing leaves to interfere with whatever sounds we expect to hear from the creature. There is nothing to not other than the faint sound of shuffling coming from the trees. My eyes scan our surroundings constantly, keeping a close eye on every bush or tree we pass. But no matter how vigilant I seem to be, the forest only seems to grow quieter and more still.

My eyes narrow in confusion as I come to a stop. It’s quieter than before. There are no leaves crunching under any of our feet, no rustling coming from the trees, and no footfalls coming from behind me. I turn and just as I expected none of the kings' guards are anywhere to be seen. In their stead is a man crouched upon the ground, looking far more defensive than would be expected of someone who I can only assume just killed three men. At least the king was right, I do know the types of creatures a king would call their ‘pet’ when I see them.

Majestic, extravagant, and known for being as deadly as they are beautiful, if he wanted anything more-so he’d have to pull a creature directly from a childs' storybook. From the pitch-black wings that sprout from the mans' back and the claws that imbed themselves deep into the earth to keep him grounded, to the bruises of varying colors that litter delicate skin only being covered by the torn and dirty pieces of clothing still managing to cling to his body. I’d know it when I see it.

His eyes never leave me as he awaits my first movement, but shows no sign of attacking on its own. If he was still in the trees he’d serve as a formidable opponent but on the ground he comes off as rather pathetic, I doubt it’s looking to fight me. I crouch to get closer to his level, hoping to seem like less of a threat to the creature whose eyes never leave my face as I lower myself. “Hello.” I do what I can to keep the usual gruff tone out of my voice, he looks terrified and it’d do no good to scare it further.

The man relaxes slightly, the tension leaving his shoulders as he lets out a shaky breath. His claws release the earth from their grip as he falls back into a sitting position, wings folding themselves behind his back. I sit watching him catch his breath, pulling three grown men into the trees must've taken a lot out of him. Once his breath is caught he still remains silent, eyes trained on some of the more abnormal features of my face.

He cocks his head before reaching out a hand. I watch him carefully as his hand takes mine, he traces the lines of my palm with a finger and takes the time to examine my nails. Every once in a while he’ll peak up at me to gauge my reaction but never provides one of his own. He places my hand back on the ground but his own don’t lower. Instead they reach up in an attempt to grab at things I’d rather he not touch.

He gets the hint when I low growl, his body jumping as he instinctively pulls both hands back to his chest. “I’m sorry.” The words come out quickly but remain only slightly above the octave of a whisper. “I didn’t mean… I haven’t seen someone like me before.” I’m sure he hasn’t, there aren’t many hybrids walking around in large kingdoms and they certainly don’t work in castles… not for good reasons at least.

Watching the man curl into himself is enough to make me realize I might have over reacted with the growl. He’s jumpy and curious and showing aggression is far from constructive in that situation. Coming to a conclusion I reach out to take his hand only for him to flinch away, making me come to another conclusion, I’m not good at this kinda thing.

I instead hold my hand out to him, allowing him to respond to the gesture in his own time. With a conscious glance he places his hand in mine and I slowly guide it up to one of my tusks. When I let go of his hand he runs a finger along the tusk, feeling it’s point against the pad of his finger. His fingers glide from their placement to the bridge of my nose to trace the scar that had been placed their long ago, he follows it across my cheek until he reaches my ear. He runs his fingers along the sensitive skin their and pushes long strands of pinkish hair behind my ear before steadily retracting his hand, a small smile resting on his face.

The entire time he was feeling around his eyes would follow his hand, when they meet my eyes he thinks for a moment before speaking. “Are you from the castle?” I watch how his eyes roam over me, searching for something I doubt he could explain.

There’s an implication in his words, an assumption likely made from the scar he traced over alongside the ones that peak out from under my shirts' collar. “Not like you are if that’s what you’re asking.” He begins to worry at his bottom lip as he nods, eyes leaving mine. “The king sent me to return you.”

He immediately brings his eyes to meet mine again, a muted fear alight in his eyes. “ Will you?” It’s the quickest he’s spoken as of yet, loudest as well.

I’ve seen many types of fear in peoples eyes, this is one of the few times I’ve wished it to disappear. “No, there’s no need to worry about that from me.” He releases a breath and lets his eyes fall to the ground. Judging by the kings words in the throne room there must have been many other men who've walked into this forest before me, I’m sure not having to fight me is a small but welcome relief. “Why do you stay here if you know the king is sending people to collect you?” The man adjusts himself, but shows no sign of speaking.

Instead he brings clawed hands up to his neck and lowers the tall collar of his shirt to show the collar tightly secured around it. “It’s connected to something in the castle, it doesn’t come off without a key and I can only go this far without it going off.” The collar is not a pretty thing, it’s thick and made of metal with no way of breaking it without potentially injuring its wearer. The only possibility of getting it off is to pick the lock, something that would be hard to do without being able to properly see it.

I think for a moment, assessing the few items I know I have on my person that could assist in picking a lock. “I could try to get it off, I’d have to come a bit closer though.” He looks me up and down, as if he hasn’t already examined me enough to conclude I’m not a threat, before nodding. I scoot closer to him, doing my best to keep from making any unnecessary contact, But it means very little since he flinches when my fingers graze his neck in an attempt to get ahold of the collar.

The lock is fairly elementary, The king obviously didn’t try too hard to find a good locksmith, I suppose that’s a good thing. I reach into my back pocket and pull out a longish piece of metal with a curve at the end, it’s not perfect but it should do the trick. I work in silence with only our breathing to fill the few minutes spent attempting to figure it out.

When a barely audible click is heard and the latch comes undone the man wastes no time in pulling it off. He stares at it with wide eyes before laughing, it’s something short and solem and it’s followed by tears. “Thank you.” He wipes silent tears away as he speaks, I get the impression that collar has been the catalyst of a few of the rough nights the men had spoken of.

I back away and shoot him a smile and a nod before rising to my feet. I dust the dirt off my pants and look up to see the confused look on the mans' face. “It’s getting late, I think it’s best I take my leave before the king sends any more men. You should do the same.” He looks down, eyes scanning the dirt below him as he thinks.

He looks prepared to speak but the words don’t seem to come to him right away, when the finally do his eyes shoot up. “Where are you going?” I can tell it’s not the question he was wanting to ask, but I can’t tell if it’s just a placeholder to ensure I don’t leave or if it’s relevant to his real question.

“I’m not sure. I don’t plan to meet with the king again so I’ll probably be leaving the kingdom and heading to another. Other than that I don’t have anything planned.”

