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"You've failed, Tommy."
Dream.
This- was not ideal.
Tommy wanted to go explore. He had left early that morning with a mission. Since Technoblade had welcomed him into his home (or cave or whatever you would call it), the inside is all Tommy has seen of it.
Of course he has seen the path to the cave, he spent close to a week on the journey. But that was all. No exploration, no appreciation for the lush forest, no time to enjoy the roses.
That was supposed to change. He was supposed to walk down to the lake that Techno had pointed him to. He was supposed to spend the rest of the afternoon learning the natural paths of the animals. Where the good berry bushes were and how cold the water was when he jumped in.
Not tied to his former mentor's horse.
Tommy had stopped in his tracks, a basket forgotten in the grass. His lunch left to rot.
He turned around, and against his most vehement wishes, there sat Dream aloft his massive steed Spirit.
Tommy was actually the one who raised the horse. When he was small and starting out, he was a stable boy when Spirit was born. He was a sterling white
It wasn't hard to figure out how to name him.
Tommy just stands and stares, in his shock and confusion all he can squeak out is “Wha- what?”
Dream sits and stares back for a while. Sitting casually, sparsely dressed in armor or chain mail. As if this was a patrol. The other men watched along, yet, they were in full armor. Iron and steel polished and shone in the sun. No weapons drawn yet.
Dream grabbed a fist full of his hair and threw him to the ground. The tug burned his scalp and shoulder throbbed from the impact, but he stayed down.
“Did I ever say you could speak.” It wasn't a question. Dream's voice actually shook with anger. All Tommy did was lower his eyes and bare his neck.
“Now, since you not only have failed your assigned mission, you also thought you could make it on your own?” Dream gestured to the basket and surrounding fauna. “What? Did you really believe you could live on your own? Were you truly dumb enough to think you could sustain yourself on berries and burnt rabbit?”
No, Tommy wanted to say. I can do it just fine, I have a friend now. He said no such thing. Knowing what would happen if he even made a movement that caught Dream’s attention.
And then Dream laughs. He looks at Tommy and a chuckle leaves his mouth. Poison eyes shut and chest wheezes in such an un-intimidating way. Yet Tommy had stayed frozen as if a deer caught in the path of a lion.
Without saying anything else, Dream had grabbed his arm and dragged him to his horse. Letting Tommy stumble and flail. He snatches a line of rope from the saddle. It was tied to the horn and draped around it, the other end was quickly looped around his neck.
Heat had built up under his neck, fire in his cheeks and pain at the base of his throat. He fought the cries in his chest, scarcely breathing not to let his eyes even water.
Far too late did he realize what was going to happen. Tommy was leaving.
They were going to drag him back to the fortress and he would be at Dreams mercy. His mind cried out for the dragon not a few miles away. He wanted to scream and Techno come running. He would squash the men underfoot and cut the rope around his arms and neck.
He wanted the warmth and to be scooped up, held close. He wanted the dragon to drape his wings around him once more, he wanted Techno. He wanted Techno so, so badly.
But Tommy knew better. He could count six men, there were going to be more at the base of the mountain. All had gleaming armor and swords sharp enough to slice his head clean off. Each man had crossbows and potions.
This was a trap. Even before Dream had dismounted he knew it was a trap. A ploy to draw the dragon out of its hearth and into the open. Tommy doubted even Techno could survive that. All the while trying to keep Tommy protected and safe.
It was a fool's game. He kept his head down and mouth shut. He didn't cry when he felt his elbows creak, and took slow, even breaths when the rope rubbed his neck each time Spirit took a step.
With the horses, the time it took Tommy to get to Techno's den was cut in half. Unfortunately for Tommy, he had no horse.
The rope dug into his neck and jerked his head, and his shoulders burned. Hands numb and swollen from the bindings.
Even as they passed by the small village, and even to the front gates, he never said a word.
Tommy couldn't say he remembered the trip back. He had a mouthful of hot leather tasting water every night and, if he was feeling lucky, scraps from Dreams meal. Each time he was given anything, Dream would then look down at him and say “Your welcome.” and Tommy very quickly learned he should say thank you back.
