Trigger Warning: Treating injury (ear), mentions of other injuries. If I missed anything let me know

XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX

Phil paced through the main rooms, making sure he could see out the front windows periodically. He'd tended to Tommy's injuries as much as he could and was letting him continue to rest. The boy really needed it.

Right now though, Phil was far more worried about his eldest sons. The last message he got from either of them had been from Techno hours ago. Three words and then nothing. No replies or follow up no matter how messages Phil sent in turn.

We was going to send his chat after them.

He wanted to, but he had to refrain.

He trusted Techno.

He had to be patient and wait and-

-They had five minutes before all of the crows in the server were hunting them down.

Phil leaned forwards against the fireplace, resting his head on the mantle. He was more stressed than he had been in a long while. His feathers were ruffled and refused to smooth down no matter how many times he absently ran his fingers over them.

It had been literal hours and it was almost dusk and-

The front door opened and Phil almost jumped out of his skin, a startled squawk popping out from his lips. Looking up he was met with the sight of Techno, looking a fair bit disheveled with more than just

specks of blood on him, and a long bundle of a person in his arms. Presumably Wilbur.

Phil's back straightened as he started to walk over, Techno making his way towards the couch but he didn't seem rushed.

"What happened?" Phil asked as he changed direction to pull the curtains closed.

Even if the light was mostly gone he wasn't risking anything.

"He got jumped." Techno answered simply and Phil could just tell there was more to that, "He's sleepin' for now, but you're going to want to look at his wings later. One was dislocated and the other I think was just, a pulled muscle or something. A mild strain by the look of it."

Phil moved over to the couch as Techno started to list off other injuries and Phil's heart sank. Looking down at his middle child Wil seemed so…peaceful at the moment. He was sleeping and the gentle expression on his face didn't match the number of bandages Phil could easily see, nor the nauseating amount of discolored patches that lingered.

"-and his ear-" Techno cut off with a wince.

"What about his ear, Tech?" Phil asked with dread as he moved to be sitting beside Wilbur on the floor.

He was reaching a hand out to tentatively check on the mentioned wound, but he was stopped by Techno's hand on his wrist. The look on his face was heartbreaking and Phil dreaded what he'd find.

"Be…be careful. He…didn't react well when I tried to treat it earlier…its really bad." Techno stated softly with his eyes to the floor.

Phil remained still as he took in his sons words and demeanor. That…that wasn't good. Techno wasn't one to overstate an injury. If he said it was bad then-

"I'm…goin' to grab a few potions." Techno informed as he let go of his father's hand and took a step back, "He's…he's going to need them."

With a worried trill Phil nodded as his brow creased deeper with his growing concerns.

"The usual shelf. Made a few new ones recently, should be easy to spot." Phil directed and Techno nodded.

Techno's attention seemed torn and Phil wondered if it was likewise concern for his brother or if his Chat was acting up. The Chattering had always been hard on Techno, especially when he was stressed. Though he'd insisted he'd gotten it under control in recent years Phil still had to wonder.

Especially when Phil could see the remnants of blood on the mans hands and stained on his shirt. Fresher and more numerous than when he left earlier to fetch Wilbur.

With a sigh Phil turned back towards Wilbur himself now. He was still safely asleep, but as Phil looked him over he could see the extra paleness of his skin against the shades of bruising and the slight stutter of his breath when he breathed in.

He could see that Techno had tended to most of the injuries already, but that didn't stop the urge he had to double over all of them. A mix of his parental instincts and his desire to know what exactly had been done to his middle child. Merely hearing about them wasn't enough. He…he needed to see them. He needed to know.

With gentle hands and an anxious croon Phil peeled back the bandages around Wilbur's head, careful not to wake him or jostle the injury. His hands trembled as splotches of blue grew with each layer pulled away. When the injury itself came into view a more distraught trill melted out of Phil's mouth. His hands hovered over the wound he honestly was afraid to touch.

Three lone spines rested, discolored, against Wil's head, the smallest of them badly bent and swollen. Potentially broken, he thought. The soft membrane that made up the webbing of his sons ear was…if it was going to be fixed it would have to be with the use of potions.

