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Technoblade was known across the lands as many things.
He was the Blood God, the best assassin in the business. Stories were told of his strength and loyalty, rumours were spread of his thirst for blood and war.
However, Techno would argue with anyone on one thing.
He was not good with children.
He ignored the way they stared as he walked past, ignored how they would scream and flee from the blood-red eyes and sharp tusks they had only heard of as stories to get them not to venture out late at night.
Techno would simply huff out a laugh as his large, towering build caused children's’ knees to knock together, caused tears to spring to their eyes and fall down rosy cheeks as they hid behind their parents legs, or caused the few brave children to throw rocks and scamper away, kicking up dust as he trudged on, pulling Carl along with him.
And so, upon receiving the information of his next target, Techno had simply shrugged and agreed, to kill a young prince.
Techno’s only issue with this target was the person who sought out the assassination, the boy's own father, the king of some small, withering nation.
Techno had laughed at the idea of people calling it a kingdom once he had reached the town and bore witness to the depressing state of the place.
Still, Technoblade couldn’t help but grow annoyed at the king’s reason for killing his only heir.
He wanted a war.
And for a war he needed someone to fight- he needed to create an outrage within his people, and a good enough reason to waste what little resources he had on a war he had no chance of winning.
So why not blame the neighbouring kingdom for the death of his son? Surely with the death of the precious prince his people would be willing enough to lay down their lives fighting.
Techno scoffed as he prepared his things, getting ready to make his way to the castle from the small inn he had gotten a room in.
And as he made his way through the dense forest surrounding the castle grounds, the stars and moon his only source of light, he thought of this pathetic kingdom fighting literally any other kingdom, and couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he imagined the blood bath, and the king who needed a legacy so bad he was willing to kill his son, his people and himself for it.
Technoblade almost felt pity for the man. Almost.
Still, Techno sighed as he scaled the wall of the castle, having successfully avoided all of the guards. He was given a target, and enough gold from it to last a good couple of months, how was he to refuse?
However, it was until Techno had quietly pulled his knife out from the holder on his hip, the light shining against the sleeping form of the boy in front of him, did he rethink everything.
The voices rang out against his skull, eyes dilating so wide the red was swallowed up as he stared at the boy’s hair.
Gold!
Runt! Runt! Runt!
His hair is so pretty!
He's so small! Protect him Techno-
Techno growled quietly as he felt a headache form between his eyes as the voices grew louder and louder, his hybrid instincts crying out at him at the sight of the boy’s golden- blonde hair.
He stilled as the boy shuffled slightly, before seemingly falling back asleep.
He closed his eyes and inhaled, trying to compose himself before making his way from the window he entered from and moving closer to the boy.
His ear twitched slightly as he stared at the boy’s hair, curious to know if it was as soft to the touch as it looked before he shook the thought from his head, cursing as chat grew louder once again.
Touch it!
It looks so soft!
It’s so long- you could braid it!
He's so cute! Can we keep him? Please please please please-
Techno grumbled, before whispering “No chat. We can’t and will not be keeping him- he is the target ”
He shut his eyes tightly and rubbed his temple as chat was seemingly appalled at Techno for trying to do his job, yelling at him.
He was about to scold chat again, before he stilled, the sound of footsteps drawing nearer from behind the door of the boy’s room, his instincts screamed at him as he quickly moved to hide.
Intruder-protect-runt-protect-protect runt
Whoever it was stopped in front of the door, Techno waited tensely for any sign they would enter, before they continued on, their steps fading away.
Techno let out a sigh of relief, before startling again as his eyes landed on the young prince, who was staring up at him.
.
.
.
“Uh.. hi?” Techno said nervously, reaching for his knife as the boy flinched harshly.
Techno paused, confused, before the boy interrupted him.
“You.. you’re not papa..?” he said, small hands clinging tightly onto his blanket.
Techno ignored the coos and awws of chat as he looked over the boy, getting a better view of his lanky frame that was hidden by his blanket.
“Uh.. nope.. Not your dad, kid.” Techno said, watching as the boy visibly calmed down, tense frame now loose.
