Requested by Hijinks! Also more hybrid-related headcanons POG!

trigger warnings: implied human trafficking, slavery, and some mean ol racism against hybrids

Not all servers were safe for hybrids to live in freedom.

And that was such an easy thing to forget, even for somebody like Technoblade. Or maybe especially for him – a man who had not known safety since birth. Who had been conditioned into fighting the world tooth and nail for every inch of his right to exist within it. But in a sense, he knew he had escaped the worst of it by pure chance, by pure luck. By being born where he could at least rise above his heritage and make a name for himself despite the occasional discrimination from humans.

For he had heard the stories of places far worse, where being a hybrid was regarded not much differently from being an animal. Where they were taken into a human master's possession with the same certainty that you claimed a plot of land, a belonging with no inherent liberty and no laws to protect them.

Technoblade had heard of these servers – most hybrids had, probably. These were the kinds of tales that spread quickly by word of mouth – yet he had never encountered them himself. He never thought he would either, they were rare and hidden away.

Turned out he was sorely mistaken. He had been out chopping wood, hardly a hundred blocks away from his cabin, when they found him.

There were seven of them, fully armored and with an array of weapons hanging from their hips. Techno wasn't too worried about being outnumbered at first, he had faced odds a lot worse than these. But the calculated way they were looking at him and the controlled manner with which they advanced on him was concerning.

It spoke of too much experience and planning.

Hunters, Technoblade distantly remembered they were called. People that made a business out of capturing hybrids with the purpose of selling them for a pretty penny on whichever server would pay the most. He squared his shoulders, exhaling sharply through his nostrils.

If they were looking for a fight, Techno could give them one.

Preparing for the bravest of the men to start their approach, Techno waited for them to get within two arm's length before charging. He kept his movements low but swift, swiping for the part of their body with the least defense. His axe dug into the slit between their chest plate and ribcage easily, slicing at the exposed flesh beneath straight into organs. Blood poured out in a torrent.

He had already turned towards another, the surprised yelps and urgent commands that rose out among the group drowned out by the voices. They hadn't expected to be fed today, but they certainly weren't complaining about it.

One of the hunters who had stayed back pulled out a crossbow. Their first bolt was easily evaded, burying itself into the ground at Technoblade's feet. He rushed towards them, the second bolt being swatted away as it met the resistance of his left arm guard. Hoping to take them out of commission before they could reload, Techno didn't anticipate another guy jumping him when he was still in motion.

Their sword clashed against his tool, Technoblade pushing them off with such force they ended up sprawled across the ground. He turned back towards the man brandishing the bow just in time for them to loosen another arrow. It found home in Techno's shoulder, a sharp pinch of pain as the steel tore through his clothes. He ignored it in favor of pummeling the one who shot it, relishing in the satisfying crack of their skull against the earth. He had barely straightened his spine and started looking for his next target when the drug took effect.

In a matter of seconds, his vision had grown hazy, swaying side to side unsteadily. A low grunt of confusion escaped Techno as he realized what had happened, recognizing the arrow to be laced with some sort of weakness potion. He grabbed the wooden part of the projectile and pulled it out, but the damage had already been done.

He fought off the next person to come at him, pushing through the feeling of quicksand settling into his veins and making his every muscle strain under his will to keep upright. But it kept getting harder, numbness creeping up his limbs and making it impossible to move. A solid punch to his temple sent Techno onto the ground, blinking against the stars exploding across his brain, and then he lacked the strength to get up again. When a shoe connected with his stomach he couldn't do much more than cough, curling into himself slightly.

"Fuck, make sure to tie it up good. This one is feral." The man who had wielded the crossbow was speaking, free hand braced against the back of their head to inspect the wound they had gotten. Techno peered up at them angrily, the best glare he could muster given the circumstances. The other hunters followed this man's commands, meaning they must be considered their leader.

Techno was hauled into a semi-sitting position despite his struggling as they fastened his wrists together in front of him with a length of rope, pulling the restraints tight enough to chafe his skin. The potion made it impossible for him to fight back in any meaningful way.

"What about the others?" a much younger looking man with sandy brown hair asked, eyes shifting around as if he expected to be ambushed at any moment. Techno had no idea what he was talking about until the leader addressed him.

"Two more according to the intel. They should live around this area somewhere, the only ones dumb enough to build out here so it can't be too hard to track down." They indicated their hand at the guy next to them, who nodded and prepared to set out with two more hunters. "One is avian, be aware of the flight risk. The other is an enderman. Those are rare so be sure to treat it with care. We don't want to sell damaged goods."

What they were discussing made perfect sense, taking their profession into account. Which was exactly why it filled Technoblade with such abject horror. Dread filled him at the idea of these men getting close to either Phil or Ranboo. And anything that could happen after-

He pulled on the ropes but the potion made it a useless endeavor. Grunting in frustration, Techno watched the leader turn their attention back towards him at the noise. "The pig seems a good candidate for the fighting ring. I'm sure they'd appreciate some fresh meat that doesn't need any training." They crouched down in front of Techno, grabbing his chin and turning his head to appraise him. The touch felt invasive, especially combined with their smirk. "It's not even that bad to look at for a hybrid. I'm sure they'll find a use for it in that regard too. Versatile stock brings in good money."

Rearing back in his seated position, Techno headbutted them as hard as he could manage.

Going by their pained scream and the blood that had immediately started streaming down their face he had managed to break their nose. As satisfying as that was, it didn't make up for the retribution. Their first punch hit Techno in the jaw, sending him onto the ground again without being able to use his hands to cushion the fall. His shoulder hit something sharp and jagged, a stab of hurt pushed aside by their next kick landing against his head. If the potion hadn't already made him dizzy, this certainly didn't help.

His vision blacked out with spots as they continued the beating, the world dull and gray for a moment. When Techno could breathe again they had stepped away, leaving him gasping and bleeding in the snow. He closed his eyes to keep from throwing up. Distantly, he was aware of a flurry of motion from the branches above them – the sound of wings beating down.

The young man with the sandy hair yelped in the most undignified way when Phil descended on him. It was almost fascinating in equal measures as it was horrifying, a bird of prey striking on its unsuspecting quarry. Black feathers drew up to their full wingspan as Phil straightened again, the man motionless beneath his feet.

A challenge towards the others, who drew their weapons in fright.

The leader hissed a curse and also tried to notch another arrow. Techno forced himself to his feet before they could despite how much his body was protesting, using his remaining strength and throwing his still bound wrists around their throat. They clawed at his chokehold, fingers digging into his skin but Techno persisted until their went slack. He dropped them carelessly.

"Ranboo?" he asked, a single word that had Phil's attention refocus instantly. The other hunters lay dead to the world – or in a few cases literally dead.

"He's in Snowchester. I took care of the ones that came to the cabin."

Technoblade nodded, knowing the relief would be evident on his face. There was more to be said, but it could wait until he could feel his fingers again. And didn't feel like he was about to topple over. Phil came to stand next to him, folding his wing over Techno's shoulder wordlessly and offering his own as support when they started making their way back home.

Seeing the lead attached to the hunter's belt in passing, unable to shake what it stood for, Technoblade knew they could still consider themselves lucky.