Did he have anything even remotely strong enough for that? Would there still be time to recover the appendage even if he did? What was left of the membrane was tattered and likewise discolored, some parts already looking like, like-

Phil gently wove his fingers into his sons hair and leaned over him, touching their foreheads together with a slightly stuttered and whined crooning. He placed a soft kiss into Wil' hair before nuzzling his face into the now weighed down curls. Wilbur didn't stir and as Phil leaned back up he stared down at his slumbering face. He rested his other hand against Wil's cheek, delicately tracing the trail of recently shed tears and the curve of a bruise that was distinctly palm shaped.

That made two of them now.

Two sons now whom he failed to protect in a single day.

Two sons that were injured due to his negligence and the ill will of others.

Two sons who had blood spilt by the same cruel hands in a house he should have burned.

Two sons who, by solemn vow to Death herself, Would. Be. Avenged.

"dad?"

Phil looked up at the softly spoken word, his eyes meeting with the fear tinged ones of his eldest child.

X-x-X

Techno swallowed down the unease at seeing his father when he reentered the room. He'd felt the change in the air from down the hall, but it wasn't nearly as unnerving as the sight before him when he reached the living room once more.

The man was leaned over his brother with his wings tensed and half mantled, a voidish violet shimmer casting out from within them that ate at the other light in the room. The air was chilled and the fireplace flickered rapidly as the flames themselves fought between their normal reddish orange hue and an unnatural black sheen.

His father's gifted magic was bleeding into the air without care and that was never a good thing.

When the man had lifted his head to look at him Techno isn't even ashamed to say his breath caught in his throat and his pulse quickened. What other response could be given when faced with the anger of a Demigod?

The sclera of the mans eyes were almost completely tinted black and the soft cornflower blue was replaced with a searing violet that practically glowed. The look on his face was a mix of grief and a seething rage that drew his lips into a thin firm line.

Techno had only seen this side of the other twice in his life and he himself had been far younger.

It was a side the man kept under lock and key, reserved for those that tested their luck and life too far for a living redemption. It was the form of a good man built of kindness and pressed to war in defense of all that he loves. This, was a man who would make the cruelest of tyrants know regret before his blade ever fell upon them.

The Angel of Death.

These fools had no idea what they had just unleashed upon themselves.

In the span of a breath the air shifted and the warmth returned. The fire glowed steadily and the dimness lifted from the room. His father's face softened and his eyes steadily faded back to their normal gentle appearance. He pulled his wings in close to his back and let out a shaky breath as he dropped his gaze to the floor.

"sorry, tech." Phil apologized softly as he sat back on his heels, a wavering trill leaving him as well.

Techno let out a small chuff in response as he took a slow step forwards, not of fear but of awkwardness. He could related to his father's anger, of course, but he knew the man didn't like to show that side of himself in their home. He wasn't exactly sure if he should mention it, or…not mention it…if he should ask if he was alright.

Chat, of course, was silent now and gave no guidance for a course of action.

Wilbur and Phil himself were the 'feelings' handlers in the family and while he'd learned a few things from them he…he was out of his depth here. So…he did what he knew how to do. He stated the truth.

"You don't need to apologize. Feeling pretty much on that level myself." Techno assured as he held out one of the three potions he'd grabbed.

"I should be able to control myself better." Phil replied with a disappointed breath as he gently took the offered bottle.

"Two of your kids were attacked in the same day and ransomed to the third. You're allowed to get pissed and show it." Techno reasoned with a bit of an annoyed huff, but his father shook his head with a deeper grimace.

"Its different when your immortal, Tech. Standards are higher-"

"You can't hold your emotions to a 'standard', Phil. You feel what you feel and its valid. Slappin' the label of 'immortal' or whatever on someone doesn't mean they suddenly shouldn't be able process things like everyone else. That's just…stupid." Techno stated as he took a kneeling spot beside the couch so he was even with Wilbur's head.

There was a moment of silence as Techno took a fresh look at the wound his father had unwrapped. It…didn't look any better, but it didn't look worse. He'd take what he could get. Though…unwrapping it probably hadn't been the best idea-

Techno shoved the thought down quickly as he focused on the bottles in his hands.

Beside him Phil shifted in place a moment, his wings rustling anxiously behind him. They were kept closed and laid almost flat to his back though, despite this obvious discomfort. A habit for when he was feeling particularly stressed to keep from preening them needlessly.

