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Breathe, breathe in the air
Don't be afraid to care
Leave, but don't leave me
Look around and choose your own ground
“TECHNO! LOOK OUT!” Phil’s panicked screech cuts across the battlefield like the blades shredding through tender flesh, diving between his best friend and the axe heading his way.
Techno can only watch in horror as Phil’s delicate wing catches the blow close to his shoulder, letting out a scream of pain as he buries his own axe deep into the gut of their opponent. In the middle of a war for territory, Techno was suddenly the only standing Ruler of the Antarctic Empire. His soldiers look in a panic towards their leader, he grits his teeth and looks to the closest soul.
“Take your King back to our tent an’ tend to him. If he dies along the way, do us both a favour an’ die with him otherwise I will kill you.” Techno hisses out, the man’s eyes widening before he bows and does as the piglin demands.
Letting out a loud cry, he quickly reorganises the strike on their enemy encampment and after several hours; they finally conquer it. Leaving a captain of his army in charge, Techno rushes back to Phil’s side still wearing blood soaked armour. The proud warrior hadn’t sustained any serious injuries, his legendary prowess apparent today after his closest friend was harmed and would be a story that haunted their enemies nightmares the ferocity which he slayed their friends afterwards.
The Blood God and Angel of Death ruled this realm, the enemy that had been encroaching on their borders thoroughly defeated they would have a brief respite as word travelled about their victory. Not that many were willing to try in the first place, having two Goddess Blessed individuals against you was a death warrant waiting to be signed in your own crimson essence.
Techno stomps his way through their own camp to the largest tent where they held their war rooms and the best friends were staying. Several soldiers surrounded the tent with grave faces, the piglin’s concern growing as none could keep eye contact with his blood-filled orbs for long. Reaching for the canvas, he pulls aside the door to find a few of their most experienced doctors bent over his crow friend.
Phil was laying on his stomach, armour removed from his torso down to the flesh to show the wound in all its horrifying glory. Pale bone shines in the torchlight surrounding them, Techno leans closer while gritting his teeth against the nausea filling his stomach and throat.
Usually he had more indifference surrounding such gore but this was the skin of someone the piglin held very dear to his heart. Phil had been at his side for many, many years at this point. Though they were protected from age’s decay, mortal wounds could still cut their time short.
This axe carved a deep gouge into the thin flesh surrounding Phil’s wing joint and a few fingertips into his back. Techno’s shaking digits are gentle as he finally starts to check for breaks in the bones of Phil’s majestic appendage that earned him his mantle, the dark night-shaded feathers painted even deeper pitch with the crow hybrid’s blood. Growling in frustration, he strips his gauntlets off and throws them far away before resuming his task, using one hand to check Phil’s pulse.
Slow and weak, but constant, Techno takes a deep breath as he makes his next plans. Turning to the doctor waiting nearby, he barks out orders. “I need you to bind this wound as best you can as well as his wings, I am going to fly us home to where we have stronger health potions. If you can pack me an emergency medical kit, I will prepare the plane. I want to be lifting off within the next ten minutes.”
Racing off to do as he asked, Techno slowly stands as assistants rush in. Turning away from Phil slowly, he mumbles under his breath. “Don’t you leave me yet Phil, this world will not survive if you die here.”
The easiest vow he’s ever made, the battlecry resuming of the voices who haunted his head from foe fallen by his hand, agreeing and amplifying his bloodlust. He hurries through his checks and starts the engine of his small plane, removing his cloak to wrap around Phil the moment he’s brought into Techno’s hands once more. The attendants helped him arrange Phil into a comfortable position after he climbs in the cockpit, the head doctor giving a few bits of advice before Techno nearly shoves him from the plane.
Phil would have told him to be kinder, though named the Angel of Death it was only due to the fact he was married to it. Often he became the piglin’s consciousness in times of high emotion, but with him currently being the cause of it there was no one to hold back Techno’s mannerisms.
Cradling Phil close, Techno takes one last look at his blonde friend before he begins their trip down the makeshift airstrip. Not liking how pale he was becoming, he takes a deep breath and focuses on the instruments ahead. They would need to have a safe flight to have any hope of reaching their destination, the storms aplenty on this darkening night.
