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In the dark of the night, the reflection of the full moon is the only light casting over an expansive forest. At the edge of the forest, zombies and skeletons drag their limbs as they linger about at the entrance of an untouched dungeon.
And within the assortment of trees, a small, round egg pokes his head out and scans his surroundings. His cape, just short enough to avoid trailing across the rain-kissed grass, wavers in the cool, nightly breeze. The moonlight glints across the metal of his enchanted sword. Determination courses through his veins. He’s ready.
Just as he begins to step out and start his mission, however, something grabs him by the head and lifts him into the air. Panicked, his little legs fumble in midair in an attempt to free himself, but to no avail. But a deep laugh cuts away any tension, and he freezes. “Ahh heh, nice try, little man. But you’re not hard to spot in the wild. A bright white egg with a red cape, you might as well paint a red target on your chest labeled ‘look, free breakfast’, while you’re at it.”
Orion crosses his arms with a huff. He was so close, too!
His father lowers him back onto the ground. Orion immediately gets to writing his fierce retort: “but you’ve gotta red cape too, dad >:((((“
“And ya see, kid, that’s where the difference lies. I’ve mastered stealth after centuries of living or somethin’ like that. Don’t worry, you’ll get there someday,” Technoblade reassures him, playfully brushing the top of his egg’s head.
Orion would roll their eyes if they had any.
“Y’know, I coulda taken ya to a dungeon if ya just asked.”
Orion brightens up. “ okay soooo can we go? now? :D”
“Bruh,” Techno exclaims with a look of exasperation, “that’d be rewarding your bad behavior. Look, I’ve taken some psychology classes along with my english degree, so I know that’s a no-go.”
Orion slumps, then collapses on the ground onto his back. At least the grass feels comfortable, though a bit ticklish at his sides.
Technoblade takes a look around, cloven hands at his hips. “Alright, junior, let’s get headin’ back before Phil has another old man heart attack. He’s basically already had one today when he saw that you ran off… again.”
“no let uncle phil suffer” Orion writes, still laying lazily on the ground.
With a snort-filled laugh, Techno kneels down to better look at his dismayed child. “Dang, okay, I’ll be sure to tell him that. The favorite nephew’s pro’lly gonna be Ramon after that, though, just saying. Now let’s grab our waystones and head home.”
No, Orion refuses to let it end here. Instead of agreeing with their father, instead of admitting that they’re tired and calling it a night, Orion stands up, shakes themselves to emphasize their denial, and turns away.
“Mhh, playing the stubborn card, never had to deal with that before,” Techno says, unphased by Orion’s noncompliance. He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “Kid, I’ve been pals with Philza for way longer than any war criminals should be allowed to be friends. You’re not getting through to me.”
Orion doesn’t relent. They stand firm. They’re not going anywhere.
“Ah-huh. Alright, then, then let’s just...” Orion sees his father’s great big shadow looming over before he’s lifted into the air and into his father’s arms once more. “Yoink. Aaand we’ll walk back home. Get into that father-son bonding, how ‘bout?”
Orion seethes, but doesn’t have the ability to lower a sign right now. If only he could. Oh he has words.
***
Before they make their way to the wall, Bagi is walking across the street in the spawn area, with Empanada trailing behind her. She sees Technoblade and his egg and waves with a lit up expression. “Heyyyy, Techno! Hi, Orion!”
“Hullooo.”
“Hello, tio techno,” Empanada greets them with her gentle pink signs. Her hat of pancakes bounces in tandem as she jumps up and down in excitement. “ Hiiii Orion, how’re you?”
Bagi watches Techno place his child back onto the ground so they could say hello to Empanada, placing down a soft red sign to respond to her. There’s a crinkle in Bagi’s eye to match her delighted grin. “Did he run away again?” she asks, chuckling.
“What gave it away?” Techno asks in return with a grin.
“Ooohh, just a hunch, I think,” Bagi replies, and she and Empanada join Technoblade and Orion in their walk toward the water elevator on the side of the towering wall.
“Of course.” Techno glances down at his kid, brows raised. “She read ya like a book, kid.”
Bagi laughs out loud, a hand on her chest. “I swear, they are just as bad as Richarlyson. I always see you or Phil asking where he is, or someone saying that they have found the little guy running around,” she says, with Empanada nodding along in agreement with her mother. “A tricky little egg, isn’t he?”
