Trigger warnings: Sever panic attack, mental distress, a lot of mentions of blood, dead bodies and stab wounds. Injuries received and care for them including but not limited to dislocated limbs, torn skin, broken bones, ect.

Despite the warnings I promise there is a fluff abundance here.

X-XX-X

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B̶̢̡̛̞̹̗̺̪̮͗̏̌́͆̋͋͝͝Ḷ̴͉͉͉̪͕̲̦̹͎͚̮̘̍̐̽̍̏̈͆͛̊́͑̂͘͝Ǫ̸̛̺̹̯̥̹̬̻͚̹͓̈͆͊̑̿̉̅̊̓̂̽̕͠O̵̢͙̗͎̩͕̩͇̖͙̫̝̭̍̈́̓̓̏̋́̿̌̇̈́͘D̴̜̣̞̳̻̎̈͗̌͊̅͘ ̸̢̜͙̗̹̈́̋̈͒̏̃̑̓̒̇͗͠F̷̧̯̱̭̫̪͚̔͝ͅƠ̷̥̈́́R̴̨̛̳͖̖̣̘͎̈̈͒ ̵̹̞͍̝͇̮͕̙̐̿̐́̾̓͜T̵̥̬̃̿͑͛̏̈̓̅̚͝H̷̟̟̜͍̿̇Ê̷̛̙̺̈́̈̀̽͗̆̓̀ ̶̧̧̻̟̪͚͖̝̘̥̼̲͔͒̅͑̔͒͗ͅB̶̨̡̛̥̟̻̬͍̞͖̥͇̬͐̔̃̈́̈̚̚̚L̶͇̻͌͌͊͆͋̋̌̂͘͠͠͠͝Ǫ̶̧͈̥̬̥̲͕͔̮̫̩̤̊͐͜Ơ̴̤̭̥̯̓̈̽D̶͙̦̝̲͐̈́͛ ̵̨̰͈̦̥̦̘̥͓̺̭̘̲͈̊̓͌̈́͊̈́̓́̆̇̕͠G̷͔̲̤͉̽̓́̔̄͐͗̀́̔̄̊̚ͅO̸͕͎̩̫͙̾̈̊̈̌̅́̂̈̇D̸̙͙͐̓̏̊̃͆̇̿͘͠

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Ď̵̞͉̭͍̤̪̟̣̘͈͎̅̔͊̉̀͑͘Ȇ̴͓̯̜͖̘̠̠͍̫̠̖̜̮͌͂̉̌̑̀̓̓̈́͘͝͠A̷̘̿̓͑̈́͐͛̾͋̿̾̒̀̿̕̕T̶̢̢̺͕̭͓̠̥̩̈̒̄͠H̴͉͓̠̣̿́̓͝

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C̶̛̱͎̎̄̎̑̾̀̀͐͒̕Ŗ̴͚̞̬̲͔̖̹͇́̍̅͆̿̌̍̔̈́͠Ǘ̸͉̞͚̠͙̱̜̉͒̆̀̇̄͂̚͜S̴͍̩͈͙̬̭͇͚̩̗̭̃̔͗̄̊̈́̈͂̈́̓̅H̶̝̻͍͗̏̿̆͛

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Ş̵̘̩̺̦̀͋͛̓̃̔̏̍͜T̵̢͕̗̙͔̰̰̥͑̑̏̒͋̃͊̇̕͝A̴͖̩̲͌̂̆̆̇̀̓͘B̸̧̰̼̼̫̪̻̱̥͈̅͗̉̽̆̀̕͜͜