Sending a prayer to Her, Techno takes hold of the throttle and presses North.
It was a rough journey as he had predicted, fighting both turbulence and the icy winds they barely made it by the skin of their teeth. Techno let out a sigh of relief the moment their wheels touched their own landing strip beneath the castle they lived within. Slowing down, he navigates to one of the sheds nearby and leaves it in the hands of servants.
Ever so steady and gentle, he carries Phil wrapped in his rose-red cloak through the blowing snow up to their home. Being led by guards all get out of their ruling class member’s way as he ascends the stairs into the stone fortress, face stoic and not betraying the grief ravaging his chest. Occasionally peering down to check on his best friend, he lay peacefully sleeping cradled in his strong arms, still far too pale for Techno’s comfort.
Phil’s heartbeat had only grown weaker but he didn’t dare admit that aloud, not trusting anyone nearby besides the unconscious man held in the piglin warrior’s arms. His first priority was taking Phil back to his quarters then he would locate their strongest healing potions.
“Locate our doctors an’ bring them to my rooms.” He tells the closest guard who rushes off to do as he asked, without a word another taking his place.
They make their way through the castle, Techno not daring to meet any of his citizens' eyes in fear his own would give away his worries. Not soon enough, they cross the threshold into their King’s sanctuary where some of their medical staff already wait.
Technoblade lays down Phil with the most careful hands onto his pristine bed and removes his crown made of copper and emeralds, not caring otherwise about the blood and essence of war. Without a word, his servants get to work while Technoblade goes to Phil’s rooms directly next door using the passage between their spaces. Finding his secret barrel, he removes one of the last remaining potions they had from this batch.
These required rare ingredients to make, but Techno was intending the moment Phil was better they would spend the time to brew another batch. They were needed for moments like this, striding back to his own quarters with the glass bottle in hand.
He admired his doctors for a moment as they treated his best friend with the reverence and dignity he deserved, before then interrupting what they were doing to force the potion down Phil’s throat. His people looked surprised by the ancient label but trusted their King, working fast to stitch together the flayed flesh and wrap it in thick bandages. Surrounding most of his upper torso, they also bind his right wing up to keep its weight supported while the joint heals.
Slowly, as they finish their tasks, the others leave the room until it's only Phil and Techno. Some colour had returned to the blonde’s cheeks, something Techno was beyond glad for as he sat in a chair beside his bed. Occasionally getting up to stoke the fire nearby, he lets himself enjoy the fact their special health potion appeared to still hold its juice as it brought the blonde back from the brink of eternal rest with his wife.
Something Techno was destined for as well, the Goddess being a close friend, but he wasn’t ready for that path yet. They swore as a duo to stand as long as the others did, forging forth through lifetimes always at each other's side or returning to it. Some they would live apart but this was one they were fated to face together.
Techno rubs his forehead reflecting on the anxiety that choked him the entire plane trip, only able to force calm for so long while they were in motion until he stopped. Now, at Phil’s side while he healed, the worries caught up to him.
How many more close calls would they experience? How many times would he be in this exact position until he isn’t able to save Phil? At what point will they pass the point of safety into the mortal unknown of death?
His sanity and his reason to breathe lay before him, hurt because he took a blow meant for Technoblade. The firelight glinted off the gold-wrapped emerald that dangled from a chain round Phil’s throat, usually they wore them as earrings but living in a snow biome that was only asking for frostbite.
Rubbing his thumb across the smooth matching gem he had encircling his own neck, he wonders if Phil knew he doomed himself to a life of fighting by swearing to be at Techno’s side. The piglin enjoyed slicing through enemies on battlefields, the stories surrounding his acts during war were filled with both respect and horror. He was a force all by himself, if you saw him among the other’s ranks it was rumoured some soldiers would desert before the fight even began. Vicious and ruthless, he cut down thousands in his fight for what he believed was the best course of action and proving himself as one of the best swordsmen to ever exist.