“I think my stories gave them a little too much excitement, something like that,” Technoblade suggests, recalling the stories he and Phil have shared with their kids about the days of ruling over the Antarctic Empire and traversing many vast worlds. They’re practically their nightly bedtime stories, at least in the Blade household. “A kid hears their dad be all cool and traveling the world when he’s several decades old, and the next thing you know the kid’s all ‘oh yeah, I could definitely do all of this when I’m barely older than the flies tryin’ t’ munch on our food’.”
Bagi snorts. “Oh, I can only imagine, because, like… at least with Empanada and even Richarlyson, there’s several of us co-parents taking care of them. But you are caring for your egg all on your own. That’s got to be such a handful—no offense to you, Orion. It’s just lots of responsibility, you know?”
“no offense taken i am a handful :DDD”
“It’s definitely not what I expected when I got here, but eh, I’m not complainin’,” Techno shrugs, with Bagi nodding along in agreement. It seems most of the islanders are in the same boat there, word for word. They come to a stop when Orion suddenly starts running around Empanada, with Empanda spinning around to try and follow their trail. “Yeah, they’re too cute for me to complain.”
There’s a soft thud behind them. Just as Technoblade turns around to inspect, there’s a small white blur running past him and Bagi and straight to the eggs. More specifically, this one has his sights on Orion, ramming into him, smacking him twice and immediately placing down a sign.
“Hullo to you, too, Chayanne,” Techno says, but all he gets is an animated nod before Chayanne continues writing his sign in front of Orion. Oh, this should be good.
“what the heck Ori??!?”
“what i do,” is Orion’s cheeky response.
“Kgkmgfdfk ” is all Chayanne writes before collapsing dramatically onto the pathway. But he quickly jumps back onto his feet and scurries to add, “you know!”
If eggs could make sounds, Technoblade images that Orion would have started giggling in a mischievous sort of way. Chayanne bows, shaking himself from side to side as if in exasperation. He walks up to his uncle and bonks against Techno’s leg. No writing needed for this one.
“It’s all good, Chay,” says Technoblade, running a hand over the top of his nephew’s head. “Nothing bad happened. Your cousin just got a bit too excited. You and Phil don’t have to collapse with heart attacks over this one.”
Chayanne again nods. “ at least he has one of the coolest dads in the world to look after him :D”
Technoblade places a dramatic hand over his chest. “Ah, geez, kid, you’re gonna boost my ego skyhigh.” He resists the urge to say “Keep at it,” mostly because without another word, Chayanne is running up to Orion and drags his cousin back to the waterfall. The kids wave at them before rising up toward the top of the wall. They become mere specks until they disappear entirely from view.
“Guess that’s my cue to follow,” Technoblade deadpans with a grin. “If you two get into trouble, at least don’t get caught like my kid.”
“Oh, I’d never get caught. I am way too stealthy,” Bagi promises, hands held up. She begins to wave, and Empanada is putting down a sign to bid him goodnight, but then Bagi adds, “And hey! If you or your egg ever need any help, we will be there for you. We’ve got your back, Technoblade!”
“Thanks. And same to you guys. If you need anything, just call,” Technoblade says with a nod, because her words feel genuine. In fact, many of the islanders come across as genuine in their desires to build a community here. He feels like he could trust a lot of these people. It’s nothing like the other servers he and Phil have traveled to and lived in.
Maybe the eggs are part of that reason, something bringing them all together. Because god forbid they lose any more than they already had.
***
Baghera has taken the opportunity during such a peaceful day to simply fish until the sun sets. She pulls her fishing line out of the water, yanking the salmon from the hook piercing its lips. As she places the fish in her inventory, a familiar little figure is walking past the riverbed. She grins widely, puts away her fishing line, and follows the egg.
Orion is now trying to hide behind the tall oaks, sneaking around from tree to tree. She stands behind one, as well, and when the egg pops their head out, she too, pokes her head out to say, “Helloooo, Orion!”
Orion jumps in shock, his cute little cape quivering with his movement. She giggles. “I found youuuu. Nice try, you sneaky little egg. I am guessing Technoblade is not around?” she asks, scanning the area. But there’s no giant pig man in sight. Just the little egg all by their lonesome.
Orion shakes his little egg head, then plops down a sign. “there’s a dungeon nearby i wanna go :(((“
“And so, he won’t let you go at all?” she asks, a brow quirked. That doesn’t sound right for someone as headstrong and adventurous as Technoblade.
“ i don’t think he will that’s why i’m skipping that step”
Ah, now that makes more sense. Baghera resists the urge to roll her eyes, an amused smile on her lips. “And what if you asked him, and he said it was okay and that you could go to a dungeon?”