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T̵̗͍̜̼̞̖͈͚̋̍͐͛͜ͅȨ̴̒̓͑̿̓̕A̶̧̖͙̭̤͈̫͌̋͋̐͜R̵͇͔̜͙̳̳̝̠̰̣̆́̅̐̎̈͗͊̍͑ ̷̞̬̊̓̎̈́̈́͛̉Ṭ̸̹̞̭̠͝H̸̛̯͖̗̜̪̆͝Ė̷̢͓̰͕̝͝M̵̡͈̙̦̝̖̣̻̬̒̍̄́͆ ̸̛͖̭̥̱̰͉͙̆̉̉͝A̸̧͔̻̩͉̪̠͕̤͌́̾̉̕ͅP̸̨͈͇̮̖͔̍̔̚A̴̢̛̹͆̆̎̋̄͊̈̆R̸͈̙͓̝̻̤͕̽̇̐͋͋̓T̴̙̲̗͑̓͛̀̏̽̓̇̍͘

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B̵̡͍͉̼̟͉̮͉̠̗̊̀Ļ̵̡̢̮̲̟̤̞̫̽̎͊̈́̓̀̎͜Ó̷̙̝̻̑͗̈́̈̈́̂̕͘͠O̸̧̙̲͉̜̺̓͜D̶̨̢̛̺͈̻̣̺̭͈͉͗̎̚

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B̴͍͓̫̘̖͎̱̓̀͜͜L̵̢̰̯̘̜̯̙͇͑̀̅̃͌͠Ő̵̢͖̘̻͇̜̬͙͉̻́́͌̓̊͘͜O̴̼̔̉̎͒̓͝Ḑ̸̧͈̤̜̯̇̔͝

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B̵̩͔̝̪͉̝̘̦̫͉́̅͂͊̄́̂͋̃̅̈́̉̐̑̓̋͜͠ͅL̴͖̈̈́̎̀̏̅͌̍̕͝ͅO̶̡̥̘̲̰̦̟̼̳̲͕͚̬͋̆̊́̚͝Ǫ̵̘̺͈̘̲̞͍̺̥̱͔̲̎͐̌̊́̉̇Ḑ̷̡̗̤̘̠̻̬̳͙͕̘͚͓̱̇̈́̏̍͋͂̐̒̚

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Ŗ̸̘̫͖͓͌̀̄͌Ë̸̫̣͈̤́͗̈́̎̃̍̐͗͝V̸̡̹̺͕̜̪̦̞̭̙̑̔̒̔̆̔E̵̼̞̤̹̬̗͉̒̂ͅẶ̵̳̦̣̬̖̱͘͝Ǹ̴̙̞͑̊́͑͂̃͒̀̐͘Ǧ̵̳̗̻͔̍͌̈̿̏͗ͅE̴̲̦̫͔̲̤̖̝̥̕

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F̷͕̲̒̕O̵̬̬͓̭͙̯͑͘R̶͚͊̿͛͂̒̉͝͝͝ ̸̨̛̯̤͐̍͒͆̑͂̉̽̈́̀T̶̻͉̺͙͗̽̆̑͒̀͂̑Ḧ̴̺͍̪͓͓̙̠͉́Ê̵̤̰͉͍͉̌̾ ̸͈͙̜̱̻̜̱̱̝̇͝ͅͅḂ̶̤̦̯͔̘̗̪̖̲͙L̷̘͇̈́̈Ơ̵͙̟̭͈̟̳̘͖̗̹̐̀̒́̈́͠Ǒ̴̢͖̻͖̟̭̞̫̯͈̩́͊͐͌͘D̴̞͔̅̇̚ ̵̢̦̰̗̖̬́́̏̓̈́͝ͅG̸̛̖̺̃̑̉͒̀̌͘̕͠O̶͓̟̯͙͔̱̊̊̆D̷̛̥̪̬̤͔̘̈́͊̒̽̅̎̾̚͠

