10

                                    

                                          
T.W.: major c!death, blood
Tommy woke to the smell of smoke. The air thick and hard to breathe, scratching his throat and burning his eyes. The boy coughed, blinking his eyes open. A moment later, Techno was there, pulling him out of bed and through the burning cabin. Tommy saw bodies on the floor, bodies of mortals. Dreams mask layed broken on the ground.
Techno dragged Tommy out of the cabin, both of them spilling into the snow. The cabin erupted in flames as if a bomb went off. The sound of glass shattering reached their ears. The wood groaned and creaked, eaten by the greedy flames.
Tommy screamed. This was his home. This is where he grew up. Where Techno would comfort him after nightmares. Where he learned to fight. Where he learned to nurse wolf pups back to health. He made cakes in the kitchen with Techno. 
It was all gone.
Techno held Tommy as the boy sobbed. It was as Dream said. Mortals invaded, burning down their home. Tommy didn't know where the other god was. Was he one of the bodies burning in the cabin? Or did he escape before they managed to get in?
"Tommy it's okay." Techno whispered to the boy, barely audible over Tommy's sobs, "we can go somewhere else for a while. It's okay."
The sounds of more people could be heard in the distance, steadily gaining on the two. Techno pulled Tommy up. The boy stumbled after Techno, tears blurring his vision. He vaguely recognized the path they were going. It was a God portal to Endlantis, Phil and Kristen's realm. Tommy felt his anxiety ease. They could take care of them.
Something whooshed past Tommy's ear, nicking it lightly. An arrow stuck in Techno's back. The god cried out, stumbling to a stop. He turned with a growl, eyes glowing red. His axe was summoned to his hand.
"Tommy." Techno said softly as the mortals closed in, "go. I'll catch up with you."
Tommy looked between Techno and the mortals. He shook his head, drawing his sword, "no. I will fight for my home."
Techno's gaze softened as he glanced at Tommy, "alright runt."
Tommy readied his sword as a large group of mortals came through the trees. Men with anger written across their faces, weapons ready and aimed at the god. They stared at each other for a few moments.
Techno huffed, unclasping his cloak. He tossed it over Tommy. The boy yelped. Why did Techno sabotage him right before the battle!? Tommy ripped the cloak off of his head.
Everything was still. Tommy was alone in a different part of the forest. The God portal was behind him, a simple stone archway. Tommy couldn't activate it due to him being mortal, but the gods had devised a way to get messages through. An emerald given to each of the gods and Tommy. If pressed to the portals, it would cause the other side to glow.
Tommy gripped his emerald tightly. It was tied around his neck with a leather string. The boy slid it off, holding it to the portal. He hoped the gods would come through soon. But now, Tommy had to get back to Techno.
The boy turned, quickly running back to where Techno was fighting. Snow sprayed up ashe sprinted through the trees. He ducked branches, jumping logs. Time seemed to go too quickly, Tommy felt like he was lagging behind. That it would be too late when he got there.
Tommy shook that thought out of his head. No. Technoblade never dies. He'd be fine. Tommy let out a small laugh. Techno was probably restocking his blood supply right now. The mortals were most likely dead.
A flash of red up ahead caught Tommy's eye. He let out a long breath when he realized it was Techno, slowing to a walk. The boy smiled as Techno approached. The god was covered in blood, but that wasn't unusual after a battle.
Tommy's smile fell slowly as Techno limped closer. The blood seemed to be coming from him.
"Techno?" Tommy whispered, quickening his steps slightly, "Techno!?"
Tommy caught the god, easing them to the snowy ground. Red spilled into white like rose petals unfolding. Techno's face was twisted in pain. Multiple arrows stuck out of his chest and stomach, some shafts broken off, leaving jagged edges. A large wound bled freely on Techno's side, staining the pristine snow.
"Oh fuck..." Tommy's voice shook.
Techno sucked in a quick breath, "it's okay Tommy."
The boy shook his head, "no, no it's not okay! Where's some blood!? Were you able to get any!?"
Techno twisted his head to the side, "they ran before I could kill them..."
"But-but it'll be okay right!?" Tommy cried, a lump in his throat choking him, "we can get you something! Some must have survived from the fire!"
Techno took a shuddering breath. He reached up to hold Tommy's face, rubbing his thumb against the boys cheek. For a moment he just looked at Tommy. The little child he rescued ten years ago. How had he grown up to be such an amazing young man?
"It's okay Tommy." Techno said softly.
A sob ripped out of Tommy's throat, he grabbed Techno's bloodied shirt, burying his head in his chest, "no! No it won't be okay! You have to live! Please Techno!"
Techno simply carded his fingers through Tommy's gold locks. Tommy sat up quickly, bringing out his knife, "I'll give you my blood. They you can heal and we can go home and-"
"No." Techno said. It wasn't firm, but it made Tommy freeze. Techno closed his eyes for a moment, opening them to see Tommy's soot and tear streaked face, "I promised when I found you that you would never be a sacrifice again... I've never gone back on a promise, have I?"
Tommy sniffed, shoulders shaking, "please Techno, just this once..."
Techno slipped the knife out of Tommy's hands, "you're not made for violence... My little runt... I always thought... That you didn't deserve a caretaker like me... But watching you grow up, becoming the man you are today..." A small smile broke Techno's face, "I now realize that I didn't deserve you... I love you runt."
"Techno..." Tommy whimpered, "I love you too."
Techno hummed, the smile still on his face. The last of the light faded from Techno's eyes. His hand dropped onto the snow, Tommy's knife still in hand. Tommy felt his heartbeat slow, then stop. Everything went still.
Tommy screamed. He screamed and cried, clutching on to the body. His throat still hurts from the smoke, but he didn't feel it. All he felt was grief and anger and sadness. He didn't care about his burning throat, or the cold seeping into his trousers. Even when pitch black feathers drapes over his back and warm arms pulled him close.
Phil shushed the boy softly, taking him away from the body as Wilbur closed his eyes. They had gotten there too late. Technoblade was dead.
Phil sighed softly, "oh Tommy... I'm so sorry..."
"I could have saved him..." Tommy said, his voice pinched, "I could have and he didn't let me..."
Phil shook his head, "of course he didn't..."
The Angel of Death looked down at the boy in his arms. To his surprise, there was a faint glow in his eyes. Phil smiled softly.
"What do we do now?" Wilbur asked quietly.
Phil hummed, "I think it's time to take Tommy home. The new godling needs to grieve."
"What?" Tommy sniffed, blearily gazing up at Phil.
Wilbur turned to the Angel with wide eyes. Phil just smiled at them, "just rest Tommy, we'll explain when you wake up."
Tommy felt sleep roll over him. He leaned back into Phil's arms. In a few hours time he would wake up in Endlantis, where Phil and Wilbur would tell him about his transformation. In attempting to save a god, he became one himself.
And so the new god took up the crown of his predecessor. The Blood God lived on.