“impossible”
With a snicker, Baghera opens her mouth to reply back, but there’s a buzz from her communicator. Someone has sent a message through the main line.
Technoblade: has anyone seen my egg? They’re about yay high, white round, you can’t miss em
BagheraJones: i am with them, we’re just chilling :)
“ traitor D:” Orion exclaims in writing, then collapses into the grass front first.
“No, no, little guy, it’s okay. I am sure if you just ask your dad, he can take you to a dungeon,” Baghera reassures, and then she lights up when an idea springs to mind. “Oh! And maybe if a bunch of us go, it’ll feel safer. I know Etoiles’s been wanting to go to one for a while now, since he just got back.”
Orion slowly lifts himself off of the ground, radiating a bit more enthusiasm. He shakes a few blades of grass off of his shell.
“Yeahh, that’s more like it, little guy!” Baghera cheers, clicking through her communicator to send a message to Etoiles as well as Technoblade. It seems her plans have changed for the day. Not that she’s complaining, certainly. “Once I mention Etoiles, I think both Techno and Philza would feel better about it.”
Orion nods fervently. “What could possibly go wrong?” they write.
“Yes, that is the exact right thing to say!”
***
“Trust me, Etoiles, we wouldn’t have wanted to go to this dungeon with anyone else but you and Baghera,” Technoblade says, swinging his ax to rest over his shoulder as they round a corner of the cave.
Etoiles chortles. “You flatter me, Technoblade! But also, a dungeon with you three, I might as well be taking a nap! It will be too easy!” he exclaims. He slashes across the chest of an oncoming zombie, and it crumbles to dust with the single strike.
“Well, we got four eggs with us,” Phil points out with an uneasy sigh, “so we got our work cut out.”
Technoblade nods in agreement, but when he glances down, he stops. “Actually, uh…” He spins around, searching. He counts the number of eggs strolling beside Baghera and Phil. Then, he corrects Philza, “Three.”
Phil gawks when he sees Chayanne, Tallulah, and Pomme, but no Orion. “My goodness, this kid is so slippery, like butter!” Baghera says, fighting back a grin. She peers around, then pokes her head around the next corner. Nothing. Orion definitely isn’t nearby.
“Orion!” Phil shouts into the cavernous dungeon. To no one’s surprise, there’s no response. But when he turns back to his own eggs, well, he’s only staring down at Tallulah, with Pomme hovering close to her. Chayanne’s not there, as well. He drags a hand down his face. “Oh my god. Ooouugh, man!”
“Guess he ran off to find Orion,” says Techno, and they continue walking, this time with much more purpose to their steps. Technoblade keeps his ears perked in case he catches any familiar sound of little footsteps or signs being placed down.
“God, I hope they find each other real quick,” Phil mutters into his hand, which then rises and cards through his hair.
“It will be fine, I promise,” Baghera says, a hand on Technoblade’s shudder as they push forward. After killing a few armed skeletons, they begin traversing down a set of stairs. They search around bookshelves and potted plants on one floor they come across, but nothing. They travel east and battle a few stray zombies, but only find opened chests. So they were here, it seems.
And there’s been no notification of either of them getting downed. They’re fine, Technoblade reassures himself. They’re both tough kids, they can get through this dungeon, right?
It’s when they go down to the next floor that Technoblade sees it. Their names popping up through the walls. They’re not too far, but Etoiles is quickest on his feet, already heading around the corner to take care of whatever the kids are dealing with in that room.
When Technoblade and the rest of them follow in their friend’s shadow, there’s so much going on at once. Etoiles fighting armored zombies and skeletons with enchanted weapons. Baghera and Pomme join Etoiles in clearing through the monsters. And in the corner, Chayanne is fighting the last zombie that managed to come close to him. He’s defending the corner, which is covered in blocks of dirt.
“I gotcha, kid,” Phil says, slicing through the zombie in one strike. It vanishes in puffs of dust. Everything falls quiet, and he tilts his head. “Orion?”
Techno looks to the side. Orion’s location is crystal clear, based on the location of his name hovering over him. He clears through the dirt mound either his kid or Chayanne built, and inside the piles of dirt blocks is Orion, curled up as tightly against the corner as possible. Orion is trembling, limbs wrapped around himself. There are a few wounds and minor cracks on his shell.
Technoblade’s heart sinks. “Aww, kid,” he murmurs. He brings out several potions and hands them to Orion. “You’re alright, we’re here now, okay?”