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F̴̱̮̞̠̆̋̈̀̈́͋͝Ơ̶̠̻͎̟̰̮̰̗̗̾͒̀̕R̴̯͈̖̈͒̇͐̐̇̀͐͝ ̶̝̟̪̭̋̓̑̍͆̈́͠Ơ̷̜̦͑̈̃́͊̕͝U̷̻͇̍̈́̓͑̄̎̾͆͠R̷̨̧͎̎̊̓͋͛̔̿͌̈̽ ̷͉͎͈̟̭̞̩̘̬̤̯̓́́͋͑̎̂B̷̡̾̄̍̆̑͋̅̚ͅR̶̻̞͊̌̓Ŏ̸̢̟͓͙̦̮̜͚͂̏̚̕͝Ṫ̵̛̼̳̜͈̹͙́̈̌́̀̑͂͝H̸̢̛̙͛͐̅͗̾̐͌̀͝Ẹ̵̖͚̳̙̻͎͙͓̰͒͒̄R̸͚͓̭͓͈̲̖͂̔̇͐̎̔̀́͒̓Ŝ̶̡̙̝̻͍̊̂̿̎̔͊͠͝

Xx-XxX-xX

Panting heavily Techno stared down at the mess before him. It was a body, though right now it only looked like ravaged meat. The was an enchanted curved blade sticking out of the pile and his hands were warm with crimson mess.

Chat.

His Chattering.

He could still hear them as they bellowed and screamed in his head for blood. More blood. More vengeance. They had frenzied and he had lost himself.

X-

Brother

B̷̨͋L̸̟̯̀͠O̴̧͂͑O̸͕͓̿̄D̸̟͗͘

Hurt

D̴̘̍̅Ë̷͉̟A̴̗̻͌T̵̪̳͗͝H̷͚̼̔

Help

X-

He forced himself onto his feet as a singular voice whispered through the cloud of hate. Reminded him of why he needed to regain control.

He swallowed hard as he turned from the body, sharply stopping when his gaze landed on his brother. His heart clenched and Chat faltered in its demands.

X-

Hurtbur

Go to him

Needs help

Ḅ̸͝L̴̩̀O̴̺̕Ó̶͓D̷̹̀

He's covered in blood.

Help him

Brother

Little brother

X-

With a stumbling step Techno dropped beside Wilbur, hands hovering a moment as he was unsure of what to tend to first. There was red spackled all over him, but it was the blue that he feared most. As a Phantom Wilbur's blood was thinner than most, which made bleeding a fast process for him. Given how easily the blue stained all it touched as well it was usually hard to say if an injury were serious or just had been wiped carelessly.

Techno didn't have to question what he saw before him.

Wilbur's face was pale and covered in dark bruising and smears of blood. His cheek was split open and nose looked like it might have been broken as well. His right eye was dark and already swelling up notably. Looking lower he could see the clearly defined hand marks around his brother's neck.

Techno let out a heartbroken chuff as he tenderly touched his brother's face. He could see from Wil's eyes that the other was barely awake, much like Tommy had been-

Wilbur's eyes fluttered and his breath caught as if he had been trying to respond to the chuffing, but no noise came out, not even a chitter.

Without thinking Techno leaned over and pressed his forehead to Wilbur's, letting out loud and firm chuffs. Assuring ones to tell his brother he was here. His big brother was here and he was safe now. Careful not to butt heads Techno still bumped and nudged tenderly as well, his arms wrapping ever so gently around Wil's shoulders.

Wilbur barely managed to roll his head to the side enough to nudge back before a relieved breath seemed to leave him. When he stopped moving after that Techno lifted his head quickly. Wilbur was unconscious and for a second Techno started to panic. All he could see was Tommy before him, not breathing, before it flickered to Wilbur, also not breathing.

Only he was.

Before he fully lost his shit a small voice in the Chattering pointed out the rise of Wilbur's chest. He was breathing. He was alive. Techno had made it and Wilbur was still alive.

X-

Bleeding

TechnoMedic

X-

Swallowing hard Techno nodded to his Chatterings words. It took him an extra moment to move again however.

First he had to focus on the bigger issues. Like the bleeding of his brother's shoulder. It looked like that bastard had use the knife on his tied up sibling. If he were still alive Techno was sure he would flay him with that knife.

But he wasn't and this wasn't the time to think about that. As soon as he could stop the major bleeding he could safely concern himself with moving Wilbur to a different room. It was too bright to safely move his brother out of the house and even then there were far too many injuries to risk long distance travel without full care. Preferably care given in a room that didn't reek of blood, death and so, so much trauma.

