Chapter Text
“Captain!”
Techno tilted his head toward the sky, his eyes settling on the scout perched up in the crow’s nest. Their hand was outstretched and pointed toward the open sea, guiding Techno’s gaze to the horizon line.
Even from the distance, Technoblade could recognize a Navy flag anywhere.
Techno’s ship rocked on the waves, hovering over the ocean floor and serving as a reaper for the souls that crossed his path. His Jolly Roger was red, and he could say he favored the color, especially when it rested on the tip of his sword.
He was a merciless soul. He wanted the world to know that.
He couldn’t help but smile as he turned over his shoulder, his first mate just as excited from the singular sighting of a blue flag. With one look from Techno, he launched into motion, swinging himself onto the ship’s ledge and holding tightly to a rope.
“All hands on deck!” Wilbur announced to the crew, the bell already beginning to ring. People flew to every corner of the top deck, keeping their eyes trained toward the horizon. Techno surveyed them with pride he only got during times like these, in the early evening, preparing to catch a ship trying to outrun them.
“We won’t be able to drop anchor.” Techno motioned for Wilbur to come closer. “It’s not a military ship, they’re going to do everything they can to get away.”
“No hit and run, then?” Wilbur smirked, his hair flying in front of his eyes from the sea breeze. Techno almost rolled his eyes as Wilbur tried to push his fringe away and was unsuccessful. Wilbur caught on. “Don’t mock my hair, Techno.”
“I didn’t say anythin’,” Techno shrugged, though his blossoming smile only continued to grow. “You’re goin’ to get killed trying to brush your hair away durin’ a fight.”
“Now you’ve said something,” Wilbur punched him in the shoulder. “I prefer not to cut my hair with a sword.”
Techno stifled a chuckle. “It’s efficient.”
“You just like to show off,” Wilbur rolled his eyes, settling his brown irises back on the horizon. “It’s the same reason your hair is pink.”
“It’s the brand, Wil,” Techno huffed, setting both hands on the ship’s metal railing. He rubbed the brass under his thumb as he studied the ship, steadily dropping distance, even as it tried to turn into the tailwind. Techno didn’t even have to give an order for his helmsman to turn with it, edging up on it’s other side.
His crew was loyal, most of them in his debt, some of them asking to join or recruited by Techno himself. He'd been at war with the land ever since he was born upon a sinking ship, and decided to take the lives and supplies of anyone he crossed, just so he never had to see the land once.
That made the Navy vessel a playground for the crew of The Blood God.
“Orders, Captain?” Wilbur asked, his expression settling into seriousness again. While he didn’t look all that impressive physically, more like a piece of floating driftwood, that stare of his was calculating. Techno had always thought Wilbur could see more than the human eye. The only person who knew the seas better than Wilbur was Techno himself.
“Seize and capture,” Techno commanded, “Leave them pinned on top deck, any means. I’d like to see what this ship is doin’ all the way out here.” In his territory went unsaid, but this was a valuable opportunity, after all. Who knew what kind of things they carried on that ship.
“Aye aye, sir,” Wilbur partially mocked. Techno didn’t even bat an eye as Wilbur swung to face the rest of the ship, using his bright voice to command the crew. “Niki, Jack, Charlie, stay top deck and keep the ships together. Sam, Eret, seize the Navy helmsman and take control. The rest of you, occupy and capture!”
The crew shouted in chorus, each taking their positions, ready to swing over to the Navy ship’s deck. Techno stuck his boot underneath the metal railing, not even needing any handhold to stay steady on the lip of his boat.
They were so close now that Techno could see the crew running about, trying to get the ship to go faster, grabbing swords and pistols. They had no cannons, which made it all the easier.
Techno couldn’t wait to see that blue flag and the royal coat of arms sink beneath the sea with the rest of the damned bastards.
One person made eye contact with him from the other ship, and a silent challenge passed between the salt in the air. Techno concealed his grin when he recognized the hat they wore.
He drew the sword from his belt with a soft shing. His crew could recognize the sound of battle by now, stilling by their posts. Wilbur tossed Techno a rope, a mini salute offered to him as Wilbur drew his blade as well. The crew followed. The ocean held its breath.
Techno breathed it in. The salt had lost its taste over the years, being all he ever had in his system. Wilbur often joked that it was crystalizing in his lungs, but Techno thought it just made him one with the sea. The ocean was used to its own taste, and Techno was far too familiar.
The only thing he was more familiar with than the sea was the taste of iron and the color red.
Niki pulled The Blood God right alongside the Navy ship, and Techno led the charge.
All was chaos and sound. Blood stained the desk immediately as the two parties clashed with shouts and curses. Techno didn’t have to stick around, knowing his crew, knowing their trust. He pushed forward with Wilbur, leaving the brave ones who approached them with heavy hits to the head and a tangle of crumpled limbs. Techno spotted the captain’s hat from a distance, recognizing the way they talked to their first mate, and pushed them away just as quickly when their eyes met a second time.
“They’re splittin’,” Techno grunted, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he pushed another sword back. Wilbur ran his blade through a pistol.
“Not a problem,” Wilbur sang with a malicious smile. “Watch your back.”
