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"How the hell did you get in here?"
Tommy bounced on his toes, grinning ear-to-ear. Techno would be lying if he said he wasn't smiling himself.
"Phil dropped me off!" Tommy exclaimed, "He gave me a key!"
Techno sighed, trying to sound annoyed but sounding far too fond for his liking. "Why would he do that, Tommy?"
"He said something about how 'Techno was the one who gave you the coffee, so he can deal with the consequences,' so it kinda sounds like this is your fault."
Techno sighed, more exasperated this time. He didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or scream. Hell, he had half a mind to do both.
"I suppose that's fair." He relented, sounding amused. "He's getting a bit too old to keep up with caffeinated you."
Tommy laughed, a bit duller than usual, Techno furrowed his brows before shaking his head.
He gestured to the kitchen, looking so fond that Tommy ached. "C'mon, kid," he said, "I'll make you some tea and popcorn, we can put on a movie. Phil can't say I don't take care of you."
Tommy gasped amusedly, "Tea" He questioned dramatically, "Is the UK rubbing off on you Technoblade?"
Techno snorted as he picked through the cabinet, looking for the nighttime tea, it was far too late for Tommy to be buzzing around like this.
"Maybe it is," he humored the kid, "but actually I was thinking this'll get you settled so you can actually get some sleep tonight."
Tommy watched as he placed the tea packet on the counter, turning the stove on. He hopped up on the kitchen table, kicking his feet and widening his eyes dramatically, putting his hand to his heart.
"Tech-no-blade, are you drugging me right now?" He drawled, less dramatic than usual.
Techno bit back a sigh, lips twitching upwards. "I'd hardly call 'sleepytime tea' a drug, but if it makes you feel better than yes."
Tommy shook his head in mock disappointment. "Unbelievable. Getting drugged by my childhood hero, truly an L moment. Not very pog of you, techno. I should've known you were a wrong'un."
Techno couldn't help his gooey smile at the 'childhood hero' that fell so easily from Tommy's lips. It made him melt every time he heard it. Damn kid always making him feel shit. Stupid emotions.
"Whatever you say, kid."
Techno looked away from the screen when he felt a weight on his shoulder. A mop of blond curls blocking his sight. He smiled.
Tommy's eyelids fluttered, not quite asleep, but just on the cusp of it. Techno ran a hand through the boy's hair.
"Getting sleepy, kiddo?"
Tommy huffed, glancing tired blue eyes at him and nodding slightly. "I think the drugs are taking effect." He declared solemnly.
Techno sighed with a grin, pushing Tommy's face back into his shoulder. "Just go to sleep, Tom."
Tommy couldn't help but grin into his shoulder, bunching Techno's sleep shirt in his hand. He curled further into the blanket wrapped around them.
"You're a bitch." Tommy declared, voice muffled by Techno's shoulder. "Bitchblade." He giggled.
Techno scratched gently at his scalp with a fond smile, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back on to the cushions. "And you're delirious." He shot back.
Tommy yawned, snuggling closer. Techno felt the distinct urge to coo. He wrapped an arm around Tommy's waist, pulling him closer.
"Am not." Tommy replied, petulant. "You just suck."
The older simply huffed, running a hand through gold curls and exhaled. There was silence.
Till there wasn't.
"Hey, Techno?"
Techno hummed in question, scratching at Tommy's scalp gently.
"Do you ever think I'm annoying?"
Techno opened his eyes, furrowing his brows as he gazed at Tommy. He looked awfully insecure for someone who was just half asleep.
"No. What the hell, kid." He muttered, baffled. He sat up slightly, Tommy grumbling at being jostled. "Why would I ever think that?"
Tommy huffed, like he felt it was an absurd thing to ask. "Because I'm me, and I'm loud and obnoxious, and I don't always know when to stop, –I just think, maybe, sometimes it must be tiring to care about me."
Techno blinked, dumbfounded. "Tommy," he started, "Loving you isn't a chore; it's not something we're required to do, it's a privilege. Caring about you isn't conditional, we don't just love you when you're quiet or calm, we love all of you. Everything about you, loudness and all."
He watched as a tear fell down Tommy's cheek, catching it with his thumb before it could fall. Tommy looked up at him, and Techno felt his heart hurt at the teary blue doe eyes that looked back at him.
"You're not a burden that we have to carry," he finished, "You're the most precious thing I've ever held."
Tommy let out a broken sob, pressing his face into techno's chest, techno immediately cupping the back of his head gently. He shushed the boy softly.
"Shh, it's okay, kiddo." He said softly. "I'm here; I'm not going anywhere."
Tommy fisted his shirt tighter, knuckles turning white. He pressed closer to his older brother.
"Thank you." Tommy choked out.
Techno shook his head, squeezing the kid lightly. "Don't. You deserve to know you're loved."
The boy pulled back slightly and Techno ran a hand through his hair before cupping his face softly, big calloused hands engulfing his jaw. Tommy gave a wobbly smile as he leaned into it.
"You're a good big brother."
Techno had a brief thought that getting stabbed would hurt less than that. This beautiful, sweet, funny kid with tears in his eyes calling him his brother. He felt like he didn't deserve such an honor as that.
But Tommy was looking at him like he hung the moon for him, and he thought he must have done something amazing in a past life to deserve this boy.
"And you," Techno said, slightly choked up. "Are the best little brother."
Tommy beamed, scooching closer and snuggling into his chest like a koala to it's mother. Techno grinned, shifting to accommodate. He wrapped strong arms around the boy's waist and burying his face into the blond curls tickling his neck.
Tommy's knees dug into his ribs and his nose was cold against Techno's throat, and, yeah, they still had to talk more about this when they weren't both so tired and it wasn't so late, but right now, there was nowhere else he'd rather be. Techno was happy, he was content. He had the world in his arms.
He pressed a kiss to the top of Tommy's head and pressed him closer.
"I'll be here, bud. No matter what."