“May I join you?” He speaks fast and he’s obviously desperate. I haven’t ever travelled with another person, I honestly prefer to go at it alone. But since he asked, I can't just leave him here.

I hold out a hand for him to take and pull him up when he does. It doesn't take long for me to realize that taking him out in this condition is only gonna draw attention. Guards already question the motives of hybrids, I don’t think many people will believe that I wasn’t the one to cause the marks that litter his body. I shrug off my coat and hand it to him, I’m given a silent thank you before he puts it on. “Come on then.” He follows my lead out of the forest, staying only a few steps behind me at all times.

Once we’re out I immediately take to untying the horses, handing the man one of their leads before letting the other two go. It’s only then I remember the man might lack an important skill required for this trip. “Can you ride a horse?” He looks at the animal before shaking his head and I have to hold back a groan at having to share a horse for however long it takes to get somewhere I can teach him. “Alright.”

I mount the horse and usher him over, instructing him on how to do the same behind me. Upon being instructed he loosely wraps his arms around my waist before the horse starts walking. “Y’know, if we’re gonna be riding together we might as well know each others' names. I’m Technoblade but you can just call me Techno, you?” The mans' grip becomes a bit tighter, if it weren’t for that subtle tell I wouldn’t have been listening close enough to hear his answer.

“It’s Philza.”

Notes:

I hope you enjoyed! Came up with this idea a week ago, really hope I did it justice.

I might make this into a complete story.

(If you just got a notification then it's because I'm changing the chapter amount, I'll start working on the next chapter in the upcoming months as of 4/27/22.)

Chapter 2: Arrival

Hybrids from the nether are all known for their resistance and strength. The harsh environment demands adaptation in order to overcome its lack of habitability. This means it’s not uncommon for nether hybrids to be able to go days without most basic needs that are known to be quite scarce, namely food and water. This is what lets me travel as I normally do, using practically none of my supplies as I travel. 

 

The overworld is drastically different from my homelands and demands far less from its hybrids in order for them to survive. They need food and water at least once a day to keep their bodies functioning semi-normally. I don’t typically travel with others, hybrids or not, so I don't stock up under the pretense that I’ll be with someone who requires constant sustenance.

 

As to be expected, this wasn’t the foremost thought on my mind as I left for another village with an elytrian clinging to my back like a frightened child. We rode for three days before we made it anywhere far enough from the Kingdom that we’d be fine to stay at. While I was content to go on a bit longer I doubt Philza would put up with eating so little and sleeping on the ground.

 

It’s early when we reach the first village outside of the king’s rule, leading to the streets being empty aside from the people setting up their stalls. They look up at the sound of Carl’s hooves hitting the ground, more than a simple curiosity in their eyes as they stare. I don’t let my gaze hit them, minding my own business and scanning the buildings for a place to stay.

 

Poking out of the front of a medium-sized building is a sign with ‘inn’ carved clearly into it. It’s as good a place as any. I guide Carl to the side and drop the reins in my hands before turning my head to look back. “Philza, you awake?” The man's arms tighten around slightly before going lax as his face pulls away from its place against my back. I catch him nodding out of the corner of my eye as I dismount Carl, taking a moment to stretch before turning back to Philza to help him down.

 

I hold out my arms and he uses one to steady himself as he throws a leg over before glancing at me and jumping down, black wings flaring out as he does so. He lands wobbly, looking like he’ll tip over if the wind picks up even the slightest bit, and continues using my arm to keep himself steady. When he’s finally standing semi-strait he lets go of my arm, taking a step back to stand a bit further away from me. It’s something I’ve noticed he does these past few days, getting so close before backing away until he spaces out enough to get close again. I assume it’s subconscious, a reaction due to being isolated in that castle for however long but not feeling safe enough to completely seek out the comfort he wants. It’s confusing, to say the least.

 

Philza's eyes scan the outside of the building carefully and he pulls the coat I gave him further around his body before speaking. “Are we staying here?” His voice comes out a few octaves above a whisper making my ears stand at attention in an attempt to better hear him.

 

I turn to Carl and grab the lead out of the pack strapped to his side, placing it around his neck before speaking. “Only for a few days, two or three at the most, just enough to get our fill of food and restock.” As I speak, I tie Carl to a sign post, my hand coming up to run along his muzzle. There’s no point in finding a proper place to put him until I even know if they’ll let us stay. I motion to the man rocking slightly on his feet to follow me as I head into the building, immediately making eye contact with the innkeeper.

 

The innkeeper is an older man, his graying hair and wrinkles make that obvious even from the other side of the room. Something else that’s obvious is the man's clear disdain for both me and Phil, it shows in his eyes and the scowl on his face. We approach the desk and his eyes rack over us, taking in every aspect of the two of us that he probably finds revolting. “Can we get a room?” I don’t directly meet the man's eyes, having learned before that intimidation doesn't get me what I want in these situations.

 

The man looks us over one more time before sighing. “Six pieces for a night.” The man seems less than pleased as he speaks, likely pushing his feelings aside at the prospect of getting paid.

 

I take one of the small bags from the side of my hip and open it, taking out two coins before tossing the bag on the desk. “We’ll be staying a bit, that should cover a few days.” The bag has about enough in it for four days, I doubt we’ll stay any longer than that. The man shakes his head and huffs before pointing up in the direction of the stairs tucked away in the corner and mumbling about taking the last room on the right, I nod and motion for Philza to follow me.

 

My ears prick as we ascend the stairs, listening for Philza’s footsteps to make sure he’s still there. The man has been very quiet, not that I want him talking my ear off but for someone who was so touchy when we met I find it quite odd. I’ve half expected to wake up one of these past few days and find him nowhere to be seen. He’s jumpy and he makes it excruciatingly obvious he at least partially expects me to attack him at any moment, an expectation that I believe I should have exceeded in his mind by now.

 

Despite my probably irrational fear of Philza taking off after coming all this way, we both make it to the door of our room. It’s only when I’m about to open the door that the thought occurs to me that I probably should’ve asked for separate rooms. I might not know how the man would fare on his own but at the least he’d have been more comfortable, a bit too late for that now though I suppose.

 

I let my hand wrap around the knob and open the door, revealing the practically empty room we’d be staying in. I step to the side to let Philza enter, watching as the man stalks past me carefully and further into the room. He lets the pads of his fingers graze the dresser as he passes it, his steps slow and wings firmly pressed to his back as he takes in the room. When I pull the door closed he jumps and turns to me, blue eyes focusing on me intently.