An anxious chirp left him but Techno could tell his father was trying to suppress it. Or at least quiet it down.

"...When exactly did you get so wise?" Phil managed to huff out with a fond light chuckle, trying to keep the tension from showing.

Techno's ear flicked as he tried to tell himself he couldn't hear it.

"About three years ago when some crazy old man chased me half way across the server because I didn't answer his text." He answered instead, voice an airy casual as if this were being asked over a cup of tea or cocoa.

"Its was half a dozen texts and several calls. I was worried." Phil defended with a small frown and a somewhat indignant chirp at the end.

"You had your chat drag me out of a training match. People thought I was going to be eaten." Techno chanced a glance back at his father, a single brow raised before looking away again.

"You didn't correct them about it."

…

"...I didn't. It was funny." Techno shrugged after a moment of pause and his father managed to let out an actual small laugh.

The heaviness in the air faded and softened until it almost felt casual.

Almost.

For a minute.

Techno could feel his father's eyes on him, or rather on his hands as he dabbed a fresh cloth with the splash potion he'd obtained before gingerly dabbing it against Wilbur's ear. Wil winced at the contact but otherwise barely stirred. Phil had leaned forwards again with a concerned chirp and was holding onto Wil's hand carefully, his thumb tracing the back over a bit of old scarring.

…

…

"Do you want me to take over?" Phil asked after a few minutes passed.

"Nah, I've got his." Techno replied without any hesitation.

They both knew he wouldn't hand off the task. He never did when it came to tending injuries his family obtained. Though, the fact that Phil had asked at all meant the mans own instincts were bearing down on him as well.

The few fights he and his father had ever had usually came down to their protective natures butting heads. Techno really didn't want to have an argument with him right now…but he'd be damned if he handed over care for Wilbur so easily.

Not after what he'd seen.

"How's Tommy doin'?" Techno asked casually as he dabbed more potion into the cloth.

They both knew what the question truly was though. More or less a kind way of telling Phil to back off and focus elsewhere. Honestly Techno was surprised he didn't end up growling the words out or something.

An improvement from the last time.

"He's fine. Sleeping in Wil's room, same as before." Phil answered, his voice just a touch clipped from what it had been a moment or so ago, "More worried about, Wil. Who is actively still bleeding."

Techno's ear twitched as he practically felt the struggle that was about to take place between them. There would be no hard feelings about it later, there never was. But that didn't make things any easier when it came to this sort of stand off.

Even his Chat, now speaking once more, was confused on if they were angry or not at the perceived 'overstepping'. On the one hand, it was Dadza, their literal father, but…on the other Wilbur, his twin, needed Techno's care right now.

A muddled Chat never led to good things for Techno.

"Wouldn't be actively bleeding if you didn't peel the bandage off while it was still fresh healin'." Techno stated bluntly, this time a with a rumble of warning in his chest.

There was no harsh intent or heat, but it was admittedly a sharp comment all the same. Techno wanted to logically say he understood where his father was coming from. Of course he did. But at the moment his instincts prickled and only told him that his work had been undone and now he needed to fix it.

He needed to fix the harm done to his other half.

His Chat seemed to be in fair agreement on that point as well, which only made Techno feel more snappy.

"Techno-"

"It's fine. I've got this. Its not even bleedin' that bad any-"

"Technoblade" Phil's voice was firm and edged and it drew Techno's eyes up instantly.

His father's gaze was sharp and his mouth was drawn back into a thin line once more. It wasn't fully a scowl but there was hardly a thread of difference between the looks. The only separation being a lack of coldness to it, making it more of a scolding and less of a threat. Still the rumbling in Techno's chest ceased and he was more on edge as he stared back, form rigid, not even daring to blink and risk upsetting the current silence.

This was a battle of wills and words were not at all required.

Even Chat was waiting to see what would happen.

Who would break first.

Unlike their former fights this one seemed a lot more…

Just…

More.

Techno couldn't find a word for it at the moment, but he could feel the charge in the air and it wasn't from excess magic.

Stubborn as he was, Techno prided himself on not being a complete idiot.

Jaw tightly closed Techno forced out at steadying breath as he nodded in concession. His chest was tight and he had to force himself to relax as he carefully pushed himself onto his feet. He swallowed hard to keep any noises to himself in the process.