‘This kid couldn't be more than six or seven..’ Techno thought as he stood up to his full height, towering over the boy, who raised an arm to stifle a yawn, chat going crazy over how cute the runt was.
Techno himself almost felt inclined to coo over the boy, who was blinking the sleep from his eyes before he noticed a small bruise around the boy's wrist.
His instincts screamed in outrage over the blemish on the boys skin, Techno moving closer to get a better look, only for the boy to notice and hide his wrist behind his back.
And, seemingly more awake, looked alarmed at the menacing red eyes staring down at him.
“Who.. are you?” the prince asked, Techno paused at the question, remembering why exactly he was here, and scolded himself and chat.
He wasn't here to play happy family, he was here to kill a little boy, collect his money and eventually forget the golden haired boy who reminded him of someone he had lost many lives ago.
Still, looking down at the boy, Techno fought against the urge to scoop him up, hold him close, and make the same promise from before, one he swore he would never break, until he had.
Techno groaned inwardly as his resolve slowly broke.
“What’s your name kid?”
“Im prince Tommy Was Taken!” the boy said excitedly, seemingly forgetting the question he asked Techno.
Techno nodded, moving to put his knife away “Well Tommy, your dad, the king, sent me here for you”
At the mention of the boy's father, he jumped slightly, voice riddled with panic-
“Is.. is he coming here? Now?”
Techno quickly shook his head as Tommy looked a second away from a panic attack.
“No! No, he's not coming here, not for a while. Uh.. he actually.. sent me here to.. check up on you! Yup. so why don’t you show me your wrist huh?”
Nailed it.
Techno watched as Tommy calmed down, and with only a little hesitance, removed his arm from behind his back and showed it to Techno.
Techno winced as he inspected the boy’s wrist, the bruise looked new, and was in the shape of a hand, chat screamed bloody murder as Techno put two and two together.
Tommy sniffed quietly, Techno looked up to see tears running down the boy’s face, eyes puffy and nose red.
Techno panicked, wondering if he had hurt the boy before he meekly spoke up.
“Papa said that no one was supposed to see it.. Will I get in trouble..?” the boy spoke quietly, blue eyes piercing Techno’s own.
Techno’s heart broke as he watched the tears swimming in his eyes, and moved to pet his gold curls- they were soft.
“You’re not gonna get in trouble, little one, your father sent me, remember?” Techno said, trying to sound assuring.
Tommy hiccuped slightly, before he nodded his head slightly.
“Good, good, I'd never let you get hurt, you understand?” Techno asked, as he pulled out a vial containing a healing potion, and pulled out the cork with a quiet ‘pop!’
Tommy nodded again as Techno poured some of the potion into his palm, before massaging it softly into the bruised skin of the boy’s wrist.
“I do need one thing though,” Techno said, closing back the vial and rustling Tommy's hair, his instincts crying out happily.
“Can you tell me who did this?” Techno asked, moving slightly away from the boy, giving him space.
Tommy’s lip wobbled again, and Techno was worried the boy would start crying again before he spoke up.
“Papa.. He grabbed me.. and locked me in here and told me to wait for someone that would do the same thing they did to Henry to me..”
Techno was quiet for a moment as he took this in, he knew that the king was a monster who only wanted a legacy and fame, but this..
Hurting his own kid? And Techno could only assume that this ‘Henry’ had suffered some cruel, twisted fate as well.
Chat rumbled on, chanting Blood for the Blood God as he imagined this king's head on a stick.
“Are you the person that killed Henry?” Tommy asked quietly.
Chat went silent as Techno stared down at the boy in horror.
“What? No! No, no kid, I’m here to help, remember? I’d never hurt you” The cold of the knife against Techno’s hip told him otherwise.
“I promised you didn’t I?”
Tommy looked up at Techno before nodding and letting out another yawn.
Techno chuckled softly as this. “Tired, runt?”
Tommy mumbled, “I’m not.. not a runt..” the words swallowed up by another yawn.
“Sure, sure, hey kid, before you go back to bed, why don’t we go see the stars?”
Tommy nodded sleepily, Techno picking him up gently, and with one last look across the room, made his way to the window.