Xx-xX

Given the last things he remembered Wilbur was surprised when he woke up in neither a basement nor his bedroom. It was a bedroom though. At least that was a plus…maybe.

He hadn't lifted his head yet as it was still pounding. In fact, his body as a whole was still achy and stung in more places than he ever cared to know even could hurt.

So, he hadn't respawned.

Another plus….maybe.

He could hear movement in the hall or room or whatever was behind the closed door. Even as groggy as he was he…he didn't think he should be afraid of it. The scuffled steps on wood sounded far too familiar.

Taking a breath Wilbur finally chanced looking down at himself, though not without wincing at the pain in his neck. He didn't want to think about that.

He was still wearing his yellow sweater, though by now the fabric was well stretched and torn in places and bore various stains that looked like someone had tried scrubbing out. It had been one of his favorite sweaters…but honestly after today he didn't think he'd mind throwing it out.

He could feel more than see the bandages that wrapped around his torso as he dare to shift. He couldn't help the gasp of pain as he jostled his wings with the action. He didn't notice the sounds outside the room stopped and instead was more focused on the fact that one of his wings was, in fact dislocated still.

That wasn't going to be fun to fix.

Leaning to his right he tried to use his good arm to push himself into a sitting position, but was halted as the door to the room opened suddenly. There was a brief flickering of fear in his chest before be registered the color pink as the somewhat blurred figured rapidly approached.

"*wilbur?*"

His name was spoken softly and in piglin as Techno stopped beside the bed. With the other no longer moving Wilbur could see the creases of worry on his face. He was already leaning over and reaching out to cup Wil's cheek, which Wilbur readily allowed.

Techno sank down onto the bed as Wil pressed into his hand, easily being pulled forwards into a hug. Assuring chuffs were given as Techno nudged his head and tightly wrapped his arms around Wil's shoulders. Wilbur just melted into it, bumping and nudging his head back to mimic the piglin display of affection. He tried to chitter or even just to hum out a murmured purr, but he couldn't get more than a muted huff at best.

Muted or not Techno seemed to have noticed the struggle and pulled back, though Wilbur didn't want him too. He still very much wanted to be hugged because he wasn't exactly feeling okay right now. He opened his mouth to protest but was met with a finger pressed against his lips.

"*Quiet*" Techno directed, though with a slight wince.

The Piglin language wasn't exactly a…delicate one and more often than not even simple directives came across as pointed and harsh. Wilbur could see his brother now mulling over the words in his head, taking care to pick one that was what he needed without being rude. As if Wilbur would ever take offense to something like that.

If he was honest Wilbur was more worried about the fact that Techno was using Piglin tongue with him, even if he did know it.

"*Stay*" Techno decided on, using a hand motion to denote the bed.

Standing up Techno paused before placing his finger before his own lips as he stared back at Wilbur.

"*Quiet*"

Wilbur sighed but nodded as he got the idea. No speaking. Honestly, with how his throat was feeling he wasn't overly eager to use it anyway. It…it wasn't going to be permanent. It…wasn't.

After lingering for another moment or so Techno left the room, but this time with the door open. Wilbur could see there was light outside, and not just from lanterns or candles. Sunlight. It wasn't particularly bright anymore, but that was fine by Wil.

Though, it did bring the room he was in into question. Looking around Wilbur could see the few windows in said room had been covered up by what looked like old blankets or something. Though one window had an entire dresser placed before it.

Light proofed.

It wasn't done up quickly with blocks either so…most likely Techno had done it in an instinct driven haze. That part…that part made Wilbur feel guilty. He knew his brother would have covered it all anyway but, knowing he had triggered something that Techno didn't particularly like coming out…

Wilbur hated that he had so quickly fallen back into being a burden for his brother. He was supposed to be stronger than this. Strong enough to support Techno, not weigh him down further. His brother had already had to save Tommy when Wil failed to keep him safe in the fist place. Now, after all that Wil was-

Wilbur jumped as something cold touched his face.