 

I ignore his stare in favor of shrugging off the bag around my shoulder and tossing it on the nearest bed before collapsing onto it myself. My eyes close and a pleased huff leaves me as I hit the bed. The beds in these places are certainly never anything to write home about but at least they’re moderately better than sleeping on the ground. I open an eye to peek at Philza in the hopes that my actions have managed to soothe his worries about me pouncing on him. A glance is enough to tell me it clearly didn’t, his shoulders are still just as tense as he leans partially against the wall and continues to look around the room and steal cursory glances at me.

 

I sigh and sit up, bringing a clawed hand up to thread through a portion of my hair. I doubt the man is too keen on relaxing while I’m in the room and as much as I’d like to catch up on whatever sleep he’s bound to be starving by now. “Well, I guess I should go work on finding something to eat.” Philza looks up at the sound of my voice and our eyes meet for a second before his angle down and he nods.

 

I stand with a grunt, taking the time to stretch tired bones before glancing over at the man whose eyes are locked on my form. The fact he’s still standing prompts my next question. “Do you wanna come?” His eyes dart up to mine before looking away as he shakes his head, that’s what I thought. “Then I’ll be back in a bit, feel free to wander.” If he’s not leaving with me I don’t think he’s likely to walk out of the room on his own but I might as well say it, make it known he’s free to go wherever he pleases. He nods and I’m growing increasingly content with the fact it’s all I’m going to get from the man.

 

With that, I turn to the door and throw a partial wave behind my back before exiting into the hallway. My thoughts organize themselves as I head toward the stairs. I should move Carl before anything else, make sure he’s not just walking about where he’s not supposed to. Then I’ll see if this place has anything I can bring back here at the market, that should give him enough time to at least unwind a bit.

 

My hand comes up once more to run through my hair as I bound down the stairs, brushing pinkish strands out of my face and back behind my ear. This situation isn’t quite ideal but I sealed my fate the moment I agreed to take the man with me, I don’t exactly get to complain about it. There are certainly worse situations to be in, at least Philza isn’t too bad of company.

 

I give the innkeeper a halfhearted smile as I pass his desk and retrieve a scoff in return. I don’t have the energy to be pissed right now, not when I’m sure the rest of the village will be the same. A culmination of stares and whispers coming from people who’ve probably only seen a handful of hybrids in their life, if I let each one get to me I’d never be anything but upset. I push open the doors of the inn and turn to see Carl, I approach and rub my hands along his muzzle with a sigh. “What have I gotten us into?”

---

After getting Carl somewhere more out of the way I set out to find some food and preferably a canteen for Philza to use while we travel. At this point the streets have managed to become crowded with people moving to and from the stalls that have finally finished being set up. Everyone's movements seem almost rhythmic, like they’ve done this same song and dance of walking around and questioning stall owners over and over again. 

 

But no matter how busy they may be, people seem to always have the time to stop and stare. To let their heads snap to the side in order to properly gawk at the strange-looking man walking the opposite way of them. Between the innocent stares of curious children and the scornful, borderline disgusted, looks adults provide with little reason, I might as well be a circus attraction.

 

Despite how it may seem, It’s not as if I don’t understand others' aversion to me. I’m certainly of one of the more belligerent hybrid species to grace the overworld, even other nether dwellers would find my kind rather uncouth. I can’t blame them for being wary of someone whose kind has such a reputation, it’s when that wariness becomes violence and prejudice that I find myself unable to empathize. When stares become words and words become actions I see no point in feigning ignorance or acting civil, but only when things escalate away from the death glares I’ve grown so used to receiving. Things could be so much easier if we all resigned to hating each other in silence.

 

Though not welcome in the slightest, the stares do make me not regret letting Phil stay in the room. I in no way doubt the man is strong, taking out the king's men as he did was proof enough of that, but I don’t doubt he’d be absolutely overwhelmed by all the negative attention. I got the man out of a bad situation and he seems unable to put up with my occasional glances, hate to see what a stranger’s prolonged stares would do to ‘im.

 

As I think my eyes roam over the contents placed on top of the stalls, the multitude of small items that consists mostly of trinkets and jewelry. I don’t let my eyes linger on anything for too long, not wanting to get caught up in scrutinizing every piece of jewelry trying to determine its authenticity. It’s only a stall with fruits piled on top of it that I let catch my attention.

 

I don’t think much as I approach the stall and take in the different kinds of fruits laid out before me. I never asked what Philza liked, there’s a chance whatever I get he just won’t eat. I guess I could always prepare a backup meal, find some meat in the market and set up a fire on the outskirts of the village. I reach out to grab an apple without thinking, wanting to check if they’re of good quality.

 

“Don’t touch that!” The voice that calls out causes me to immediately pull my arm away, my eyes darting up to meet those of the man tending the stall. My mind went to a multitude of plausible reasons why the apples wouldn’t be alright to touch, eventually assuming they must be contaminated. I’m not familiar with the exact logistics of growing apples, but if it’s anything like potatoes maybe they can grow poisonous and he’s yet to check them.

 

However, the deep frown on the man's face isn't one of concern. It's more reminiscent of a scowl that seems to grow in intensity as his eyes bore into me and he begins to mumble something. “Hard enough to sell out here without your kind lingering around my stall.” The man's words don’t sting or induce anger, they’re more frustrating than anything.

 

I know what ‘my kind’ means and what his mental image of me must be, he sees a creature almost twice his size with weapons for teeth and the claws of a predator. Perhaps he’s imagining me as a full-blood, covered in fur and ready to attack at any moment. “Got it, then I’ll be off then.” I give the man an obviously fake smile and quickly place a few of whatever I can grab onto a cloth on the stand before tying it up.

 

I pick up one more apple and look at it before glancing up at the man, who seems to be steadily running out of patience, and taking a bite of it. His mouth opens in protest but the sound that rumbles up through my throat is enough to make him shut it and take a step back.

 

As he wished, I didn't linger. Instead moving further along the line of stalls searching for whatever else I had come out for. Luckily the rest of my interactions go reasonably, mostly just stares and the occasional comment as I acquire the last few things I had sought out to get.

 

For a moment I contemplate grabbing a few extra things, having spotted a stall neatly stacked with books a few places back, but the past mid-day sun and the slight moisture in the air does well to remind me of how long I’ve been gone. There’s no use in keeping Philza waiting any longer.