Orion turns in his direction. He takes a moment before taking the potions that his father offers. He drinks through them rapidly, and his wounds and cracks heal themselves in seconds. By the time he pours through all the potions, he looks like a brand new egg. Like he hadn’t been curled up terrified in a dungeon.
“Is everyone okay?” Baghera asks, wiping sweat off of her brow. They cleared through the rest of the mobs, clearing this last floor of the dungeon. Pomme and Talulah approach Orion cautiously, like confronting a terrified animal. Baghera watches her daughter and Tallulah hug Orion. “Man, that was close,” Baghera breaths out, her hand hovering just over her collarbone. She sighs, but keeps her sword in hand for any mobs that may sneak around the corner. “How many hearts were you on, Orion?”
Orion is hesitant to respond, until… “... maybe two”
Technoblade swallows around a lump in his throat. “Well, that was fun.”
“sorry :(“ Orion writes just before Chayanne slams into him with a large embrace, the head of his rubber ducky squished between the both of them.
Phil and Etoiles are talking quietly between each other a bit further back into the room. “How is he?” Phil asks.
“All good now, I think,” says Techno, though with not much conviction. Even though he’s all healed, Orion still hovers in the corner, as if not wanting to move away. If only potions could heal wounded pride. “How much more of this dungeon is there? Or is it all cleared?”
“This was the last floor,” Etoiles explains, placing his sword back into its sheath that rests firmly at his hip. He walks up and leans against the wall as he speaks down to Orion. “We got rid of all the awful monsters, do not worry, Orion. They stood no chance against any of us. I am sure you put up a hell of a fight.”
“ i tried” Orion responses, then turns back to hide away in the corner, as if out of shame. “ just wasn’t strong enough”
“Aww, no, you tried! That’s all any of us would want you from,” Baghera says, hands clasped in front of her. She shrugs. “You don’t have to be tough all the time. You are just a teeny tiny egg, after all.”
Orion nods, then slowly creeps out of the dirt hole they created. “thank you, ” he writes, then turns his attention to his father. “can we go home now?”
The question somehow feels worse than any damage he dealt in this dungeon today. The mark of defeat from such a determined egg. But there’s no point in pushing, so he says, “‘Course. It’s been a long day, after all. Thanks again, guys,” he adds, looking up to the rest of the group, who begin offering potions and such for any small amount of damage they may have taken during this journey. They begin talking to one another, and Tallulah and Chayanne are placing down signs in front of each other as they converse.
“You sure you’re okay, kid?” Technoblade asks, kneeling down to meet his child at eye level.
“ yeah i’m ok,” they respond, lackluster. Somehow, Technoblade isn’t convinced, but they all decide to leave the dungeon before more monsters decide to make an appearance.
***
The eggs aren’t human or even remotely humanoid. They don’t have faces or expressions, they can only speak through signs, and they’re simply, well, eggs with thin arms and legs. It’s hard to read them, at times, understand what they’re going through unless they’re upfront about it.
But sometimes, their body language somehow speaks more volumes than any regular human. The way Orion looks practically wilted as they exit the dungeon, body slumped as if walking away in shame. The way he doesn’t respond to Chayanne or Pomme’s signs in their attempts to console him. His sad little head shake when Technoblade asks if he wants to do anything else before they head home.
Man, he’s never been prepared for this sort of life. But Orion at least deserves a parent that tries.
“Why don’t you guys head back?” Technoblade asks, a hand held out toward Orion in order to stop h1is sad little waddle toward home. “I wanna talk with the kid real quick, we’ll catch up.”
“Ah, got to have the big parent-child talk,” says Baghera. She bends down to give Orion a reassuring smile and pat on their head. “It’ll be okay, Orion. We’ll see you guys later!”
The rest of the group teleports home with the waystones, the purple magic sparkling in the air before flickering out of existence. Then it’s just the two of them, the day still bright and full of promise.
Techno finds a nice path of grass under the shades of the oak trees that wave in the calm breeze. He pats the empty space beside him in a silent ‘sit down.’ Orion hesitates before, head bowed, he slowly walks over and sits beside his father.
Oh, man, where does he start with this? Small talk’s usually a good way to start this conversation slowly, but the thought makes him grimace. Technoblade is about as good at small talk as the voices are at shutting up when needed: not at all. So, probably better to be blunt, he supposes.
“Okay, so, lesson learned. Maybe we can be more careful next time, kiddo?” Techno asks in what he hopes is a casual tone.