Techno and Wilbur pushed forward and slipped to different ends of the deck. Techno followed the head of blonde hair and the tricornered rim up to the helm, the sound of blades already fading. Techno knew for a fact that his crew outnumbered this small sailing vessel.
It was a fight to live, and those who could not recognize the hostility of pirates had already dropped to their knees in surrender, others forcefully pinned.
Finally, Techno caught up with the man who commanded this ship, setting eyes on him just as his blade ran through one of Techno’s men.
That was the captain’s first mistake. Techno’s anger fueled his swing down at the captain, who had been expecting the blade, but not the person behind it.
“Shit,” the captain grunted under his breath, recognition sparking in his eyes. Techno didn’t grace him with an introduction. There was no doubt he recognized Techno from the wanted posters, so his swings became more forceful. Not that it mattered. The captain was an excellent swordsman, but it still took only minutes for his grip to falter on the blade, his knuckles nicked with Techno’s sword. The blade dropped, and Techno kicked it aside before swiping at the captain’s chest, cutting through the first layer of skin.
He hissed in pain, though Techno knew it was really only a scratch. It just kept him from moving away as Techno leveled his sword at the man’s neck.
The captain didn’t react, fingers clenching and unclenching before he raised his hands up beside his head.
The ship was quiet, just the waves lapping at the side of the ship and the sails catching wind graced Techno’s ears. Techno pushed the captain down by his shoulder until he was kneeling on the deck with the rest of his crew, sword forced under his chin.
Wilbur opened his mouth to ask what was next but never got the chance.
“You leave my dad alone!” A brave soul shouted. Techno reluctantly turned his attention to the only person of the crew who seemed to be struggling against their assailants, the threat of the blade at their neck not deterrent enough.
It seemed that was because they were a child.
He only had eyes for Techno, an angry stare permanent on his brow as he cussed and struggled against the two pairs of hands holding him back. Techno could see his resemblance to the captain, the halo of blonde hair, the sea-blue eyes.
If he was anything like his father…
“Orders, captain?” Wilbur asked over the sound of the kid, who was getting nasty stares not only from Techno’s crew but his own.
“Shut up,” Fundy hissed at the kid, his hand coming in front of him to try and cover his mouth, but the kid bit down on a finger.
That was something you didn’t see on the ocean very often. Fire.
“Leave the boy,” Techno ordered with a gesture. “Kill the rest.”
Screams filled the air not a moment later, red covering the deck in puddles and streaks. The captain beneath Techno’s blade lurched forward with a cry, calling out to his crew, but was quickly silenced by the blade that dug into his throat, drawing a thin red line.
Techno liked making the captains watch their crew die. The pain in their eyes made a warm feeling bubble up from Techno’s soul… or, at least where it should have been.
The boy was at the point of wailing, helplessly trying to claw forward toward his dad, frustrated tears running down his cheeks. “Dad— Dad, please —” His scrambled words cut off with sobs.
The captain was crying silently, keeping his chin high. “It’s ok, Tommy,” he whispered, just loud enough for the boy to hear from a few feet away. “Stay strong.”
Techno met the captain’s gaze, strangely curious. He couldn’t say he often had experiences with children, much less with fathers. Every child he met was an orphan stowaway or a hired hand who was just in it for the food and blankets at night.
The captain stared at him straight back, weathered blue-grey eyes that assured Techno that his spirit would haunt him for the rest of his days.
Techno had often seen that look of experience and loss in his own eyes, swirling brown into red. He'd watched his gaze harden with time, and his soul disappear. This man had the same look in the opposite way. He had the look of experience and loss, but he had gained sympathy and determination.
Techno glanced at the boy again, who had fallen limp and silent with his tears. Those left who weren’t dead men held the silence in respect for whatever decision Techno may come to.
Techno’s grip tightened on his hilt. The captain closed his eyes.
The thud of a blade striking wood could have been heard for miles, the metal cutting right through the velvet of the captain’s hat and pinning it to the deck.
“Let go of the kid,” Techno ordered swiftly, prying his sword from the wood. The boy didn’t waste a moment, scrambling into his father’s arms while the man shushed him, clutching him tightly back. The captain buried his face into his son’s curls, eyes tightly shut to keep the horrors of the world away.
Techno wasn’t sure what to think of it, and that enough intrigued him.
“Loot the ship,” he ordered those who were standing around. They knew what to do from there, heading below to find anything of value. Wilbur strode quickly to Techno’s side, hesitancy and confusion in his eyes
“Let them have a minute,” Techno gestured behind him with the tilt of his head, ignoring Wilbur’s unspoken questions and keeping his voice low. “And then bring them down to the cells. Don’t separate them, got it?”
“Techno, what—”
Techno cut him off with a stare, and Wilbur bit down on his tongue before grabbing the two people nearest and giving them the orders. Techno walked back over to his ship on the planks his crew had laid between them, watching as the captain kept his son pressed to his side even as he was dragged by his shoulders to the deck below.
Techno gave the order to sink the Navy ship after everything had been brought over. It only took one cannon shot, and the mast began to sink beneath the waves. He stayed until the flag disappeared, the sun following as the stars began to poke out.
Techno turned back to his quarters, ignoring the side eye Wilbur gave him, and resigned for the night.