Notes:

I'm sorry this took so long, I finally have everything planned out from start to finish so hopefully I'm able to get on with actually writing everything out. I swear the rest of the chapters will be better than this one.

Chapter 3: It's A Step

Notes:

I'm sorry this took so long.
: )

The innkeeper glances up as I open the doors, eyes glaring momentarily before he looks back down at the paper in his hands. I pay the man little mind as I move to ascend the stairs up to the room. I let myself sigh as I reach the door, knowing almost exactly what I'll encounter beyond it. 

 

In a sense, he’s barely any better than the people in the market. He stares with the same reckless abandon as they do, his eyes just as clear of a portrayal of his curiosity and apprehensiveness. I can’t say I’m eager to be stuck in a room with someone who makes their distrust so well known but I suppose I’ve already made my bed so I might as well lie in it.

 

That’s my last thought as I knock lightly on the door to let Philza know I’m coming in before placing my hand on the doorknob and turning it, letting the door swing open slowly. I give the room a quick once over as I enter, not exactly expecting any sort of change but wanting to be at least moderately cautious for the time being. My brows knit together when my eyes land on the elytrian who’d taken to sitting on the floor at the foot of his bed. He stares up at me with an expression that portrays practically nothing, luckily his body language gives me enough to work with.

 

His back is pressed firmly against the end of the bed as he sits crisscrossed, eyes locked on me with all the intensity of a deer awaiting the next moves of a stalking coyote. He’s both ready to fight or flee if the situation becomes dire enough. At the moment, with his eyes that show only the smallest bit of fear and claws prepared to strike out if I get too close, he reminds me more of a wild animal protecting itself than the birds his kind so obviously resemble.

 

Lucky for the both of us I’ve tamed my fair share of wolves and bears in my time, as much as I’d prefer not to admit it, if anyone knows how to deal with him it’s most certainly me. I let out a sigh at the revelation and take slow, calculated, steps over to the space between the beds to place the two cloths on the shared nightstand. I plop myself down on my bed before untying one of the cloths to reveal the random assortment of fruits I had placed inside, grabbing a single apple and taking a bite.

 

Even without looking in the man's direction, I can tell he’s still staring, watching every movement with an unknown expectation. I take another bite to busy myself as I wait for him to make a move, to get up and grab something to eat since I know he’s hungry. He never does, however, instead opting to stay in his spot on the floor and with his eyes glued to me.

 

It doesn’t take long for my uncomfortability to reach its peak and I unceremoniously place my half-eaten apple on the nightstand before turning my body to face the elytrian. His body tenses and his nails scratch into the wooden floorboards once he finds my full attention on him, I suddenly find myself putting more thought into my next words. I huff as I bring a hand up to comb through my hair. “I believe we should set some ground rules if we’re going to be putting up with each other.” Philza’s head quirks to the side in a wordless attempt to get me to go on. “First off, I’d prefer you not stare at me while I eat, I’d be more preferable if you didn’t stare at all but I’m willing to let you take baby steps towards that.” At my mention of his staring he immediately angles his head down to fully tear his eyes away from me, leading me to feel like I had just reprimanded a child. 

 

I suppose it can’t be helped, it’s already been said and I have no intention of taking it back. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and lacing my hands together. “Second, if you want something all you’ve gotta do is ask for it, better yet just take it, chances are I won’t mind.” Philza’s gaze shifts over to the nightside as I speak, showing his understanding of what was implied.

 

He raises a hand to point at the fruit that sits there and peaks over at me as he speaks. “Could I have one?” I bring a hand up to my chin to act like the question is even worth thinking about rejecting before meeting his eyes, giving him what I hope is a reassuring smile, and gesturing for him to go ahead.

 

The elytrian pushes himself off the floor and steps over to grab an orange off the bedside table before walking back to his spot on the floor. He examines the orange carefully before using his nails to break its skin, setting each piece he takes off beside him. I have to admit that I find the action quite impressive, the almost expert way he maneuvers his nails to be able to peel the orange, seemingly, without scraping the orange even once.

 

What isn’t quite as impressive is how he does it while still sitting on the floor when there’s a perfectly untouched bed he could be on, it may not be much but it’s certainly more comfortable than the floor. I clear my throat to get his attention and he turns his head slightly in my direction to show he’s listening. “You can use the bed y’know, you don’t have to sit on the floor.” Philza’s head turns the rest of the way, the motion jerky as his eyes now practically bore into my own. The look he gives me is enough to tell me my suggestion didn’t go over well. I probably should have thought my words through better, there’s no telling how he might have taken that.

 

“I should’ve said I had no ill intentions by bringing that up, I just… think there’s no reason for you to sit on the floor when even the desk chair is bound to be more comfortable. If it makes you feel more comfortable relaxing then I guess I could get another room but I guarantee you I won’t go anywhere near you or your bed as long as I can help it.” The elytrians eyes rake over me for a moment and I feel inclined to say something more. “The bed is yours and yours alone, I won’t disrespect that or you for that matter.”

 

Philza begins to worry at his bottom lip as he thinks it over, his gaze moving between me and the bed before he stands and walks over to the opposite side of the bed then I’m on and climbs on top. He sits up with his back just barely grazing the pillows and takes a breath before looking back at me. I give him a reassuring smile as I scoot backward and lay on my back on the bed, grabbing my apple as I do so. In my attempts to look as unapposing as possible I take a bite of the apple and stare off into the ceiling, stealing peeks at Philza out of the corner of my eye to see if he’s doing alright.

 

After a moment, Philza calms his nerves, finishes peeling his orange, and proceeds to eat it piece by piece. I watch as he lays back and grabs another, giving all his focus over to the orange as he proceeds to peel it much faster than the first.

 

A small smile comes to me at the sight, the same one I get when I’m finally able to coax a particularly untrusting wolf to eat from my hands. I consider it a significant step to be able to lay here while he focuses on something other than me, I’m not stupid enough to assume this means he trusts me much more than he did before but it’s a process.

 

With that thought in mind, I lean over to grab a book out of the bag laying beside me and flip to a random page when I realize I pulled one I had already finished. The next time I look over at Philza his back is turned to me and the soft whistle coming from him tells me he’s fallen asleep. I’m careful not to let the bed frame squeak as I lean over and turn out the light.