He also remembers sleeping with spirit. As he was tied to the horse, he usually just curled up on the ground to sleep. Praying to whoever that would listen, that Technoblade would be safe.
When they finally reached the fortress, Dream untied Tommy's lead. Leaving his horse with a stable hand. With a tug he pulled Tommy along, not even glancing at him.
They walked down the familiar hallways of what was once Tommys home. Stone, iron and wood.
Even his room was the same; iron, stone, and wood. There wasn’t anything missing in it either, other than the missing armor off a stand by his bed. There wasn’t anything to take away anyway.
The one new thing where the cuffs that are now bolted to the wall where his bed used to be.
That’s- not exactly reassuring.
–—--—--—–
Tommy felt like shit.
Now, while he usually doesn't always feel peachy, these past couple of days (weeks?) have really been hell.
Every couple hours or so, Dream would come down and ask him questions. Mostly about the fire breathing dragon up on the mountain.
Every time Tommy said he didn’t know what he was talking about.
“I’m telling you,” Tommy cried, “there wasn’t any dragon, he must have left before I got there!” Blood stained his shirt collar and his wrists were raw from the cuffs. One of them were swollen and pain exploded up his arm every time it moved. Which was often.
Dream stilled in front of him, “He?” Tommy's blood ran cold. “Tommy, if you didn’t see it, why didn’t you come back?” Dream asked in a low tone, leaning down to get into Tommy's personal space. Tommy tried to lean back, his head hitting the wall behind him.
“I- I was afraid- to disappoint you sir. I didn’t- I wasn’t thinking and-” He heard the slap before he felt it, but soon his head was blooming with pain and spots danced in his vision.
“Apparently you weren't thinking. You do this? After everything I’ve done for you, you're afraid?” Dream said accusingly, eyebrows furrowed and voice pitched high.
“N-No! Dr-” Tommy was cut off with a shark kick to his ribs. His vision was going hazy at this point, he wasn't sure how much longer he would stay awake. Dream sneered, “Don’t. Lie. To. Me.”
Prime Tommy was scared, he didn’t want to come back. He wanted to stay in Techno’s care and learn about each piece of treasure he had stashed. He wanted to learn more about the different types of dragons he saw carved into the bowls. He wanted to learn more about the dragon himself.
Dream was going to kill Techno, it’s why he sent Tommy out in the first place. He wanted the dragon dead and to take all the things Techno has hoarded. When Tommy never returned to report he came looking.
Dragging Tommy back was a desperate attempt. Smart enough not to engage a dragon in its home court. Tommy was bait to draw out the beast, using the fact that it had kept him alive as an indicator that he must have grown fond of him.
Still, some information on the lizard would be helpful. But Tommy would rather die than give anything over to dream.
–—--—--—–
Techno, ironically, was seeing red. In a literal sense and figuratively.
When the young one asked about the water, he pointed in the direction of some that was near the mouth of his den. He puffed a cloud of smoke in the boy's face and grumbled bemusedly as he yelled back.
When the day turned to night, Techno realized he wasn’t coming back. He had set his nose to the hatchlings sent and followed it around his forest. When he got close he started to smell others. They smelt of metal and magic, and when they met with the boy he took to the sky. Heading to the place of metal men and potions.
–—--—--—–
Tommy heard yelling.
Usually it was silent. Dream came in, beat his ass, and left. A guard would throw a half-full water skin at him after a while and that would be the only sign that people were outside the wooden door across from him.
The yelling was getting louder, as if people were passing by his door and screaming at the top of their lungs. ‘Maybe they were running from something,’ Tommy thought idly.
‘Maybe-’ Nope! Not going there. Techo was safe back in his cave, not having to take care of some useless child, and probably taking a nap right now.
The wooden door slams open, startling Tommy out of his daydream. Dream is here now, covered in sweat and soot. He has a full set of armor on, parts of it were dented. As if someone had tried to hit him with big stones.