He had gotten used to pushing down his instincts, true, but that didn't mean it had gotten easier. Right now, in his very bones, he wanted nothing more than to curl over Wilbur until he fixed what was hurt. He wanted to growl and snarl until his father left him to his work.

But something about his father's gaze told him that wouldn't happen. Not this time. If Techno didn't back down they would argue and probably even physically brawl over it. He didn't think Wilbur would handle waking up to that very well.

He also didn't want to risk hurting his father…or losing to him.

X-

Breathe

Can't hurt Family

Wilbur is still hurt

Dadza can help

Technomedic

Dadza medic too

Our brother

Ours

One of Us

Ours to protect

Sounder

Family

Brother

Need to help

X-

Techno closed his eyes as he worked to push his Chat to the back of his mind. He really didn't need their input right now when he was already fighting his instincts over the hand off.

As soon as Techno had taken steps enough back from the couch his father had extended a wing out to block Wilbur from Techno's view. It didn't help all that much, but Techno doubted that was the point. Phil had moved up to be sitting on the couch itself beside Wilbur and Techno could hear the sounds of rustling fabric and the slosh of potions.

His hand twitched sharply and a whine tried to crawl out of his throat.

He-

He needed to leave the room.

The proximity to Wilbur was only making it worse and his father would need the space anyway. With a distressed grumbled grunt Techno turned to leave. He headed towards the basement.

X-x-X

At the bottom of the stairs Techno looked to the side towards where Wil's room was.

Where Tommy was.

He took a deep breath and shook his head lightly. Chat had yet to calm and it now felt like little needles trying to dig into his brain for more attention.

He wouldn't give them that.

Not now.

Instead, Techno turned towards the space that had been turned into a downstairs living room. The fireplace had been lit since he'd left and the room had gone from an uncomfortably chilly place to a more manageable warmth. Still colder than Techno would prefer, but it wasn't like he wasn't used to it anyway.

The basement had always sort of been a 'cool haven' for the rest of his family, whereas it had generally been the opposite for him. Unless he was in the workshop with the forge going, the heat built up and kept better there.

Yes, he could handle cold, but he didn't exactly enjoy it. Piglins were hardy and could handle a lot in ways of temperature, but that didn't change their preference towards the hotter regions. Techno, magic born or not, was no exception.

In truth, even earlier knowing that Tommy needed the cold kept down here Techno had still been relieved when his father had mentioned heating the rest of the place up.

Tommy.

Techno looked towards the hallway that lead towards the younger boy.

Sleeping.

Resting.

Recovering.

It didn't sit well in his stomach, but Techno still kept himself rooted to the couched he'd dropped onto. He wanted to go see his brother. He wanted go and run a hand through the boys hair like he used to. He wanted to pick him up and hold him like he had when Tommy used to get sick.

Back when Tommy was small and his wings were little more than white clouds on his back he'd get sick fairly often. Despite being closer to Wilbur Tommy always sought out Techno when he was feeling ill. Without ever questioning it Techno would pick him up and curl the small boy against his chest and they'd tuck one place or another and merely rest together.

Sure, Techno got sick more than a few times himself because of it, but he'd rarely minded.

X-

Long time ago

Couldn't touch him now

Scaredinnit

He was scared

Going to get sick again

Sibling slumber pile?

X-

Techno shook his head again. Calmer voices were speaking now, but they were still muddled and bringing up things he couldn't or didn't want to follow right now.

Was that selfish of him?

He didn't hold any of what happened today against his siblings in any way, he never would. But, that didn't take the ache of exhaustion from him any. His body was strained in places and he felt like his brain was going to overheat if he didn't just…let it empty for a while.

He needed a rest.

Surely it wouldn't be selfish of him to take a few moments.

Just a little bit of time to not think about the last twenty-four hours of his life.

Just a bit of a rest, and then he'd go see Tommy.

He just…needed to close his eyes a second.

X-Xx-0-xX-X

It came as a surprise to no one that Tommy did, in fact, fall ill in the following days. It surprised the family even less when Wilbur insisted Tommy stay in his room for the duration of it so that the cold there could help battle the fever. The actual surprise in the situation was for Techno alone when Tommy refused and even attempted a few times to escape to his own room instead.

