Requested by aska234. Trigger warning for almost drowning, in case that's something that'd upset you!

This takes place in their childhood, so Techno and Wilbur would be around 15-16 yo with Tommy and Tubbo at 12 yo.

"I swear Tommy if you splash me again I will drown you myself."

His little brother laughed in the face of such empty threats, only leading Technoblade to scowl at him more. Grumpily, he checked the pages of his book to make sure Tommy's antics hadn't gotten them wet and ruined, but to his relief they hadn't. Tommy returned to spraying Tubbo instead, making the other boy cry out in surprise when he was hit in the face with it.

Shaking his head, Techno went back to reading. He was already putting in an effort merely by sitting at the water's edge, bare feet dangling over the bank of the river and leaving them submerged up to his ankles. Technoblade wasn't fond of water, probably because of being a Nether-born hybrid. Piglins weren't exactly known for their proficiency at swimming either.

But Phil had given him that look – the look that Techno abhorred more than anything – as he said it would do him some good to try and be social. Relax for a while and not isolate himself all the time. Meeting him halfway Techno had taken his book and sat himself down in a damp patch of grass next to the river, instead of scampering off to a quiet spot of solitude to read in peace. Phil had given him an approving nod while he started setting up the blanket they would use for the picnic later.

Tubbo and Tommy were both playing in the deeper furrows, alternating between trying to soak each other and being on the lookout for shiny rocks or other trinkets hidden in the silt of the river bed. For a whole ten minutes, Tommy was completely convinced he could catch a fish with his hands and set out to prove it, though he failed miserably. Wilbur and Niki were simply enjoying spending time together towards the shallow part where the river curved into a bend, sitting down and talking. When Techno looked over at them Niki smiled and waved.

Jup, this was definitely him being social.

Really Techno couldn't complain. He would admit it was very nice, the first warmer day of spring after a long-winded and grueling winter. The river was still slightly too cold to remain in for very long with melted snowbanks from higher up the mountains sending rushes of chilly water downstream. But that never stopped them before. The flow was faster than usual too, swelled on by the excess to form a tide. He felt it rush between his toes and Techno wiggled them against the freezing feeling as he continued reading.

"Techno, watch this!" Tommy yelled after a bit, begging for his attention. Technoblade rolled his eyes but looked up from his book again, knowing the younger wouldn't stop pestering him otherwise. Tommy could be such an attention-starved gremlin sometimes, it was like he would die if he didn't have a perpetual audience for his mayhem.

"What?"

Techno saw him push his hand down under the swirling surface of the river, waves crashing around where it dipped beneath the water. The current had picked up in a matter of minutes, breaking against Tommy's palm as he stuck it in. It moved around his skin oddly, forcefully, forming a riptide. "Look at how fast it's going. It's insane! Do you think a dam broke up the river?"

With a furrowed brow, Techno registered this information. It didn't take long to sink in and then his chest constricted unpleasantly as the realization struck. "Get out of the water, Tommy."

Tommy straightened his back, confused. "Wha-"

"Out of the water, now! Both of you!"

His warning came hand in hand with the surge. Techno could see Wilbur and Niki had already scampered out of the river at the sudden rising of the water level, now lapping eagerly where the two had sat only seconds before. It was like a torrent, white foam bubbling on the surface as the currents quickly turned from harmless to an unexpected maelstrom. A rapid-onset flood. Tommy and Tubbo had noticed too, but both of them were further removed from dry land and had to wade several feet through waist-deep water to get to safety.

Discarding his book, Techno held out his hand to help them. Tommy reached him first, Techno clutching his wrist to pull him out of the water with a harsh tug. He was about to do the same for Tubbo, fingers inches away from grabbing him, when the boy stumbled and disappeared beneath the waves with a terrified yelp. He came up again a moment later, sputtering and gasping for air, but the currents were too strong for him to swim in and were already pulling him away and under.

"Tubbo!" Tommy looked absolutely horrified. His wide eyes searched frantically, chest heaving. Technoblade didn't think twice about undoing his cloak and jumping into the water.

The freezing cold was a shock to his system, tingles running down his limbs as he was submerged. Despite not being too deep for Techno to stand in, the rapid flow was making it hard for him to move properly or even stay afloat. And Tubbo was having an even harder time with it, desperately treading water to try and keep his head above the surface. Techno managed to swim towards him and grasp the back of his shirt, clutching onto him to keep him from sinking. Tubbo's hands curled against his shoulders.

The added weight only put more strain on his own movements though. Technoblade was searching around for some way out when he felt the bottom of the river slope down beneath his feet. In the next moment, his head went under too.

Water stung at his eyes viciously, turning his vision into a blur. He tried holding his breath but it forced its way up his nose until he gasped, burning inside his lungs. Kicking at the sandy riverbed, he only managed to come up for a few short inhales before he was forced under again, but it was enough for Technoblade to hear the frantic yelling of their family trying to get to them. He forced his eyes open, hoping to see where they were. Keeping Tubbo pressed close against him, he pushed through the biting current. He only needed to get close enough for them to be able to help.

It felt like it took forever and Techno's muscles were just starting to give up on him when the ground beneath his feet returned and became more solid. He forced them into cooperating to wade towards the river's edges. A pair of strong hands clamped around his arm and pulled; wrenched so hard he thought the joint might pop out its socket. But he was grateful enough when he could finally breathe again.

Their concerned voices were loud in his ears but Technoblade ignored them to roll onto his side. He coughed and heaved, murky water expelling itself from his lungs painfully. Somebody thumped a hand against his shoulderblades to help the process. Every inhale rattled in his chest, wheezing and burning with a vengeance. The freezing cold made itself known next, his soaked clothes sticking to his skin unpleasantly and not at all helped by the early spring air. Techno's entire body began to shake from it.

"Here." And he did recognize who that was, at least. Tommy draped his cape around him, the thick fabric still warmed from him wearing it earlier. Technoblade wanted to respond but his jaw was too locked up to function. He settled for nodding instead.

"Fuck, are you both alright?" That was Wilbur, skidding to a stop in the muddy ground beside them. Technoblade managed to force his vision into focus and saw Phil fussing over Tubbo, trembling from some combination of cold and fear.

"I think so," he wheezed, still feeling the stress it put on his lungs just to talk. Another cough forced him to double over, Wilbur kneeling down to rub soothing circles into his back. "Let's never go swimming again though."

A soft snort of amusement from Wilbur and then he was pulling Techno's soaked braid out of the way as he started dry-heaving again.

"Yeah, let's."