Orion is quiet for a moment. Then. “im trying to be :(“ followed by a second sign attached over the first. “guess i’m just not good enough”
“Whoa, whoa, hold up there,” Techno halts, his heart in a fierce vice. “I’m not saying anything like that. I don’t think any of us agree with y’ there. Trust me, kid, you’re more than enough.”
“i’m such a burden tho”
Technoblade sighs. “Look, you’re as much of a burden as-as any kid. That’s just how parenting is. But you guys are worth it, trust me.”
Orion stands, somehow emanating this air of frustration. Several signs are put down in a crooked line. “no not just that! I’m i’m” “on one life after just one month of being here” “everyone treats me more fragile than the others”
Techno doesn’t respond right away, because… they’re not completely wrong. Though most of the islanders find Orion’s recklessness amusing, it brings others into bouts of concern and panic. For others, those reactions are much more visible, with Phil’s feathers rising with his constant paranoia. But for some, maybe that panic is more subtle, like implementing rules and curfews. He lets out a long, tired sigh.
“Technically, you’re the youngest of all of the eggs,” Technoblade points out, and it feels like a gut punch saying it. God, he’s taking care of a literal baby , the most baby of all the babies on the island. “It makes sense everyone’s gonna overworry. Especially Phil, that guy is… a mess.”
“ but i wanna be just as strong as everyone else.” Orion pauses for a moment, then adds an additional sign and backs away. “i wanna be as strong as you.”
Techno’s chest tightens. What can he even say to that? He forces out an awkward laugh. “To be fair, this strength comes from living for, like, several centuries. If we can get ya to live that long, maybe you can beat me in a duel. Maybe, if I’m having an off day and my ankle’s not doin’ so great…”
“ But i wanna be strong NOW >:T”
Something about the emoticons always gets a laugh out of him. They give off so many emotions. “Y’know, usually kids usually get greedy about wanting a-a-a doll or a miniature car, but you? Nah,
“wait can i have a miniature car? :o”
“Ah, man.”
“ we can go vroom vroom”
“If there’s somehow a way to get a miniature car around here, then I can get you one,” Techno half promises, because are those even available in this server? He blinks and halts his train of thought. “Okay, wait, we were having a serious conversation here, we can talk about toy cars later.”
“adhd moment”
“Hey, don’t get real on me.”
“... i wanna prove i’m not fragile that’s all”
Technoblade nods. “I know. But still, remember you’re not a burden, you’re a-a kid. A kid who can die and never come back unlike the rest of us, if things go wrong,” he explains, and saying it out loud hurts. It makes that reality feel all the more, well, real. This kid could simply trip the wrong way, and that’d be the end of it. He swallows a lump in his throat. “That’s why dungeons are, like… ya gotta be careful, that’s all.”
“ If i’m careful, can i go to more dungeons?”
“Ayup,” Techno says, making the decision right then and there. He hopes it’s the right one. “As long as we have enough people with us—or even just Etoiles and Phil and I could count as an army—and let’s work ourselves up to the more difficult ones. And not during the night; we’ll work up to that, too,” he interrupts as Orion bops down another sign. Orion turns to him, then destroys the sign. “Just not right now. Have you seen the mobs around here, kid? I’m pretty sure some have their difficulty levels adjusted to ‘why do I hear boss music behind me?’”
Orion just puts down a sign that says “ kdkgkjhr. ”
Technoblade places his hand atop Orion. He should get the kid a crown, if he ever finds one. It’d be fitting for them. “I don’t mind ya wandering around, really. Even Phil doesn’t—I promise, he’s just like that,” he adds when Orion just quietly tilts his head. “But being strong doesn’t mean being completely reckless. Strong people know when to call it quits.”
With a quiet nod, Orion replies, “okay. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all good, kid. Ya live and learn, especially when you are literally completely new to everything. And that’s what we want outta you guys, right? To live. And to be smart.”
Techno looks overhead. The sun is setting, orange and yellow streaks painting the sky. They could just teleport home right away, but with one look at Orion, another idea comes to him. He stands up, sword in hand. “How about we gut some monster before heading home, ah?”
“yeahhhhhhhhhh >:DDDD” is Orion’s reply as they bounce all around.
“Now we’re talking.”
***
“... Bruh, what happened?”
Phil casts a look at Technoblade, his attention dragged away from the setting sun. Orange light casts over his friend. “What’dyou mean?” he asks with an amused grin.
“So you remember when we were, y’know, war criminals? Or emperors who took over the world? Take your pick on which ya wanna focus on,” Techno asks, hands clasped together. “Remember when we were cool and threatening?”