Notes:

I want to thank everyone who told me it was alright to continue writing. I'll be honest, I was worried people would find fics like this disrespectful, or more disrespectful than people initially did, to his legacy, which is something I would never want to be. I'm glad I get to keep writing about a ship that brings me genuine comfort and you can expect me to continue to do so for as long as I have ideas to write about.
: )

Chapter 4: Flipping Through Pages

I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt to block out the trail of light that made its way through the gap in the curtains. Something more akin to a growl than a sigh passes my lips as I blink my eyes open, shifting my body and bringing a hand up to wipe the sleep out of them. For a moment all I do is lay there and stare up at the unfamiliar sight of a ceiling, contemplating closing my eyes to sleep just a few minutes more.

 

It only takes a moment for me to understand I’ll have no luck getting more sleep. I instead let my head lull to the side to check on the other person in the room. Just like the other mornings I'm met with the same image of Philza laying silently only a few steps away from me, calmer than he ever seems to be when he’s awake.

 

I let out a sigh as I pull my gaze away and lift myself into a sitting position before grabbing a book off the nightstand with the intent of flipping through its pages till Philza wakes up. It’s the only thing I’ve found intriguing enough to fill the time until I can expect Philza to be coherent enough for me to be able to actually get us on with our day. I would complain about the monotony of having to do such a thing every day till he wakes but it’s proven to be a welcome moment of reprieve amongst the endless amounts of stress my days tend to be intertwined with.

 

I get an hour or so of reading in before the bed across from me starts to creak. Out of the corner of my eye I watch as he rises up from the bed, four limbs spreading out in two directions as he lets out a yawn. I try to follow my own advice from yesterday and look away but my attention is caught by the state he’s in. His clothes consist of pants that are a lot more than just ‘worse for wear’ and a worn-out shirt from the pack I keep strapped to Carl that’s far bigger on him than it rightfully should be as well as the, equally as so, coat I gave him when we met. Either I’m unnaturally big or he’s concerningly small, both are likely the case, I’ll have to get that sorted before we leave town tomorrow.

 

Finally breaking my stair I turn my gaze back to my book and skim a few lines before speaking up. “Good morning.” The sudden break in the silence causes Philza to jump before turning my way, giving a small nod and an agreeing grunt. Once again looking out the corner of my eye I watch as he pulls the coat back over his wings from where he had let it slide below them for the night. I assume it’s a comfort thing as to why he doesn't just take it off, it’s clear he’s not fond of how the material feels against them at night. I guess as long as he’s comfortable I won’t mention any of his confusing behavior.

 

With an unconscious grin I turn back to my book, reading over lines I could probably recite perfectly if I tried. I get a few sentences into the page before the feeling of eyes burning holes into my skull pulls my attention towards Philza who’s balanced on the edge of his bed in an attempt to catch a glimpse of what I’m reading. When he notices my attention is no longer on the book he immediately straitens himself out, sitting back and turning his attention to what he pretends to be a particularly interesting feather. “Is something wrong?” I do what I can to keep the tinge of annoyance out of my voice, I was hoping at least one of us would be able not to stare.

 

His eyes float in my direction, gaze unsure as he begins to worry at his lip. “What, what are you reading?” The question comes out hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if he was able to ask it in the first place.

 

I look down at the book still lightly held in my grasp and think on it before answering. “It’s about war and dealing with the people on both sides of it, something I’ve found myself doing on occasion. Of course my involvement isn’t as intricate and I’m not a major player, but it’s good information to know and, at the risk of sounding boring, it’s quite interesting.” As I spoke I expected to watch the curiosity in his eyes slowly burn out with every word but to my utter bemusement that fire only seemed to grow with every syllable.

 

Philza has his whole body turned my way as if I’ve managed to say something riveting enough to warrant his full attention. “You’ve fought in a war before?” I’m unable to keep the bewildered look off my face at his question. Sure, I haven’t openly stated anything about my ‘profession’ but I assumed the context clues would at least make war an obvious assumption.

 

“Yep, participated in my fair share of other peoples winning battles but never stayed long enough to see their wars to the end.” I think this is the first time since we’ve set off that we’ve made actual eye contact. Is it strange to want to keep this going? “Did the scars not tip you off?” I keep a sly smile on my face to try not to come off as too condescending but the way his face seems to fall I get the feeling it fails.

 

There’s a sense of unease that washes over us in the moments of silence before he speaks up. “They did, I just… I was still under the impression you stayed in the castle like I did. I suppose that was a stupid assumption to make.” I can practically hear him swallow as he takes a deep breath in.

 

Once again my inability to communicate ruins a promising conversation. How am I supposed to turn this around? “I’m a mercenary,” The words leave me without a second thought, like I was answering a question I didn’t even recall being asked. No matter how unpurposeful it may have been the words catch Philzas' attention and cause him to look up, prompting me to continue. “A hired soldier for whoever is willing to pay, it’s why I was in the kingdom in the first place. Your assumption wasn’t stupid, you just weren’t aware of the other options.” Philza hums and the tension begins to leave the room. I could end the conversation here but I’m reminded of what spurred on the conversation in the first place, the book that still sits in my lap.

 

I reach over the edge of the bed and grab my bag, unclasping it and pulling out another book I had gotten a few towns before meeting Philza. “Do you read?” It’s an abrupt change of topic but certainly a much-needed one.

 

“Not often, I couldn't exactly buy my own and the king claimed his collection wasn’t for ‘my kind’.” He spits the words as if they disgust him, which I don’t question they do. His eyes move to the book. “But I’d like to.” The words are soft and, dare I say, hopeful, like if he shows enough interest I’ll just hand over one of the books in my hands. Not that he’s wrong.

 

I hold the book out to him, keeping my movements smooth and relaxed so I don’t startle him. “Here, you can have it.”

 

Philza’s eyes widen as he looks at the book, meeting my eyes after a moment. “Are- Are you sure?” I give him a curt nod and outstretch my arm further to encourage him to take the book. He grabs it with both hands, holding it like it would fall apart in his hands if he were to grip it too hard. “Thank you.” There’s a smile on his face as he looks down at the book, taking in the cover and title before moving to lean back against his pillows. I watch him flip open the first page to begin reading, I take that as my cue to do the same.

 

We spend an hour or two reading in silence, being the most comfortable in each other's company since we fled the woods. The calm can’t last forever though, and my mind starts unconsciously going over what I’ll need to get before we leave tomorrow. Seeing as Philza needs to eat I’ll have to get food, hopefully bread and fruit will tie him over till we reach somewhere we can get a substantial meal. And clothes, should probably get him into something that actually fits and doesn't make him look like I dragged him kicking and screaming through the woods.

