Chapter 5- Dinner

                                    

                                          
Wow, each chapter, the name quality goes down.  And I'm sorry about the weird pattern I'm starting to set with a long chapter, then a short chapter.  This one is extremely short, and more of a filler chapter than anything.  Enjoy!
                          
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He woke up in an unfamiliar room.  Was he on a mattress?  He shifted his body and felt the springs beneath him.  Yep, a mattress.  When was he given such luxury?  He went to sit up, but a pounding headache forced him to lie back down.  Had he been drugged?
                          
Then the memories started to play back.  A pot of pasta, a boy in black, panic.  Techno bolted up, cursing loudly and colorfully.  A boy in the corner started, then gasped.
                          
"Oh thank god," he said gratefully, getting up and dashing over.  The fluffy brown hair and colorful shirt looked familiar, but Techno was too weak to place him.  He pushed himself into an upright position and winced at his sore arms. and pounding head
                          
"I've gotta go get Bad and Phil, just give me a second," the boy said frantically, running out of the room.  Techno's arms shook as he kept himself supported.  More and more was starting to click into place.  The boy, no Karl, darted back into the room, followed by Bad and Phil.  Bad had tears running down his cheeks and he hovered by the door.  Phil had no such reservations and ran right in.  He hugged Techno, pulling him close to his chest.  Techno flinched, but had to admit the hug was really nice.  It felt like a summer day had just blasted right into him.  Carefully, cautiously, Techno hugged him back.
                          
"Are you ok," Phil asked, breaking away.  
                          
"Yes, I'm sorry about that," Techno said, shame coloring his cheeks.  He looked away, embarrassed.  He hated being vulnerable, and what had gone down in the kitchen was almost as bad as it gets.  Speaking of Bad, the poor healer was still standing in the doorway, his arms wrapped around himself.
                          
"I am SO sorry Techno," he whispered, his voice cracking in multiple places.
                          
"It wasn't really your fault.  I- I pushed myself too far and was vulnerable." He spat out the last word, hating the way it felt.  "I was bound to break eventually."  Bad walked through the doorway and gently laid his gloveless hand on Techno's bare arm.  The headache slowly melted away, along with the cramps in his arms.
                          
"What did Karl do?"
                          
"I put you to sleep.  I can adjust energy levels, and I made yours low enough to pass out," the boy said, like he was explaining basic addition.   
                          
"How long was I out," Techno asked, worried
                          
"Just an hour. Thankfully nobody got hurt and dinner is still intact," Phil replied, attempting a smile.
                          
"Chicken nuggets for the win," Karl said, smiling broadly.  He started back downstairs, and Bad silently followed him.  Techno started to feel guilty as Bad's slumped form exited the room.
                          
"He'll get over it eventually, don't worry.  And you aren't the only one."
                          
Techno winced, hating the memory already.
                          
"Dream fainted the first time he saw what Sapnap could do."  Techno looked up, surprised.  Phil smiled a little, and this time it looked genuine.
                          
"His parents perished in a fire, and he nearly died himself, so I guess I can't blame him," Phil continued heavily, the smile still slowly leaving his face. "He has horrible scarring, and we didn't know Bad yet, so Quackity created that mask.  That's why he wears it."
                          
Techno thought back to his first night, how Dream was the furthest from the fire.  However, he also seemed to be great friends with Sapnap, which greatly confused him.  He shrugged it off and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.  He carefully started to stand, not wanting to push himself too far again. His legs supported his weight and he wobbled to the door.  Phil hovered nearby, making sure he wouldn't fall.
                          
Techno managed to make it to the stairs before his knees buckled.  Phil swiftly caught him and pulled him into a cradle of sorts.  Techno was slung over Phil's shoulder like a sack of potatoes and he felt his heat begin to heat up again.  
                          
"Do you want a lift," Phil asked, sounding worried. Techno grunted softly and nodded into his shoulder.  Phil shrugged his loose jacket away to reveal the prettiest wings Techno had ever seen.  They were white and feathered, each fading to an almost bruised purple near the tip.  Like angel wings, they seemed to sprout from his back, getting wider and wider.  Techno gave a soft gasp as Phil jumped from the top step and gracefully fell to the bottom floor, flapping his wings to slow the descent.  Once they reached the bottom, Techno slipped down with a wondrous smile.   
                          
"I hope you don't mind chicken for dinner again," Phil said with a chuckle.
                          
"Food is always good, no matter what it is," Techno said in return as they made their way back to the kitchen.  He walked back through the archway and inhaled.
                          
"Techno," Wilbur called excitedly, a wide smile taking up his face.  The others turned and smiled.  Tubbo even waved before turning back to his Mac and cheese.  Techno's stomach rumbled as he made his way over to the pots.
                          
"We already got you a plate," Fundy said loudly over Quackity and Dream bickering.  He gestured to a loaded plate next to Skeppy.  Techno happily plopped down on the bench and ate, his appetite returning at full force.  The Mac and cheese was heavenly and the dinosaur chicken nuggets were absolutely adorable.  Karl was drowning his in ketchup, telling an amused Sapnap that it was lava.  The atmosphere was much quieter now.  Still chaotic, but a quiet chaotic.
                          
When the food was gone, Techno slumped over the table, his head in his hands.  
                          
Why am I still tired? I've already slept for an hour or so.
                          
A soft hand tapped his shoulder, and Techno jumped.  He lethargically turned to find Philza standing behind him, a fatherly smile dancing across his lips.  
                          
"You need real sleep," he said, offering his hand.  Techno took it and stood up, the wobbly legs back at full force.  He felt his face heat up as he leaned on Phil for support.  The two of them hobbled out of the kitchen and barely made it into the living room before Techno collapsed on his chair.  He was completely wiped, and barely remembered Phil flying him back to his room.  All he could think is that sleep was sounding really good at the moment.
                          
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Wow this is such a sweet chapter compared to what I have in store my goodness.  Well, today I have archery, which is always super fun.  Maybe I'll post the next chapter when I get back.  This chapter was barely proofread so there's bound to be some mistakes, sorry.  Also, I more than doubled my highest word count on that last chapter, which surprised me greatly.  I need to be more consistent.
                          
Word count-1155