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“There was a strange young man wandering around town, and when I asked if I could help him, he said he was looking for you?”
Phil blinked. He…couldn’t think of any young men he knew that Eret wouldn’t also know. “Did he give a name?”
“I forgot to ask,” Eret admitted a bit sheepishly. “I wasn’t expecting to see anyone out and about that early, much less someone from out of town. Caught me off guard. He seemed to be a bit distressed, however, so I brought him to the library to sit while I came and got you.”
“Right.” Phil ran a hand through his hair. “Okay. Sure, yeah, I’ll come take a look.”
Eret flashed him a grateful smile, and said, “Thanks, Mayor Philza.”
“Mate, you don’t have to call me ‘Mayor’ all the time,” Phil snorted, following the librarian through the town. The first rays of dawn filtered through the trees, not yet strong enough to counter the morning chill.
“Oh, c’mon, Phil, you spent so much time on your campaign! No one would fault you for lording your victory over us all!” Eret laughed.
Phil considered pushing her. Just for a moment. “I am not gonna lord my victory over the town.”
“Fine, fine. It would be funny, though.”
“That’s not the point and you know it,” Phil huffed, though his lips were twitching up in amusement.
Their conversation was cut short as they reached the library, and Phil was reminded as to why , exactly, he’d been woken up at barely five AM on a Saturday. He frowned slightly as he followed Eret inside, puzzling over the identity of the stranger.
It took a moment to spot the man. He was standing out of the way with his back against the wall, and was angled in such a manner that you couldn’t see him immediately upon entering the room. He looked on edge, like he was ready to run.
He looked…familiar. He had a mess of brown hair that was almost at his shoulders. He was tall, about as tall as Eret. His face was covered in several rather nasty scars. And his eyes, when they landed on Phil, lit up with a sort of anxious recognition. Phil knew this man.
It took a minute of them staring at each other for the name to finally pry itself from Phil’s shocked lips. “ Techno? ”
The young man’s shoulders tensed at Phil’s tone. “Hey.”
“You- you’re alive? ”
“You do know him!” Eret said cheerfully. “Good! I was worried it was going to be some case of mistaken identity.”
Phil and Techno ignored them. They didn’t seem particularly put out by this, instead just watching the pair with a palpable air of fascination.
“Uh,” Techno gave a half-shrug. “Yeah, I’m alive. I- Uh, sorry for just. Showing up unannounced. But. The military basically left me high and dry, after they got us out. Treated my injuries then told me to fuck off back home. But. Well.” He paused, seeming to think.
“But you don’t have a ‘back home’ to fuck off to?” Phil asked, already knowing the answer. Techno had told Phil himself, after all, years ago, when they were first recruited. Back when Phil was in his mid twenties and Techno was barely even eighteen.
“Yeah.” Techno broke eye contact - in retrospect, Phil was surprised he kept it up this long, the guy almost always had to push himself to keep it up while talking to people - and looked away, though his gaze kept flickering back to Phil and Eret. “Sorry. I wasn’t sure where to go, but, uh, I remembered you mentioning you lived in a small town in Stardew Valley. And I figured if I had to choose a place to try to settle down, I might as well try one where someone I know lives? If that’s alright, I don’t wanna bother you-”
“Of course it’s alright,” Phil hurried to assure him, because he was pretty sure that if he did what he wanted to do, which was rush forwards and pull his friend into a hug, Techno might freak out on him. Phil remembered his first few years back from the war all too well. And he remembered flinching at every sudden movement, keeping people in his line of sight, keeping himself far apart with his back to the wall, just like Techno was doing right now. “You can stay with me, for as long as you want. I’d be happy to have you.”
Techno blinked at that, body growing even more tense. “Uh. With you?” He asked, looking unsure.
“If you’re comfortable with that,” Phil confirmed. “If not, I’m sure we can find someplace else. There aren't really any inns or motels in town, but we could work out something.”
“No, it’s- staying with you would be…nice,” Techno said, shoulders relaxing somewhat.
“Great!” Honestly, Phil was relieved to hear that. He didn’t really want to let Techno out of his sight for too long anytime soon. Not after last time. “I don’t have a spare room, but I’ve got a futon. If you want it out of the living room and someplace more private, we can do that, no problem. Here, let me show you where I live, okay?” He gave Techno the best smile he could muster. It felt pretty wide, and was definitely genuine, but he was sure that his still-present shock was visible in it.
“Before you two go,” Eret said. He’d moved to sit on the library counter, watching the pair with undisguised interest from behind his shades. “I have to ask. You said you knew Phil lived in a small town in Stardew Valley. Did you just go from town to town asking for anyone named Phil?”
Phil rolled his eyes, starting to smile at how ridiculous the thought was, but stopped when Techno flushed a bright red. “Oh, Tech, did you really?” He asked, unsure what he felt more potently: sympathy for Techno’s shitty situation, or flattery that Techno would go to such agonizing lengths to find him.
“Shut up,” Techno muttered, keeping his eyes fixed on a spot far from Eret and Phil’s expressions.
Phil slowly reached out, then paused. “Hey, mate?” He waited until Techno looked at him again, eyes notably wary. Phil gave him his best reassuring smile. “Is it alright if I hug you?”
For a moment, Techno’s face went completely blank. Then he took in a deep breath, braced himself, and nodded acquiescence.
Phil gently pulled the younger man into a hug. “I’m so fucking glad you’re alright, Techno,” he murmured, once he had a solid hold. Not a restrictive one, he didn’t want the man to feel trapped. But a firm embrace all the same.
After a moment's hesitation, Techno hugged back. It was stiff and awkward, like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself, but it was more than enough.
“Thanks,” Techno mumbled, when they finally broke apart.
Phil wasn’t sure if he was being thanked for the hug, the offer to stay, or something else entirely. Not that it mattered. “Anytime, mate,” he said, entirely truthful. “C’mon. Let’s get you set up at home.”
That got him a small nod in return, and then the pair stepped out of the library into the early morning sun, together.