Phil lets out a low huff of air before settling further into the plush bed, Techno resolving himself to a night awake. After today’s activities he needed a comforting hobby to calm his racing thoughts, sleep was hours off if it would happen at all before dawn.
Standing slowly from his post, he leans over to brush a stray piece of hair from Phil’s closed eyes with the smallest fond smile he had only for the crow. “I am glad you survived, my friend. So very glad.”
For long you live and high you fly
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
And all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be
Clearing out the forge with a single word, the early morning hours find Techno sharpening solider’s swords across a grindstone he worked. He wasn’t sure how many swords he had completed tonight, just grabbing whichever one was next in line after shelving the newly maintained blade. A peaceful action for him, he enjoyed making a deadly edge in preparation for whichever territorial dispute needed their attention next.
After declaring their borders, they had plenty of ridiculing and testing from their fellow world inhabitants. Techno and Phil were used to young’uns thinking they could prove their mettle by defeating the war legends, until they realised why they earned that mantle. It was tiresome, preparing for whoever next decided they were a good target.
Perhaps a demonstration of the power they were bothering was next on the to-do list. A casual overtaking of some large position or a very public declaration.
Techno pauses his activities as his mind starts to put together a revenge idea, wanting to establish their power once and for all so everyone would finally just leave them alone. These two old warriors wanted to spend their day sparring and enjoying their life here, it was supposed to be a quiet getaway until their Goddess called them away for something else.
Standing and stretching, he walks over to the fletcher’s bench where Phil’s bow lay. The piglin wasn’t nearly as adept as his crow friend, but he did know how to maintain the weapon. He restrings it quickly before finding new wrapping for the grip, starting the process of replacing it when he is interrupted.
A hand on his shoulder makes Techno jump in surprise, drawing the dagger he always had quickly as he turns to his opponent.
With a tired but wily expression, Phil catches Techno’s attack with a shield he wore on his left forearm. The piglin lets his strength drop immediately as concern floods his chest cavity, the blade releasing from the wood to drop to the stone floor with a clang.
“You should still be resting, what the hell are you doing up?” Harsh, Techno stands quickly so their height difference rights itself, glaring down into Phil’s knowing sky blue eyes after he places the damaged shield down on the working surface.
“Wondering why you aren’t sleeping and came to the place I knew I’d find you.” Phil settles heavily onto a stool nearby the bench Techno was just hunched over, gesturing to the weapon where it lay. “Thanks for that, by the way.”
“–t’s not an issue.” Techno mumbles out, slow to sit down himself while he looks at Phil from head to toe. Noticing he held both his wings close to his back and walked with a cane, the injury was bothering him. “You should go back to bed, go rest! The healing potion hasn’t finished working yet.”
“I will when you do.”
Stubborn as ever, Techno sighs knowing his motivations now. “I wasn’t the one who took a critical axe strike to the wing.”
“No but I know you carried me back.” Firm and unmoving, Techno is aware he has met his match through endless wills but he didn’t feel tired yet. Huffing, Techno finishes mending the bow and hands it back to Phil. “There are still swords to get through…”
“Techno, we are Kings of an Empire. There are smiths who do that, coincidentally the ones you threw out of here. Let them do what we pay them gold for and come to bed, you need to sleep sometime. I don’t want to hear any whining in the morning when your aches catch up to you, come rest and let your own body heal too.”
Damnit. He had him there.
Eventually standing and offering his elbow to his best friend, Phil carries the cane instead as they make their way out of the forge. Phil requests a guard to let the blacksmiths know they can return to their duties before they make their way back to the bed Techno sat beside mere hours ago.
Helping one another ready to return to bed, they decide they don’t want to be apart and settle into Technoblade’s together like when they were on the road. Side by side and hand in hand, as they were meant too.
Techno can’t keep his eyes off Phil, checking he is alright and still alive beside him. He hated going through close calls like today because it proved they weren’t infallible. At some point, one of them would be slain a final time and he wasn’t sure what the remaining soul would do.
He knew whatever world it happened upon would be torn asunder if he had his way, before joining his beloved friend.