“Get up.” He yelled harshly, he snatched a ring of keys off his belt. Tommy was still trying to process what was going on when Dream roughly pulled up the cuff that was around his broken wrist, causing him to cry out in pain.
Dream was screaming at him, “Get up you useless FUCK!” Tommy was able to stumble to his feet just as Dream dragged him out of the room.
Dream continued to drag him down the stone hallways, screaming and jerking him sharply forward each time Tommy tripped. “This is all your fucking fault, you couldn’t do ONE thing I asked you to? Who the hell can’t complete ONE task!” Dream snarled.
Tommy was too focused on trying to stay upright than responding to his ex-mentors crazed rant. It was getting hotter, the farther out of the fortress they ran the hotter it got. Was the building on fire?
The question was quickly answered when they stumbled out into what was supposed to be the main hall. The walls were rubble under their feet and anything that could have been wood was now ash or on fire. A lot of the trees out in the courtyard and surrounding forest were also alight. It created a false sun, smoke spilled into the air, painting the night sky in streaks of black and gray ash.
In the middle of it all, there was Techno. His wings raised and fire glowing between his scales, his eyes lit with rage. His jewelry reflected the light, making it look like it was glowing. The red of his scales blended in with the glow of the fire and smoke obscured his frame, he looked terrifying.
Soldiers ran in every direction, some towards the dragon and others away. Most seemed to be running away. Fire spilled out of Technos mouth like a current, roasting any idiot who tried to get close.
A volley of arrows came from Techno's right, but most bounced harmlessly off or shattered on his scales. He turned and shot fire at them too. A noise came from him that was so loud it made the ground shake and Tommy's ears ring.
They were so close to Techno now. The fire was so strong around them, furniture and beams were being devoured by it. It licked at his skin and threatened to burn. Regardless, Dream’s grip on his upper arm stayed locked.
Suddenly, Dream had jerked Tommy forward and directly into Techno's path. Feeling the sharp metal point of Dream's double edged blade into his back.
“Dragon!” Dream bellowed over the chaos, “Stop, or I will drive my sword straight through him!”
Techno's attention was finally drawn to them. His entire being dripped with anger. Fuck, he was going to die here isn't he.
Techno let out another ear piercing roar, but he had stopped. His gaze felt like daggers in his skin, and fire curled out from the corners of his mouth as he heaved for air. But he didn’t charge, he didn't swipe his massive claws and kill them with one hit, and he didn’t let the fire out of his maw.
They were at a standstill. No one moved, the only sound in the air was the crackling of the fire and the breath of a dragon.
Tommy was frozen where he stood. Techno’s gaze seemed to be going straight through him, and the grip of Dream’s plated gloves were cutting circulation from his arm. The point of the sword against his back.
Techo let out a low growl, smoke billowing out of his snout. Dream kicked the back of Tommys knee in retaliation, causing him to buckle and land harn onto the stone underfoot. The only thing that kept him any semblance of up right was Dream’s grip.
Everything hurt; his arm, his wrists, knees, feet, eyes, lungs, and head. Just to name a few.
Even through the smoke and haze in his vision, Tommy noticed a few men trying to circle behind the dragon.
Tommy lurched forward, “Tech-” he coughed, “Behind!”
Techos' head snapped to the side, catching the soldiers by surprise and swung his tail into them, sweeping them away and into a crumbling wall.
Something hard hit the side of his head, causing Tommy to cry out again. A hang gripped his hair and something cold was at his throat. Everything was still so fuzzy and darkness was swimming in his mind now. Tommy was sure he wouldn't make it through the night, let alone the hour.
The heat was beginning to be too much. Before he was at least distracted but now it was all he felt. There was also so much noise. Screaming from all sides and then a deep roar, it vibrated through Tommy’s bruised ribs.
The grip in his hair released but instead of hitting the ground, he landed on something warm and smooth. Oh, that feels- safe. Then, the blackness swallowed him whole.
–—--—--—–
Techno has to admit to himself, he had gotten lucky.
His boy was covered in blood. He looked like he was in great pain and it made the fire in his chest grow.
