Two different AUs in this one, both of them Fundy & Techno focussed! Because sometimes you gotta give your favorite underrated duo some love! And also because the next chapter which is just a general drabble dump is already like 4k words long and I don't want to torment you guys any more than I already do

bloody fists, tight bonds: canon-divergence au. During retirement, Techno is more troubled by the voices than usual and because he doesn't want things to get out of hand he starts fighting at an underground arena as an outlet without telling anyone. Against all odds though, he meets a familiar face in the ring; Fundy. They decide to keep each other's secret safe.

1. Fundy patching Techno up

This battle had been worse than the others.

Somebody must have raised the price on his head again. Technoblade couldn't be bothered to find out - it didn't make a difference anyway. All it changed was the ferocity with which people threw themselves at him in the arena and the ferocity with which he fended them off.

But their tenacity could be a bother and he winced as he flexed the muscles in his arm, feeling a painful sting run down to his wrist. The cut wasn't too big, but rather deep - reaching down to the bone probably. During the battle Techno had hardly felt it, now with the adrenaline dying down the pain was quick to push itself to the front of his mind.

He needed to fix this up before going back.

Not wanting to waste a precious healing potion on such a trivial injury, he searched around for some bandages instead. If he could patch it up so that he wouldn't bleed through his sleeves that would be great. The wooden bench set against the wall of the armory creaked under his weight, none of the other fighters were still around. With some trouble, Technoblade set about wrapping his arm up.

Which proved stupidly difficult when he noticed he was working against his dominant hand. Normally such a thing was negligible, it wasn't like Technoblade hadn't used his right hand to apply a bandage before - he had used it for tons of things.

The problem was, he was shaking.

He couldn't tell why - he didn't want to think about it. It just made the task so much harder than it needed to be and by the third time of him dropping the gauze into his lap, he was cursing under his breath.

"Do you… need help with that?"

Fingers tightened around the bandage, the tensing only sparked fresh pain from the cut. Technoblade's head shot up and of course - of course - it had to be the last person he wanted to see.

"Uh… maybe."

Fundy didn't say anything for a moment, eyes flicking between his face and the clumsy way he was still trying to apply the bandage. His tail moved side to side anxiously. "I mean, it'd be bad if they found out, right?"

Technoblade swallowed. "Yeah, it probably would be."

After a few more silent seconds, Fundy approached. His movements were hesitant as if he was still deliberating on whether to go through with it or not. Once he got close enough he held out his hand for Technoblade to drop the bandage into, which he did.

From up close he could see the toll his own battle had taken on the fox hybrid. A dark bruise was forming on his chin, the discolored stain of blood from a split lip rubbed away with his sleeve. He held himself stiffly, awkwardly. Probably a dislocated shoulder improperly set in the middle of fighting still bothering him. Fundy didn't meet his gaze, concentrating on twisting the gauze around his arm.

He pulled the ends firmly before tying them to stop the bleeding, Technoblade gritted his teeth against the painful pressure. Then Fundy finally took a step back.

"Thanks," Technoblade said. "I'll repay the favor sometime."

Fundy opened his mouth as if maybe he was going to respond to that. But then he bit his lip, shaking his head. "See you around, Techno," he said instead.

And for a moment, Technoblade didn't know if he meant in the arena or back home.

Fundy had disappeared around the corner before he could make up his mind.

2. Techno takes care of an injured Fundy

This is going to be one of those things they don't talk about afterward, he realizes, and that's more than fine with Technoblade.

Fundy feels warm against him - too warm, fever maybe? It's possible his wounds are infected. But the potion should take care of that. His claws are clutching the front of Techno's shirt as if desperate not to let go, chin pressed against his shoulder and breathing shallow. Techno doesn't think it's very comfortable, with the half-dried blood staining their… everything.

They're a mess, the two of them.