It was apparently a common enough issue that Wilbur and Phil both warned Techno to keep an eye and ear out for signs of Tommy making a move. Though it wasn't like the younger blond wouldn't get caught the second he left Wil's room anyway.

Wilbur, unable to just share his room with his sick brother due to his own compromised condition, had been migrated to the sofas in the downstairs living room. A place that had perfect view down the hall and to Wil's door. The second it opened Wil would be able to see and raise the alarm.

Wilbur himself had come down with a minor sort of cold, though his was notably due to amount of healing his body was trying to do all at once. It wasn't a common occurrence, but it had happened once or twice when he was younger so they at least knew how to handle it. A Phantom thing as far as their father had managed to find.

A bit of rest and a few super nutrient heavy meals would be enough to get him back on his feet…relatively speaking. But that was a worry for later.

The main worry right now for Techno was Tommy and the bedroom door he had locked and now refused to open.

Apparently Tommy's answer to being denied an out to his own room was to ensure no one could enter the one he was in. Techno sighed as he looked down to the tray of food he was trying to deliver. A hardy potato soup he'd made himself while their father was…busy.

Tommy had used to love it when they were younger and he wasn't feeling well. Techno had hoped that…it might work now too. That perhaps the offering from their childhood would open some sort of dialogue between them other than being told to get out.

Techno tried not to let that hurt…but it did.

With their father Tommy at least begrudging talked and answered questions. He allowed the man to check over his injuries enough to change any bandages he couldn't do up himself, which he insisted on. The few interactions Wilbur was able to have with the younger were more bantery than anything. With Techno though…

Tommy didn't allow Techno so much as to adjust his blankets.

The first few days had been tense and awkward when Tommy had woken up. Silent stares paired with fidgets and tensing whenever Techno got close or moved to touch him. It had been hard, but Techno couldn't help but think it was almost better than their current state of being.

Tommy, at every turn, was telling Techno one way or another to leave. Whether it was through 'subtle' remarks about other things to do, or just outright demanding him to go. The last time Techno even tried to touch Tommy it had, quite literally, been in an attempt to adjust the younger boys blanket. Tommy had flinched back from him before cussing up a storm and demanding Techno to quite colorfully 'fuck off'.

Wilbur offered his best sympathetic look and stated 'teenagers' before leaving it at that. When asked Phil had even confirmed that, yea, this is just how Tommy was when sick.

Techno wasn't sure what felt the most off about it all. The fact that Tommy had gone from seeking out cuddles and physical comfort when feeling unwell, or that his family just…accepted that change. Techno wasn't the most tactile of people by any means, but he knew that wasn't just a…a switch that flipped.

Not without reason.

He was…sort of hoping to talk to Tommy about it but…well…

Currently the locked door before him shielded Tommy from the lot of them. The door wasn't supposed to be locked at all for obvious reasons right now. If their father was available he'd most likely have a few choice words for Tommy at the action.

But, it was Techno at its front.

He let out a sigh and let his hand drop from the handle.

"Tommy. Open the door." Techno called out with a heavy breath.

"Fuck off." Came the predicable reply.

Techno missed when it sounded in good humor and not…

"Your soup is going to get cold." Techno tried again, ignoring the trickling words from Chat about breaking the door in.

Tempting…honestly tempting.

"I don't want your fucking soup. Leave me alone." Tommy called out, voice nasally as he battled down a sniffle.

Techno let out another heavy breath.

Its not like he couldn't replace the door or lock if he busted them right now…

"He giving you trouble again?" Wilbur asked from nearby.

Techno didn't turn to face him just yet as he adjusted the tray in his hands once more and tried for the handle as he spoke again.

"As if he were being paid to." Techno huffed out as the handle once more resisted being turned, "He'd be making a killing right now if he was."

It honestly wouldn't take much to pop it. He doubted Wilbur would mind so long as he promised to fix it.

"Want me to bring it in? Talk to him?" Wilbur offered, his voice closer now.

Looking over his shoulder Techno's frown deepened at the sight of his other brother. Wilbur was stood just a few feet off from him, leaning heavily against the wall on his right side. He was trying not to make it obvious, but it was hard not to see.

The strained smile on Wil's face showed he was trying not to notice it as well.

"You're not supposed to be up, Wil." Techno stated bluntly as he tilted his head, "And I know you didn't just offer to use your powers in your condition either."