 

I place my book down with a slightly annoyed huff and rise from the bed. I’ll have to size him up before I head out and try to find something a little bigger than whatever I think’ll fit. I take a moment to stretch before straightening myself out a bit. “What are you doing?”

 

I look up from where I was straightening out my shirt just in time to catch Philza putting his book down and sitting up. “I’m about to go into the village, have a few things to pick up before we leave tomorrow.” My hands go to my belt to make sure nothing unhooked last night and begin to turn to the door.

 

“Could I come?”

 

His question catches me off guard and I turn to face him again. “It won’t be a very pleasant experience, lot’s of staring, you sure you’re up for it?”

 

He nods stiffly. “It’ll be better than staying here alone.” Right, of course. In hindsight I should have known he wouldn’t want to be left alone up here, we were both probably miserable once I left yesterday.

 

“Alright then, you ready?” Philza nods and is quick to put his book down and get on his feet. He stands almost at attention as he waits for me to give him the word. “Let’s get going then.” He follows close behind as we leave the room and enter the hallway. By time we’re walking out the front door he’s successfully pushed himself up to my side, making it clear he’ll be standing as close as possible till we return to the room.

Notes:

Sorry this took so long, for some reason I find it so much harder to write during the summer. I swear this get's more interesting later on when the actual romance starts and I guarantee I won't be able to keep myself from writing an entire chapter in a day.

I hope you're having a good day/night/evening and if not feel free to insult me to your heart's content in the comments, I'll read every word.

Chapter 5: A Friendly Gesture

Notes:

I had promised myself I'd get this out before break ended and I might be a few minutes late but I still say I succeeded!

The market isn’t as packed as it had been the day before but that didn’t seem to make the place any less loud. It does however mean we don’t have to push our way through a crowd, I suppose I should be thankful for that.

 

I watch as Philzas eyes dart around from stand to stand, his body occasionally moving toward one before he realizes and pushes himself back into my side. It’s a rather repetitive cycle, but he doesn't seem very keen on breaking it. His arms remain glued to his side as he walks alongside me, one occasionally brushing against the hem of my shirt before grabbing it with two fingers before he drifts in the opposite direction. I assume it’s his way of trying to not get left behind, as if I’m not paying attention to make sure that doesn't happen, so I’ve left it be.

 

Our walk through the market leads us to the tailor shop I had remembered passing when we first arrived. The building is tucked away behind a few stalls but the sign displays the place's name and trade is large enough to pull the eye. I bump into Philza to get his attention, jerking my head in the direction of the shop when his head turns to me and tilts out of curiosity. 

 

The small bell above the door rings out as we enter the shop, causing the owner to look up and offer a welcoming smile after a moment of hesitation. "Welcome sirs, what can I do you for?" The man looks us over carefully, making no attempt to hide the way his eyes roam over us.

 

I can’t help but shift uncomfortably at the way he stares, I can’t remember the last time I willingly put up with someone staring at me so intently… Well, besides Philza. I take an instinctive step forward before speaking. “My… companion here is in need of clothes, we'll take anything you've got that you think might fit.” The man nods and steps to the side to try and get a better look at Philza.

 

“Of course sir, any specifics when it comes to fabrics or material? Am I to be guessing at size or can I take a few measurements?”

 

I look over to the Elytrian for an answer but he only stares back at me and shakes his head. “Just,” I keep my eyes on him for a moment before looking back at the man behind the desk. “Bring out something unrestrictive and make your best guess at the measurements.” The man nods before heading to the back, sparing another quick glance at Philza as he does so. Once he’s out of the room I turn to Philza and give him a once-over. “Are you doing alright?”

 

He meets my eyes carefully, a worried look plastered on his face. “It’s a lot to be walking around like this, I had expected the staring but I hadn’t thought they’d be so open about it here. It’s a lot more similar to the king's parties than I’d imagined, I wasn’t prepared for that.” Ah, I see. I had warned him beforehand that there’d be a lot of staring, I guess that doesn't make things much better though.

 

I think for a moment before responding. “If it helps, it’s more likely they’re staring at me than you. And even if they are, I assure you they won’t be doing anything more than that; not with how you’ve been sticking to my side out there.” I watch as Philzas cheeks tint a soft pink and he nods slightly. I can tell I haven’t completely calmed his worries but I hope at the least he isn’t worried about someone putting their hands on him, even someone with a death wish would think twice before trying something like that with him hanging off me like he’s been.

 

Philza opens his mouth to say something but the tailors return with a stack of folded clothes makes him go quiet. The man sets the pile down on the counter and begins separating everything as he speaks. “This is what I got, depending on the fit I may be able to scrounge up a few other items but for now,” He gestures to the now multiple small mounds of clothes laid out in front of him. “take a look.” I glance at the clothes for a moment before glancing at Philza to see him beginning to take a step forward.

 

He wanders from one end of the counter to the other, feeling the fabric of each item as he goes, refusing to pick up or touch anything any more than he has to. I can’t say I expected any enthusiasm from him about getting clothes but at the very least I thought he’d be more interested. He steps away from the counter almost as soon as he had stepped up to it, giving me a quick nod. “This stuff works, I don’t really care what I’ll be wearing. There is the issue of… adjustments however.” He looks to me for confirmation and I shake my head.

 

“We’ll take care of those ourselves,” I make eye contact with the clothier. “It’s a species thing, breathable clothing and all that. Is this enough?” There are coins on the table before I finish talking, leaving the man little room to ask questions.

 

He smiles before grabbing the coins and reaching under the counter for a leather bag he then carefully places the clothes in. The bag is held out to Philza who takes it while giving the man a small nod. I shake my head at the interaction, or lack of, before placing my hand on Philza’s shoulder and turning him towards the door. I usher him out the door as I throw a quick wave to the tailor, only sighing once we’ve made it outside.

 

We stand in silence in front of the shop, allowing Philza time to ease the tension that’s so clearly built up in his body. I watch as he takes deep but slow breaths to calm himself down, his eyes closed in concentration, paying close attention to the movement of his shoulders with each breath he takes. It doesn't take long for him to open his eyes or for them to find their way up to look into mine. “You ready to keep going?” He nods, it’s not the most reassuring gesture. “Are you sure? We could go back to the inn if that was enough for you.” I do my best to keep my small amount of annoyance off my face as I speak. If I were to take him back now I’d still have to come back out to pick up a few things so I’d just be a waste of time, but I’m not gonna drag him around with me when he’s already so uncomfortable.