The stalemate was sinking its claws into him. The longer that the youngling was not with him the more agitated he became. The metal man screamed at him about some kind of treasure or gold. It was enough to drive Techno mad with anger.
He had let out another deep roar, rearing onto his hind legs and extending his wings. If he couldn't attach, he would cause fear and chaos.
When he landed back down the ground shook, he could see some walls buckle in his peripheral. The metal man stumbled, letting his grip on his hatching slip. Techno shot out to scoop him up and rear back once more.
Looking over his boy he saw that he was frail and hurt, he needed to get back. Turning his attention back to the rubble surrounding him. The other little metal men were now running away. Upon looking down he noticed a large section of stone in place of the metal man that had his hatchling in his grip.
Techno huffed angrily; he couldn't do it himself, but relented. He needed to get back.
His wings beat heavily, causing the fire to ripple and dance in the night. Soon he was up in the air and glided through the sky and back to their den.
–—--—--—–
It took a while for Tommy to come around after that night.
He was used to the lack of food, but after a week on only a few glasses of water it was a matter of time.
Techno truly tried his best to wake the boy up but he was sourly underqualified for this. He needed someone with more knowledge on humans and how to heal them. Thankfully he knew just the right one.
He barely took a thing with him, bedding to carry Tommy in and cooked meat in case the boy woke up. Unfortunately he didn’t but it didn’t take long for him to land at his, Phil’s, and Wilbur’s den.
Phil was quite confused at first but soon he got the hang of it. After a few weeks Tommy no longer looked like he was a step away from the afterlife.
Techno was still antsy though, he rarely let Will near him. Curled around the boy and snapping at him whenever the other dragon got to close for comfort. When the boy would cry in his sleep he could curl even closer and cover them both with his wings.
‘Never again.’ was the promise he made to the boy.
–—--—--—–
Tommy's head pounded against his skull. The pain was like a carpenter or a sculpture chiseling away at his skull.
His brain was overlaid with fog, it draped over his body. He found it hard to even lift his eyelids.
Everything was so soft, plush and light. Even with the warmth that made him so drowsy he wasn’t too hot at all. His entire body was cradled by it. Small alarm bells were ringing in the back of his brain but he was too tired to care at this point.
Something nudged his face.
It was smooth, but hard and cold. Pushing at the side of his face. He cracked his eyes open just enough to see an enormous black claw beside him.
A bolt of fear ran through his body but when he tried to get away. The claw retracted, although he kept getting caught in the mound of blankets he’s found himself in. Wait- blankets?
Tommy snapped his head up and was immediately met with three dragon heads as opposed to the usual one. There was Techno, still as red as he remembered. The other two, however, were colors like black and deep brown. The contrast of the three made his head spin.
Techno crooned at him, tilting his head and puffing smoke in his face. A bit calmer now, Tommy was able to sit up and wave the smoke out of his face. Techno rumbled, a content look crossed his gaze as he nosed lightly at Tommy's body.
“T- Techno-” He cringed at the raspy-ness of his voice, his throat felt raw from the smoke and lack of use. He cleared his throat and tried again.
He looked at the dragon desperately “Wh-what- how did you-? You should have sta-yed away!” tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, “You- you could have been killed-” His throat hurt so much, he doubled over in a coughing fit.
He felt something cool touch his arm, jerking back he’s once again met with a massive black claw. The dragon attached to it was huge, bigger than Techno! A water skin was draped carefully over it. Gingerly he took it, and after a couple tries he got it open and practically guzzled half the bottle. It was cool and didn't taste like leather. At least he can probably cross poison off his ‘What Are They Going Too Do To You’ list.
When he finally put it down Techno had raised his wing so the other two weren't looming over his shoulder, or back. Come to think of it, Techno is literally all around him. It feels a lot like a nest.
He looks to the dragon and promptly bursts into tears.
“Th-Thank you. So much-” He babbled. Techno puffed warm air over him again and lowered his head, Tommy wrapped his arms around his snout as he cried. Techno sat patiently and made sure Tommy was safe and ok.
‘It’s alright my boy. You are safe now, I promise it.’