A sheepish smile crossed Wilbur's face before he easily swept it aside with a more attemptedly amused one.

"Technically I only offered to bring Tommy lunch, so-"

"Get back on the couch before I plant you there myself." Techno directed bluntly, his expression baring a distinct lack of amusement.

Wilbur sighed and crossed his arms as safely as he could.

"I'm not even sick anymore, I can move around." Wil complained with the start of a pout, "My legs are getting restless."

"Just because your fever is gone now doesn't mean you aren't still sick." Techno protested as he now turned from the door to face his twin head on, "I can see your hands shaking from here so, restless legs or not, you shouldn't be standing."

Wilbur's pout deepened as he sighed with a heavy eye roll.

"You're worse than dad."

"That's because unlike him your 'puppy eyes' don't work on me." Techno replied plainly.

"I don't use 'puppy eyes', that's a Tommy thing." Wilbur brushed off with wave of one of his hands.

Techno's looked flattened further at his words and he could tell Wilbur had noted such.

"You literally taught him that look. You use it just as much as he does. He's just better at it because he still has a baby face." Techno stated as he moved to place Tommy's food tray on a nearby table.

Wilbur noted this as well and straightened up a bit as his pout dropped into a slightly more alert look. He had one hand on the wall now as he tried to stand apart from it.

"What are you d-"

"I told you to go back to the couch." Techno answered as he started to take a few steps towards the other.

"I'm fine, Tech. Look, see? Still standing and I'm f-fine." Wilbur snapped his mouth shut at his slight stammer.

He had pushed himself off the wall enough to be on his own, but Techno could see the waver in his legs. Standing still Wilbur at least was managing to balance himself, but it was weak at best. Still, Techno paused and stared his brother down, crossing his arms as Wilbur tried to give his best 'everything is just peachy' smile.

"Sure. Sure you are. Things are so 'fine' I'm sure you want to come right over here to show me." Techno stated, watching as his brother's expression strained and he grew a touch pale, "Its only a few steps. Surely being 'fine' you'd be able to manage that."

Wilbur swallowed and Techno waited for him to either break and give in, or to actually try a step. With it being Wilbur it was an honest toss up.

Techno watched as Wil's eyes glanced at the floor, counting steps as he flexed a hand at his side anxiously. With a nod Wilbur gave Techno a mildly determined look, straightening his back a bit more.

"Just a few steps." He stated and Techno internally sighed.

With a deep breath Wilbur, trying to keep his hands at his sides, took a slow and inching step forwards with his left foot. It dragged on the carpet a bit but Techno said nothing. Just as he said nothing as Wilbur's face brightened at the small ever so slight forward progress. Honestly, the look hurt Techno more than anything as he awaited for Wil's next move.

Wilbur wobbled a bit as he shifted his weight onto his left foot, readying himself to slip his other one forwards. However, the second he started to put any sort of weight onto his right foot his body weaved heavily towards the wall once more. Wilbur let out a short yelp as he did so, but before he hit the wall he was grabbed and tugged against Techno's chest.

They were just about the same height when standing normally, but right now Wilbur wasn't, making it all the easier for Techno to tuck him under his chin. Wilbur let out a defeated sigh while Techno chuffed and carefully used a hand to press his brothers head against him.

"not ready to be on your feet yet, orpheus." Techno gently scolded as he held his brother.

"Orpheus? Really?" Wilbur chuckled as he tried to regain his feet.

Techno wasn't giving him a chance though and with a swift motion had Wilbur lifted up bridal style. Wilbur let out a mildly annoyed grunt but didn't fight it. Techno in turn let out a more pleased chuffing at that, knowing his brother realized any fight against him was a lost cause.

"Am I some love sick harpist, forlorn at the loss of my dearest one?" Wilbur continued on with a wave of his hand as Techno carried him back towards the couch at the end of the hall.

"One, he played a Lyre, gifted to him by Apollo himself." Techno corrected without missing a beat, "And second, you both have a habit of trying to do things before you're actually in the clear to do so."

"I fail to see the similarity, so you're wrong." Wilbur replied dismissively, earning an eye roll for Techno.

"Do you now? You want me list them out for you? Cus there are a couple points, in fact." Techno stated as he set his brother down, already reaching for a blanket to cover the other back up.

