Work Text:
Now, Technoblade thought he knew what living in a fucked up place was like. He’s lived in plenty before, hells, he’s ruled those sorts of places before. The Empire, as much as he loved it, yeah, it was fucked up. He and Phil conquered the entire world, he’s not denying it. The arctic commune, okay, it in and of itself was actually quite idyllic, all things considered, but that was only because of the sheer distance Techno had personally made sure was between him and the rest of the fucked up stuff. Even then, it still came to visit way more times than he liked.
But this? This is a whole other level of fucked up.
And there’s kids.
Okay, there were kids back when he was in the commune, but like, apart from Michael, they were barely kids. These kids are like… seven. Maybe even five. Techno’s not great at that sort of thing.
They call it the island. ‘They’ being the adults here, namely Phil and Missa, because that’s about the extent of who Techno’s regularly talking to about this stuff. Etoiles eloquently calls it a ‘shithole’, and Fit’s sarcasm is heavy handed when he talks about ‘their paradise’.
They call it the island and them the Federation and Technoblade hasn’t been here very long, but already he hates those faceless, robotic white bear things just as much as everyone else. Sure, it was hard to get on to the island, but it’s practically impossible to get back off.
And boy would Technoblade like to get everyone off this damned place.
But it’s not all bad. Most of it is, but not all of it. Phil’s here, he’s alive, and Techno hadn’t seen him in so long. Missa’s pretty good too, once he got over his shock and anxiety. And the kids… the kids.
Technoblade never considered himself much of a family man. Technoblade is learning just how very wrong he was.
He loves these kids. Chayanne and Tallulah, little menaces and the perfect mix of both their fathers, despite looking very little like either of them.
Chayanne has Phil’s fight, his determination. That spark Technoblade knows all too well, burning bright in his little body, erupting out of him whenever he picks up a sword. He has Missa’s mischief, too. It’s a dangerous combination.
Tallulah has Phil’s love for the world, his compassion. She’s a lot less inclined to fight than her brother, she much prefers to watch. She has Missa’s musicality too, his care for animals.
Techno particularly approves of that last one.
So much so that he’s… fairly certain he shouldn’t be doing what he’s actively doing.
“Chayanne, no, bro, stop that,” Techno says, seeing the kid pulling out an entire diamond sword and eyeing a stray off just far enough away that it hasn’t spotted them. “Yer dad’s’ll kill me if I let you get hurt, c’mon, think of me.”
Chayanne just gives him a disgruntled look, wrinkling his nose and reluctantly putting the sword away.
“It’s okay, Chayanne,” Techno says. He understands why. He’s lived on the island for about a month now, he gets it. Any sign of threat, no matter how small, is to be taken seriously. “I’ve got my crossbow, nothin’s gonna be able to get close.”
There’s a tug on the edge of his tunic from the other side, and the quiet sound of a small maraca. Tallulah’s looking up at him with her big brown eyes, and that’s the entire reason they’re here, honestly. Who could ever say no to those eyes? Certainly not Technoblade.
“Yeah, petal?” he asks. She holds up her notebook.
Where are the bears? It reads, and Techno chuckles.
“Not far, we should be able to find one around here soon, don’t worry,” he assures, ruffling her curls. “Jus’ remember, no cubs, alright? That’s mean, and you two aren’t allowed to be mean.”
But you are? Chayanne signs. At least, Techno thinks so. He’s still picking it up. Tallulah giggles, and Techno rolls his eyes.
“Yep, I am. ‘Cause I’m a grown up, and you’re just little shoats.”
Sure enough, it doesn’t take long for them to come across a polar bear. She’s a young thing, not young enough to still be with her mother, but probably has a little more maturing to do. Perfect.
“Chayanne, I will confiscate that sword if you don’t put it away,” Techno warns. He doesn’t like being stern with the children, but this is… a delicate situation. “You can fight things later, hells, once we’re home, we can spar, but let yer sister have this, alright?”
Again, Chayanne is reluctant to put the weapon away, but he does so nonetheless.