 

His gaze leaves me and moves to the street, it’s calmed a bit but a decent amount of people still roam the market. He begins to worry at his bottom lip as he takes in the people before finally looking back at me. “I’ll be fine, let’s keep going.” I nod and enter back into the market street, Philza once again sticking to my side.

 

We manage to find a few stalls whose owners have enough decency not to glare as we pass and by time we’ve reached the more materialistic stalls we’ve gotten enough fruit and meat to last us on our trip. I’ve thought about heading back to the inn for some much-needed sleep before we leave tomorrow, but since it’ll be our last time walking through here we might as well look around as much as we’d like. I also can’t deny that I’m trying to wear Philza down until he actually grabs something from one of the stalls.

 

It took him no time at all for him to once again start drifting away from me and back again once we were back on the street, the only difference now being that I’m paying more attention to what he’s drifting towards. I do my best to follow him as he drifts, to slow down so he can get a proper look at whatever catches his interest, but it’s like he’s purposefully avoiding lingering on a single object for long. Jewelry and small trinkets are what seems to pull his attention the most but never enough to make him raise his hands from his sides, I can’t help but let it get on my nerves.

 

The voice of one of the vendors ahead of us rising above the others causes me to turn my head, pulling my attention away from watching Philza eye what even I would count as a particularly shiny gold bracelet. I wasn’t able to catch everything they had yelled out but I caught the word ‘books’ and that sounded like a decent enough stall to sift through while Philza drifts around. I don’t say anything when I start walking towards the stall, knowing full well I probably couldn’t leave Philza if I tried.

 

The stalls' books are stacked neatly on top of its surface, giving the illusion of order when a single glance down the titles is enough to prove otherwise. I scan through the stacks and carefully pull one out from where it sits between a book of maps and what would probably be a badly written fantasy book. I flip through the pages halfheartedly before stopping on one when I find the word I was searching for. My eyes scan the page from top to bottom, picking up a few details before flipping through the rest of the chapter to feel out its length.

 

I take a cursory glance over to Philza to see if he’s found something else to peek at, only to catch him also flipping through a book. I’ve yet to see him so focused on something he didn’t see as a threat. With the way he is now, I almost wonder if I’d be able to catch him off guard if I reached out, not that I’d take that chance; I have a feeling I’d be lucky to pull my arm back with only a few scratches if I dared to do so. That aside, I feel like this is a rare moment, like it’ll be some time before I get to see him so focused on something so unassuming. “Do you want that?” Unless I do something to make sure it happens more often.

 

Philza flinches at my question, his whole body turning to face me as he pulls the book to his chest. “I-” He glances down at the book from where it’s splayed out against his chest and bites at his lip. “No, I’m fine.” He doesn't make a move to place the book down or even move it away from himself. Despite his answer, I go ahead and make my own decision about whether or not to get it for him. He watches as I reach out and pluck the book from his hold, flipping it shut to get a look at the cover. The title doesn't give much away about its contents but I can tell that it’s a fiction novel. I hum to myself in consideration.

 

I put both of our books together and hold them up to show the woman behind the stall who’d started talking to a man after we’d walked over. She takes a moment to consider before holding up five fingers to indicate a price. I reach around my belt to pull off a small bag of coins and hold it out for her to take, she grabs it carefully and takes a quick look inside before waving me off. I give the woman a nod before turning in the direction of the inn and walking off, Philza staring wide-eyed as he follows shortly behind.

 

The walk back is quiet, not tense quiet but quiet. I can see Philza fidgeting with the sleeve of ‘his’ shirt out of the corner of my eye as we ascend the stairs, his eyes having been glued to his feet the whole way back. It’s only when we enter the room and he sits himself on his bed that he says whatever’s been on his mind. “You didn’t have to get it for me.” His voice is soft as he speaks but resolute all the same.

 

I look up from where I had been searching through my bag for a needle and thread, frowning in his direction. “A bit ungrateful, aren’t we?” I can’t help but chuckle as he gapes at me.

 

“I… I hadn’t meant for it to come across like that.” It’s the second time today I get to see his cheeks take on a shade of pink. “I do appreciate it.” The eye contact we make isn’t brief but it still doesn't last long.

 

I nod and grab his book from where I had placed it on top of mine on my nightstand. “You better.” I toss the book onto the bed next to him where he wastes no time picking it up and holding it in his lap.

 

I go back to my bag and retrieve the needle and thread I had haphazardly thrown in there when I had last needed them on the road. I move the bag off the bed before moving up on the bed and lying against the pillows before taking out one of the shirts to start working on.

 

It’s a while before I look back up from the shirt, taking a moment to glance over at Philza to find him having fallen asleep curled up with his book. It’s an unconscious thing and if he wakes up and asks I won’t be admitting to having done it. But I feel no shame in moving the book onto the nightstand or fixing his blanket so that it drapes over him. It is, after all, just a friendly gesture.

Notes:

I wrote about half of this chapter before getting distracted by a few video games and a lot of anime, I'd say I feel bad but I got to replay the Danganronpa games, catch up on the Genshin storyline, and binge through my (still very long) watch list, so any apology would be a lie. during that time I also started writing something new that isn't a Techza fic, I'm finally expanding! I doubt it'll be posted anytime soon but it's a Tokyo Revengers fic that I have a feeling will be pretty long. I'm gonna try and get a few chapters of it finished before posting anything so for now it's on the back burner while this one takes up my attention... until I decide to start binge-watching anime or go on another gaming spree.

Chapter 6: Thank You

Notes:

Hi
Hello
It's been over a year but I wrote a Techza oneshot and now i really wanna come back and finish this so... yeah!

Morning comes far too quickly for my liking. I managed to spend most of the night mending Philza’s shirts to fit his wings, a feat I’d underestimated completely. I’d managed to finish two before I realized how late it was and resigned myself to finishing the rest some other day. At most I managed to get four hours of sleep before waking up to what little light was able to get through the window so early in the morning. My hand covers my mouth for a silent yawn as I glanced over at a still sleeping Philza. It’s still unusual to wake up in a room with someone else after so long, it doesn't change much except being slightly comforting to know that on the off chance something happens there’s another set of ears, eyes, and hands to help out. For a moment my eyes glance down to the book on the nightstand and I contemplate reading for a bit, it’s not like there’s much to do in the way of planning, but I quickly decide against it and sit up.