Wilbur rolled his eyes as he snatched said blanket from Techno's hands. The flat look Wil gave as he carelessly tugged it over himself was not lacking for sass and it almost drew a smirk onto Techno's face. Instead, though, Techno only gave him a disapproving frown as he stood back to his full height and crossed his arms pointedly.

"With all your 'mother hen-ing' you should have been born an Avian like dad." Wilbur mused.

Techno snorted a laugh at that, his stern face breaking for the moment.

"Maybe, but mom's 'Wild Magic' decided you two nerds needed something a bit stronger than him." He chuckled out.

"Still think you're stronger then dad?" Wilbur asked, his smile spreading wide over his face.

"Without magic and potions? Of course." Techno replied with a smile that was just shy of being a 'Tommy' level of cheeky, "With moms magic on hand or one of his potions? …Eh, like fifty-fifty."

"Fifty-fifty? I think too many victories in the arena has blown your ego out, Tech." Wilbur laughed out.

It wasn't one of his shrill or bursting laughs, but it was soothing. Techno could almost miss the slightly off feel of it, or the way Wil's head tilted a bit too crooked to the right at the sound.

It was enough to pull the soft look off his face once more, dipping back into a more serious one. Though Techno at least tried to keep it on the gentler side.

"I know you want to help with Tommy, but he's not the only one who needs to recover." Techno stated, bringing them back around to their prior conversation, "I can handle Tommy, moods and all. What I can't handle is you trying to walk around and potentially going sideways into a wall where no one here would be able to get you out. Without taking it down before your power gave out at least."

Wilbur grimaced but nodded all the same. By the look on his face Techno knew he was taking in the warning for what it was and not just being placating. Setting down his own protective desires in order to comply with Techno's demands. It was both a relief and a concern really, as it tugged at an old memory.

It was from fairly long ago, during one of the rare visits their mother was able to make. He and Wilbur were freshly turning thirteen and Tommy had still been eight or so. It was the age that both Wilbur and Techno's instincts were starting to really present and flare, often times clashing with each other and their father.

Back then even the smallest disagreements could become brawls as neither twin ever backed down from the other. Techno remembered bitterly cursing Wilbur for his stubbornness many times. Even with Techno being physically stronger and winning most of their scuffles Wilbur had never once given in before it got that far.

Especially if it involved something to do with Tommy.

Dealing with the feisty and clingy eight year fledgling even without the fights had been a task. During one of their spats, one that revolved around him? Tommy had been practically impossible. Especially when many of said issues had been in battling against their protective and possessive urges over their normal desires to mess with their youngest sibling or defend him from the other.

Their mother, amused, had called the boys a 'perfect storm'.

Her Perfect Storm.

It had been, Techno thought, in reference to their stubbornness and 'dogged determination to drive their father mad'. In her own words. It had been in good humor of course, spoken with a laugh few would expect to be so warm coming from the Goddess of Death herself.

He missed her laugh.

She had told Techno back then, or rather warned him really, that their traits were like a knife. With care and attention they could be effective tools, powerful when wielded together. However, without proper tending they could also grow dull, weak, or wild. Something breakable or haphazard that would cut whatever hand came close, regardless of intention, or fall before the feet of another with little urging.

Techno had thought, at the time, that he'd known what she meant.

Their traits, their instincts and urges, were something to be curbed. Not suppressed or hidden exactly, but something to be trained and molded into a usable asset. He'd taken those words to heart. Lived by them for years.

As Techno stared down at his brother, his twin, his other half younger by mere minutes…he questioned it now. Wilbur, as per his norm, was testing his boundaries, however, he caved easily each time he found them. He offered sheepish glances and apologies, banter between them, but…he didn't fight Techno on much. Even if he did it didn't take long for Techno to outlast his now meager stubbornness.

Unlike Tommy who seemed to be nothing but fight and refusals. A damning determination paired with sharp wit and a quick tongue.

Techno couldn't help but think of their mother's words, the image of two different blades. One, blunt but polished for show and the other naught but sharp edges with no handle by which to hold it.

The more he considered it the more it worried him. The more wrong it seemed to him. The more broken.

He was going to fix this.

"I'm going to break the lock."

"You're going to what-"