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Technoblade clung tight to his stuffed horse, Carl, as he tried not to make a sound. The man would find him if he made a whimper, and last time his arm had to be in a cast. The four-year-old was not ready for a repeat experience and so he bit the inside of his cheek as yelling echoed out from outside his cabinet. His mind ached, but eventually, he drifted off to sleep.
——
Now firmly 6 years old, Technoblade stood in front of another man and another house in a long list of names. He looked at the man, and all he could see was incoming blood. Before a panic attack came on, familiar black feathers brushed across the brunette’s vision. He looked up to see Phil smiling down at him, yet he didn’t notice the man’s frown as he returned the smile.
——
Sometimes he hated being right. Techno wiped the blood dripping from his nose as he curled tighter into Phil’s side.
——
When the smiling faces in the cookie cutter house with children running around turned sour. When hair was pulled and arms kicked. When a knife was pulled. When the eyes bright eyes of a small blonde boy looked up to Techno. When he hadn’t been able to protect them from dimming.
That was when he left.
His tenth birthday would be in a week. He didn’t remember the last time they meant anything.
——
“Phil?”
“Yeah, Techno?”
“I’m cold.”
“I know.”
——
The boy with ratty shoes shivered as he looked up to his guardian, “When will she get here?”
The winged man looked down with a smile, Techno has seen this smile many times, it was a sad one, a grieving one, “Soon.”
“Who are we waiting for?”
“...Soon, Techno, be patient.”
Blue lips pulled into a frown.
——
She arrived.
Techno immediately knew she was who they were waiting for,
“Oh.”
“Sorry bud,” Phil looked down at the almost-teen, sympathy in his eyes.
“Phil.... I don’t think I can get up,” Techno looked up at him with pleading eyes.
“Alright mate, I’ll carry you,” Phil picked up his charge in his arms, and Death and her Angel flew into the sky.
——
In the morning police arrived to find a too-skinny twelve year old and a single crow feather.
——
Name: Unknown
Cause of Death: Hypothermia
Age: Estimated around 12
Sex: Male
Location: Veteran’s Park, Bench 1, across from the swings
Other Significant Conditions: Significantly underweight, bruised, presumed homeless