 

I throw my legs over the side of the bed and blink the sleep out of my eyes before grabbing my bag from where it leans against the side of the bed and walking over to the small desk against the wall. I drop myself into the chair and place the bag beside me before opening it and taking out an unevenly folded map, a pen, an inkwell, and a small vial of ink. I unfold the map and smooth it out before emptying the ink into the inkwell and using it to pin down one of the corners that refused to lay flat. My eyes scan it carefully until they land on the small symbol that represents the village they were currently in, then start scanning the surrounding area for our next stop.

 

A village is the obvious choice. Preferably we’d be heading somewhere I’d stayed before that I can guarantee is safe and at least semi-welcoming to hybrids, luckily the closest village fitting the criteria is a little over a day's ride from here and happens to be somewhere I’m quite familiar with. The place itself is nothing special, small, community oriented, welcoming, though that might just be since I have a friend living there but that’s all it really takes in towns like that. I’m sure Niki won’t mind taking Philza in until he gets on his feet, especially if it means getting some help with her shop.

    

The thought catches me off guard slightly but the feeling fades quickly. It was a decision I had come to at some point last night, though the thought had been lingering ever since we arrived in this village. This arrangement isn’t permanent, not that I ever expected it to be, and it’s best to separate sooner rather than later. So dropping him off in a decent village to get on his feet is a good option, especially if it’s with someone who's… probably better equipped to help him with that. I mean, I’m barely on my feet half the time in my opinion.

 

A small noise pulls me out of my thoughts as one of the beds behind me creaks. It’s harder than it should be not to turn and watch as he rises from the bed, I blame it on my lingering wariness for the man. Vague images come to mind to accompany the squeaks made as Philza adjusts himself on the bed. It’s surprisingly easy to visualize the way he stretches out his arms and wings till the feathered tips touch the ceiling and they have to curl back into the protective embrace the man seems so keen on keeping them in. The shuffling stops and I notice my attention is no longer on the map, I shake my head and force my eyes back down to the map. “Morning.” I adjust the pen in my hand and dip it in the ink before drawing a singular curved line from our current location to the village and writing down the date we should arrive.

 

With the line drawn all that matters in whether we have the supplies. A day and a half isn’t too bad truthfully, we probably won't need anymore supplies and we'll be stopping for the night anyway so I can catch us an actual meal. There’s a river on the way that would be a decent place to stay for a few hours to give Carl time to rest, could maybe set up a fire and catch a few fish if we have the time. My mind supplies what fish could even be caught in these rivers this time of year before I hear the floorboards creak and can practically feel Philza peering over my shoulder before he speaks. “What are you doing?”

 

I glance to the side to find him standing there with his eyes trained on the map, looking over the severely marked up map that probably looks illegible to anyone who isn’t familiar with my labeling system that I stopped writing key’s for a long time ago. “Figuring out where we’re going next.” I lean back to give him a better view, tapping the village we’re going to with the pen’s tip. “The ride’ll be a day and a half, decent place.” I watch his face, looking for a change.

 

He just nods, eyes taking a little longer to look over the map before shifting to me. “You want to stop so nearby? What’s there?” His head cocks to the side slightly and I find myself looking back at the map.

 

“Nothing, really, it’s small and doesn't have much.” I curl the pen around my fingers, fiddling with it before looking up to meet his gaze.  “But it’s safe. You shouldn’t have any problem fitting in and I’ve got a friend there who can help you get settled.” I nod to myself when I finish. It’s not much, but it’s enough for Philza until he can get himself a horse and leave if he choses.

 

It takes a moment for my words to process and when they do he seems confused. “You want to leave me there?” His sounds betrayed, it might be the most emotion I’ve heard in his voice yet. It’s as if the notion never even crossed his mind. “Why can’t I just stay with you?” Philza crosses his arms defensively as his wings start to puff up and I’m not sure if he’s preparing to verbally or physically fight me on this matter. Maybe both.

 

It hadn’t ever crossed my mind that Philza would want to stay with me indefinitely. It’s not like he acts particularly comfortable with me, no one ever really has. I’m not exactly the most welcoming or accommodating person and being a hybrid doesn't help with that fact. “Why would you want to?” There’s a reason I’ve spent most of my life traveling alone and I don’t see that changing any time soon. I’m far from the best person for Philza to be around while he adjusts to being free anyways. “You’d be much better off somewhere you wouldn’t have to pack up and leave every few days.”

 

Philza looks to the side, wings still puffed up as he shifts from one foot to another. “Maybe you’re right, but-” He takes a deep breath, I can practically see the cogs turning in his mind as he thinks. “But I won't feel safe anywhere else, not yet.” It’s a whisper but still meant for me to hear. “I'd like to stay.” He nods as he speaks, almost like he’s confirming it to me and him both.

 

I let my head fall forward into my hand with a sigh. A part of me is sure it would be a bad idea to keep Philza around. I'm not equipped to deal with someone who went through whatever he did and I'm sure I've done a terrible job at it so far. Whatever knight and shining armor role he's trying to put me in isn't meant for me. Reasonably, there’s nothing to worry about, our first meeting is all I need to know Philza can stand up for himself. Whether he feels safe or not, he’ll be safe so there's nothing to worry about.

 

I glance up at him and he's already looking at me, his face twisted with worry and I know I'll regret it but how could I not cave. “Fine.” It’s half muffled by my hand but I know he heard me when he smiles. “For now, at least. I stand by the fact you’d be better off somewhere you can settle down.” My hand moves from my face to thread through hair, pushing it out of my face. “But I’m not gonna force you, we’ll stay together until you feel safe enough somewhere to stay there… or until you realize how bad of an idea this is.”  I scoff and turn back to the map, shaking my head as I start to fold it back up.

 

He raises a hand to cover his mouth as he chuckles, his blue eyes on me as he smiles thankfully. “Thank you, Technoblade.” I nod, only partly exasperated by what I’ve just resigned myself to.

 

I shake my head as I grab the folded map and shove it in my bag. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” With the map back in the bag I pick it up and move it to the bedside to start packing everything back up. “Go ahead and bring me your stuff. We should leave soon.” He nods, moving soundlessly as he gathers his things and brings them to my bed for me to pack. I’ll have to get him his own bag when we get to the next village if he’s tagging along, a horse too which I know is gonna put a good sized dent in my pocket.

Notes:

This chapter was kinda short but at least updates are coming again! I'm going to try and update monthly like I usually do but I'm working on this in tandem with another completely different fic so I have to see how that works out. At the very least I guarantee this fic WILL GET FINISHED EVENTUALLY, so don't worry. I'll also probably be working on some oneshots more frequently so enjoy those, I really liked making people cry last time. :)

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 4 of Other Techza fics