Run, rabbit, run
Dig that hole, forget the sun
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down, it's time to dig another one
Phil notices the hard line of Techno’s brow and leans over, resting his head on Techno’s shoulder after carefully arranging his wings out to the side. He took up most of the bed with his limbs, but Techno was used to the arrangement.
“What’s on your mind mate?” Phil is carefully watching Techno’s face as he gathers his thoughts, his lips pursed around the tusks extending out from his lower jaw.
The crow knew something was troubling him, he could read the piglin like a book after how long their histories ran adjacent to one another. Indulging in both their hybrid instincts, he reaches a hand out to slowly weave it through Techno’s cherry petal hair, bright pink like the early spring flowers.
Phil has to hold back a chuckle watching the tension melt from his closest companion, gentle as he plays with the piglin’s tresses close to his scalp.
“You know you can tell me anything.”
“–sn’t fair.” Techno mumbles as Phil soothes him, waiting for the piglin to finally say what was on his mind.
“I was so scared today watching you collapse.” He admits with a vulnerability they only shared with each other, the powerful warrior revealing his only weakness Phil was already aware of.
“I know King, I know the feeling well.” Phil’s own voice is heavy with associated memories, easy to sympathise with the amount of times he has watched Techno be in mortal danger. “Such is the life we live.”
Letting that sink in, he breaks and smiles towards his best friend afterwards. “Don’t worry, as long as one of us lives both do. I swore every beat of my heart into your service, our souls are far too entwined to be free of one another. You will never get rid of me, you old sentimental bastard.”
Techno can’t help but smirk at that, playfully glaring at Phil. “I’m not sentimental, I should have just let you die for your foolishness of taking a strike meant for me.”
“Well I lived didn’t I?” Phil challenged, waiting for Techno to agree before continuing. “Now, go to sleep dear friend. We are safe here and you need to rest. You trained every guard outside these doors and we will not be in danger this night, I have a good feeling.”
It takes a while, but eventually Techno drifts off to slumber under Phil’s careful watch. The health potion Techno gave him earlier did the trick, though he wasn’t completely better yet he was getting there.
Deep in his own thoughts, Phil makes the promise to stay home for a while unless they are dragged out. Even if he had to chain the doors shut, Techno could use a few weeks of not fighting. They had an army and commanders for a reason, they were one of the only ruling figures in this world who dared to step on the battlefields themselves anyways. Their troops could handle simple defense while they both recovered.
Looking over his best friend, he sees the scars and wounds he took over their years together. Philza would always be proud to call him his family, especially with the deadly weight his name carried after many years of proving himself.
Phil can only hope their next world together is one of peace, both could use a small retirement arc. They had been fighting for so many years at this point, it would be a good thing for both their physical and mental wellbeing.
He adjusts the blankets to cover Techno’s broad shoulders before finding his own comfortable position facing the piglin. Wrapped in safety by his mere presence, Phil is incredibly grateful even through the danger they had each other. He knew he was one of the rare individuals Techno would die for, he hoped neither had to prove their dedication in such an absolute way in this world.
Praying to his love to keep them safe for a mere few weeks, long enough they could recover, sleep reaches forth for him as he thinks the last few words. Knowing even if he had perished today, he would have gone happily knowing he saved his platonic soulmate.
The Goddess above sends peaceful dreams to both Her treasured warriors in those dawn hours, though not forever She would do her best to let them have a moon of peace. Both of them were formidable warriors, but even the most tireless fighters must rest sometimes.
So for tonight, they would. Safe within reach of one another, even unconsciously clasping hands in the middle of their rest.
Manifesting a small amount of power, She places a wither rose within the vase on Techno’s side table. Hoping Her husband would take it as a sign his request was heard, She returns to the End for now while leaving a few of Her crows to keep watch. If anything happened to Her beloved and Her friend, She would know. Then the rage of a Goddess would rain down upon the offender's head, a reminder to all these two were protected by higher powers.
Leaving them both to rest under the golden light of the rising sun, two old friends heal together from a blow that shook them both deeply together, as they were always meant to be.
For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balanced on the biggest wave
You race towards an early grave