But Fundy sighs, and shakes minutely, tail flicking side to side a few times as he closes his eyes against the pain. Techno kind of awkwardly rests his hand against the nape of Fundy's neck to make sure he doesn't tip over. And in the silence that falls over him after the arena - when all the voices are quiet and content - it's almost comfortable.

Yes, he decides. This is definitely a thing they can not ever talk about.

Fundy's face relaxes for the first time since Techno has met him in this place, snarling and feral, pained and broken and sure to make the whole world acknowledge his worth. A worth defined by Fundy's ability to destroy and be of use to others.

Techno recognizes himself in that thought and winces.

Maybe not talking can be a good thing.

Rainwater AU: a post-apocalyptic setting where the entire world changed when all the water started turning acidic. Rainwater is most dangerous, having the ability to burn skin and leave people permanently affected, though natural pools of water are also too acidic to drink from. Wildlife and plants mutated to adapt to the change, becoming more lethal as a result. Most humans died, small pockets of survivors remain. They build solid metal domes to live in that protect them from the rain and set up special filtration devices to have usable water.

Among the survivors is Techno, who came from the now completely unaccessible realm known as the Nether - a place that experienced its own apocalyptic event at the same time the Overworld was. He lives with his best friend Phil, the last known elytrian and one of the only people in the world who remembers what the world was like before. Also living with them is Philza's son Wilbur and two orphans they took in: Tommy and Tubbo.

Traveling out of their safe zone to get supplies is a necessity, even if it's a risk. A previous trip has left Techno with acidic burns on one side of his body and blind in that eye. He still goes out though, rather being the one to put himself in danger than have his family do it. On one of these trips, Techno finds a feral little fox boy named Fundy.

1. Techno at home

Under any other circumstances, the tranquility would bother him.

Stillness would be synonymous with death, with the calm before the storm. And running has lived in his veins as much as fire and guilt have - has claimed a bigger part of Techno than he'd probably want to admit.

He doesn't enjoy sitting still.

It itches underneath his skin, more so where the burn scars are. He doesn't scratch at them anymore, not like he used to (until blood gets stuck beneath his nails). The rain makes a symphony of sound against the metal railings outside, a melody as innocuous as it is dangerous. Sometimes, the acidic smell alone is enough to imbalance him.

But it is quiet, or as quiet as it can be in their little home. He can hear Wilbur playing the guitar from his own room, he can hear Tubbo and Tommy getting up to no good in the kitchen. And next to him, Phil, humming along to Wil's song.

He's sitting on Techno's bad side because that is the only spot left open in the mess that is his bed. Techno can't see him from this angle, vision cut short. But he can feel Phil, leaning against him, arm moving slowly as he sews the patches into cloth. And it's almost cozy - almost safe.

With them, Techno feels as at home as he'll ever feel anywhere.

And while the sunrise might set him running again, for now it can be enough.

2. Techno and Fundy together

There is weight in being a survivor.

Techno carries it with him - the few scars he has that precede him meeting Phil, a small nugget of gold he remembers being pressed into his hand by an elder of the sounder, the memories of a place few have been.

And he carries them too, his company in enduring silence.

His dreams are alive with them, world full of ash and brine. Collapsing on itself and him living with the guilt left behind.

Sometimes Techno wonders if he should have died too.

They agree with him - an anger fierce and burning. It simply isn't fair that they all died and he somehow didn't. They will remind him of that forever, louder than his own thoughts. Making certain he can't escape the knowledge.

The voices make his head feel ready to burst.

Until a hand grabs onto his wrist, skin rough and calloused from work and acid burns both.

"We should find shelter," Fundy says. "There's rain coming." He turns his head towards the sky, ear flicking once. The touch on his arm is foreign, unexpected. Techno doesn't shrug it off, not even with deeper parts of his conscious telling him that he wants to - that he should.

He nods. "Lead the way."

Fundy smiles. Not a real smile, but the slight upturning twitch of his lips. Like he can't really bring himself to complete the gesture. But his hand stays where it is, even as they start walking.