“Hey!” Phil places a hand over his chest in what Techno believes is mostly mock offense. “We’re still cool and threatening, dunno what you’re talkin’ about.”
Techno gives him a deadpan look “Phil. Philza. What is this monstrosity?” he asks as he gestures to Phil’s pathetic attempt at building a home for his family, a small and square little thing made of simple wood that can barely fit all four of his family members and oh god what has become of them?
Phil wheezes, hand clutching his side. “C’MON, I just —okay, so it’s not like the old days, so what? Shit changes all the time, it happens.”
“Oh, it changes, alright.” Techno spares a look at the children playing off to the side. Orion has gotten in poetry and was trying to write during the sunset—there’s probably something inspiring there, surely—but Chayanne keeps pushing and poking them, being stubborn and incessant in a way that he’s never seen Chayanne act unless it’s with Orion. But the pushing around seems to bring Orion to a boiling point, because they smack Chayanne atop the head with their notebook. At the very least, Chayanne seems unphased; he’s even laughing, rocking back and forth as he sits down beside Orion.
“And now if anything happens to this tiny pre-omelet that’s under my protection, I’m blowing this whole island to bedrock.”
Phil nods, eyes glinting with understanding. He’s surely in the same boat. “Well, if it’s any help, I’d gladly join you—gimme,” he cuts off their conversation to lean forward and reach for the pile of avocado toasting sitting on a small table beside Technoblade. Phil yoinks two pieces of bread and starts chewing away.
“I think you have a problem,” says Techno, unable to count how much avocado toast this man has consumed since he arrived to the island. Too many is the only correct answer there. “We might need t’ set up an intervention.”
“Fuck off,” Phil waves him off dismissively, his eyes on the food he’s become addicted to and definitely doesn’t have a problem with. “I’ll stop when they stop bein’ so resourceful.”
So never, Techno thinks, but doesn’t say out loud. His attention’s back on the kids. Tallulah has joined them, sitting beside Orion and curiously looking at whatever they’re writing down. When he turns back to Philza, his friend is in a similar position: watching his children with a sense of open adoration that he hasn’t seen in Phil in years. “You’ve been doin’ this for a while now, longer than me, certainly. How’d ya do it?”
Phil blinks and turns to him. “Do what? Taking care of the kids? I’ve got the experience, so I’ve got a bit of the advantage over you here…”
“But it’s different here.” Techno feels silly, suddenly bringing down the mood so drastically, but the scene at the dungeon and his conversation with his kid haven’t left his mind. And this was days ago. “It’s not like most other places where you at least get a few chances if you fall face first into some guy’s sword. Well, okay, it’s like that for us, but not them.”
Phil gives him a solemn nod. There’s a brief moment, pain flickering in his eyes. Techno’s heard about the nightmares, about him swiping away Tallulah’s first life in the chaos of fighting a code. “Yeah, it’s… it really sucks. ‘S terrifying. Hell, for a bit there, I was super overprotective over the kids. Didn’t even let them go out all that much. My paranoid brain was just like ‘nope’.” He pauses, in deep thought, then snickers behind his fist. “Then the kids got through to me, ‘cause… that’s not really a good life to have for a kid, just trapped in walls.”
Technoblade lets out a contemplative hum. “Nah, it’s not, but man, trying to figure out how to care about these kids in this place is… man,” is all he can say.
“At least we’re not alone.”
Phil said that last part in a murmur, in a way that Techno isn’t sure if he was meant to hear that. But Techno agrees, though silently. This really isn’t like most other places they’ve been to, has it? They’re not alone. What a startling revelation.
There’s a shuffle close by. Orion walks up to them. He bonks his father on the knee.
“Wassup?”
Orion doesn’t put down a sign. Instead, without saying a word, he climbs up onto Techno’s legs and curls up in his father’s lap. Almost immediately, they begin dozing off as the two ex-emperors watch the sun set in the horizon.
“Awww!” Phil coos, leaning back in his chair. “That’s too cute, man.”
Technoblade grumbles. “Aw, c’mon, kid, my reputation. My steel, tough guy reputation. It’s crumbling to dust before our eyes.”
But Orion doesn’t respond, so deep in their sudden sleep that he can’t hear a word. He cuddles up against his father’s chest, limbs curled up close. Tiny, barely audible snoring sounds are coming from their shell. They were supposed to get up soon in order to make dinner.
Well, he can’t get up now, can he? And, well, as he has said, he’s certainly not complaining.