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Between now and last year, something changed within Tommy. It wasn't that, funny enough, he was more well fed or that he's okay with balling his eyes out now, but something instinctual.
It was how his body would drop all his tension when he would hear a calming chuff. How a simple squeeze to the back of his neck would silence him into submission. How in the face of danger his first thought is no longer How do I defend myself but Where is Techno?
In another reality, Tommy might've been disgusted with himself. Years of disappointment from foster parents and siblings taught him that trusting anyone will only result in pain.
But here on this fucking cursed island, trust resulted him in living. He didn't have a choice but to fall into instinct and hope that he and his brother would survive another night.
Except it's day time and Techno gave the chuff that they could goof around now, so who the fuck cares about all that depressing shit right now?
"Techno, we should bake a cake." Tommy splashed his arms in the lake, the chill now long passed as he got used to it under the boiling sun and heavy air. He was at the shallow end, sitting on the sank bank, and wiggling his toes everytime a small fish swam.
That's right little fishie, be scared of Big Man Tommy.
"And how would we do that, Tommy?" Tommy looks to his left where Techno is crouched in front of a fish trap, a fish on his lap as he quickly scraps the scales off and then dips it in water to wash off the peeling scales.
"Well according to Minecraft we just need milk, sugar, egg, and wheat. We got the sugar cane, get some eggs from a nest, and the rest you can figure out." Tommy clumped the sludge sand underneath him and formed a loose ball that was quickly losing its form.
He sneaked a glance at Techno and the man caught his gaze immediately before surveying the foliage around them. Not once did he stop cleaning and he didn't nick any flesh, habit forcing his hands in the right position.
Techno snorted and risked a moment to smile at Tommy, "How considerate of you to figure out half of the ingredients already. Now tell me how we'll bake the cake without burning it on our furnace, hmm?" Techno tossed the cleaned fish in a woven basket and grabbed the next fish. His eyes scouted the surroundings once more.
Tommy pursed his lips and looked out at the lake in front of him. He tried searching for a tree on the other side but only a blank horizon met him. He let the sludge drip down his hand before dipping into the water again to form a new ball.
"We'll ask it really nicely?" His voice tilted up as he figured Techno would find a way to not burn it. Since if he could puzzle out how to make sandals then the fucker could figure anything out in Tommy's book.
Techno hummed and that was that. Tommy pouted but he knew there wasn't much he could do to get his cake. They haven't figured out how to get any sort of powdered grains and the closest thing to milk that they've found and wouldn't kill them was the juices from a blue flower stem. Unfortunately said flower was protected by these bitch bees.
Needing some fun, Tommy gathered a new ball of sand and tried to strain as much water from it. As he was doing that he watched Techno's movements out of the corner of his eyes. He was currently cleaning the last fish, eyes flitting to the trees, lake, then Tommy.
Trying not to grin, Tommy psyched himself up and got a good grip on the ball of sand.
Expertly, Tommy snapped his head to Techno and pointed at the trees behind him, "What the fuck is that—"
Tommy might've only gotten a word in before Techno sprung to his feet and readied his spear. In the second that it took Techno to process that no, there was no danger, Tommy threw the sand ball and it splattered all over Techno's lower back.
Tommy doubled over, cackling while he felt the ground shake under him and Techno snorting a bad-bad-prankster chuff. Techno gripped Tommy under his armpit and hauled him up, practically carrying the boy over to where the fish were laying.
Techno let Tommy go and stooped down to lift the basket. Tommy swayed on his feet briefly, taking deep breaths in to stop laughing or else his stomach might start cramping from the laughter. Yet each time Tommy glanced at Techno's back the laughing started all over again.
"All right runt, knock it off, you're inviting the whole jungle over with—"
How unfortunate Techno couldn't finish his sentence as a three foot tall spider skittered through the tree line and spit a ball of web toward Tommy. Tommy dodged to the side and avoided the web to his chest, but a large clump landed on his foot.
"Tech—!" The spider crawled toward Tommy, the fangs on its mouth twitching. Tommy fell on his butt, trying to get far away yet the spiderweb glued him to the ground.
A snarl echoed throughout the forest as Techno jumped over Tommy and planted himself firmly between danger and his runt. The spider hissed, its mouth opening and revealing fresh intestines caught inside.
It spit another web, which Techno dodged and missed Tommy by a few inches.
Techno snarled, the sound vibrating Tommy's pounding heart.
Tommy's vision started to cloud as tears obscured the view, his body shivering as a breeze blew by and cooling his still wet body.
Techno swung his arm back, the spider hissed, and in a beautiful ark the spear was released and embedded itself through the spider's mouth and out its head.
A horrible screech pierced Tommy's ears, forcing him to cover his ears. Techno only pounced on the opportunity and dashed forward to rip the spear out before stabbing it over and over and over again.
A year ago Tommy would've thought he was a psycho. Blue blood painted Techno's arms, a hard frown forced his tusks out, and scars covered him that no normal man would have. Yet the sight only brought Tommy a deep sense of relief knowing that they were safe. They might not be the apex predators around here but fuck Techno will do anything to make sure they were safe.
The spider fell silent and still Techno stabbed it a couple of more times. Feeling sick at both the sight and the situation, Tommy croaked Techno's name.
Techno snapped his head to Tommy, scanning the area before locking eyes with Tommy. A high pitched whine escaped Tommy, something that Techno taught him to do when distraught. It's become second nature by now, and as Techno returned the call by a chuff, Tommy relaxed.
Using the spear, Techno swiftly freed Tommy. Techno reached down and the moment that Tommy's feet left the ground he fell limp in Techno's embrace. Swiftly, Techno transferred Tommy to one arm and grabbed the spear and basket with the other arm.
Circling his arms around Techno's neck, he mumbled, "Are we not—?" Techno rumbled and Tommy fell quiet, too exhausted to fight the command.
Tommy no longer bothered to check if they were still in danger as well. In this hold with Techno pressing him tightly against his chest and the smell of sweat and jungle flooding his senses, there was no need for Tommy to worry. Techno would protect him, like always.
The sunlight behind Tommy's eyes disappeared as they entered their cooled home. Due to science Tommy never learned, their mud house was significantly more cool inside than outside. A fact he relishes every time the heat becomes too much.
Tommy was set down on a log-turned-stool and blearily opened his eyes. Techno crouched in front of their barrel and dipped a cloth in the slightly murky water before wringing it out. Turning to Tommy, Techno gently wiped Tommy's face from his sweat and tears.
He continued like that, washing Tommy bit by bit. Tommy didn't even realize there was blue blood smeared on his back until Techno wiped it off and Tommy sighed from the itchy feeling leaving.
Tommy lazily blinked his eyes, the image of Techno washing his arms blurry from his unfocused eyes. His head kept getting heavier with every breath, having to snap his head straight once he belatedly realized his eyes were closed.
Then between then and now, arms scooped Tommy up. Once more, his body went limp as his feet left the ground and he nearly went to sleep right there. But he held out, wanting to indulge in the safety.
The fur from the soft pelts tickled his sides, but it was the muscled body under him that relaxed him. Large hands cupped the back of Tommy's neck and waist, keeping him secure and safe. Purrs rocked through Tommy's body, massaging him into deep relaxation.
We're safe echoed in his head as he drifted off to sleep, certain that everything will be okay with Techno next to him.