Techno crouches down, and motions for the kids to follow him. He talks in a hushed whisper, keeping one eye on the bear at all times.
“Alright. Here’s the plan. I’ll go up and leash the bear, an’ if she gets aggressive, I’ll deal with it. You two stay back until I give you the signal, an’ then you can come up. ‘Lullah, you introduce yerself to her, and Chayanne, you help me with the lead, alright?”
The kids nod enthusiastically, and Techno gives them a double thumbs up. Gods, Phil is going to kill him once they all get home, state of children notwithstanding.
Leash in hand, Techno slowly stands. He’s calm as he approaches the bear, keeping himself steady and trying to look as unthreatening as possible, which is difficult when he’s, y’know, Technoblade. But the bear mostly just eyes him warily, takes a couple steps back and continues staring. Something about him also being a large, intimidating animal, he thinks.
She struggles a little as he tries to slip the leash over her head, and he has to try a second time, but once it’s on, all she does is huff at him and shake her head a few times. See? Easy! Techno’s done this before plenty.
‘The signal’ was entirely decided by Chayanne, Technoblade will have you know. Not him. Chayanne. It includes a whistle, snort, and several arm movements. Honestly, the things Techno does for these kids. But he gives them the signal, and they both come running over with far too much enthusiasm.
“She’s safe, just don’t provoke her, then she won’t be,” Techno tells the two of them. Tallulah nods vigorously, and Chayanne makes a point of putting his sword away. Wait, when did he get that out again?
“Chayanne, c’mere, I need someone strong to hold her leash,” Techno says, beckoning the boy over. He’s more than eager to comply, grabbing the leash with both hands and planting his feet firmly, as if the bear is actively trying to run off. It is not. But Techno can’t help but chuckle and be proud of the boy’s enthusiasm. He ruffles his hair, despite the indignant look it gets him.
“You think you can hold her all by yerself?” Techno asks him.
Chayanne nods so quickly his mask slips on his face, and he has to take a moment to adjust it.
“Perfect, I’m trustin’ you, kid. I’ll ground you if you let me get killed,” he jokes.
With the lead very firmly in Chayanne’s hands, Techno moves around to see Tallulah bonding with the creature already. She’s got her arms over the bear’s neck, hugging it. The bear looks fairly uninterested.
“How’s it goin’, petal?” Techno asks, crouching down and letting the bear sniff at his hand. “She likin’ you?”
Tallulah reluctantly lets go of the bear, freeing her hands.
I think so , she signs. She hasn’t… And that’s where Techno’s sign starts to falter.
“Ah, hells, petal, could you use yer notebook? Didn’t catch that last part.”
Tallulah nods, and writes down presumably what she just signed at him.
She hasn’t attacked me or been annoyed at me. She let me hug her!!! I want to call her Snowdrop.
“That’s a very pretty name. We can get her a proper nametag back at the house, I’m sure yer dad has a stash somewhere,” Techno tells her. “Well, if you like her, an’ she likes you, shall we get goin’, then? This part was the easy part, now we gotta get her all the way back to the sanctuary.”
Phil is, in fact, mad when he finds out.
“A polar bear ?” he hisses at Techno as they watch the kids build up a proper pen for her. “Fuck’s sakes, mate, that thing could kill them!”
“Yeah, but she didn’t,” Techno counters, shrugging, and grinning. “You try sayin’ no to yer daughter. Taught her all yer witchraft, old man, didn’t you?”
“You’re so fuckin’ lucky Missa’s out, he’d have your head for getting them a bear,” Phil grumbles.
Technoblade just laughs. For all Phil’s talk, Techno sees the way he watches his kids. He sees the smile in his eyes, even if he’s trying to keep it off his face, the way his feathers fluff up. He feels the way he leans on him. Techno puts an arm over his shoulder.
“Aw, c’mon, Steve wasn’t that bad company, surely. The kid’s’re happy, let ‘em have this.”
“I’ll kill you if it hurts them.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“Sure, old man.”