Looking up he realized Techno had come back into the room, a glass bottle in hand. A concerned chuff filled the air between them as Techno's brow furrowed with returning worry. Wilbur couldn't muster a sound and so just shook his head instead.

"*Drink*" Techno directed, once more holding the bottle towards Wil.

Taking it into his non-injured hand Wilbur looked at it. The bottle was partly filled with a red substance. It was a pale red, but Wilbur could still recognize a healing potion when he saw one. It would be weak but, well, better than nothing.

Wilbur didn't hesitate in drinking the few sips of potion there was, letting out a sigh as he could feel tension and soreness ease out of his throat. He had closed his eyes and didn't bother opening them even as he felt the bottle being taken from his hand.

Wilbur also didn't so much as flinch as he felt Techno's arm wrap behind him and lift him up. Though…he did question when he was set back down and was in Techno's lap…kind of. Techno had slid himself behind Wilbur on the bed and had Wil propped against his chest, being especially mindful of his wings. Wil could feel the protective rumbling as careful hands gently continued to look him over.

As much as Wilbur appreciated the attention, this was more of a….of a 'Tommy and Techno' thing. When they were kids it was Tommy who would get the snuggled lap time and Wilbur would get hugs and head bumps and a late night slumber pile. It was…nice, actually. If not for the guilt that came with it.

Wilbur was brought out of his head once more when he flinched sharply away from Techno's hands with a pained whine. Techno had been following the trail of blood on his neck and had brushed against his damaged ear.

Techno let out an apologetic chuff and carefully nudged the back of Wil's head. Wilbur let out a tensed breath as he tried and failed once more to let out a assuring chitter. Instead he tried his best to use words in its place.

" 's okay, tech." Wil managed to rasp out.

It wasn't as bad as he thought it would sound, but it wasn't exactly his voice either. Techno let out a whine at the sound but Wil only shook his head.

"I'll get better." Wil stated, in equal parts for both of them really.

Techno huffed out a breath behind him but seemed to be leaving it at that for now. His hands instead going back to Wil's hair and carefully pulling it away until he could see the damage more clearly. From the distressed noise Techno proceeded to make Wilbur didn't want to know what it looked like.

Careful fingers landed lightly on the spine of his ear and ghosted down until Wilbur couldn't stop the pained inhale and shudder down his body. Instantly the hand was gone and instead Wilbur found himself once more compressed by his elder siblings arms in a solid embrace.

"i- i'm okay. i'm okay now." Wilbur whispered even as he allowed himself to sink further against his brother.

Techno held him for a while before leaning over towards the nightstand. Wilbur hadn't bothered to look it over, but as he followed Techno's movements he found a few things placed there. Aside from the used potion bottle there was a small bowl of water, a few rolls of bandages and what looked like…what looked like shards of a communicator.

Wilbur looked down at his bandaged arm quickly. It only now occurred to him that the injury had already been seen to and was no longer peppered with the remnants of the device. His arm still hurt immensely of course, but he was able to move it again, along with some fingers.

He was honestly glad he was unconscious for that.

The roll of bandages were placed in his lap as Techno leaned back to the nightstand. He dipped his hand into the bowl of water and pulled out a slightly already used cloth, squeezing out the access water and a bit of blue that hadn't fully taken to the fabric.

Wilbur braced himself as Techno settled behind him again. Once more a gentle hand sifted through his hair and lifted the tangled and still rather tacky mess up and away from his ear. Tensing further Wil couldn't hold back the whimper or shudder as the cold wet cloth pressed against the wound there. It was a soft touch, but that did nothing to make it hurt any less. His ears were sensitive on a good day and this was certainly not a good day.

Techno tried to make soothing noises behind him as he kept his hand still.

"I-I'm okay. It's okay-" Wil breathed out, his voice shaky and broken in places, "I-its okay."

His breathing picked up as he tried to focus on anything other than the pain in his ear. The shuddering didn't stop though, instead it only seemed to spread out into the rest of his body. He closed his eyes tight as he tried to remind himself to breath evenly. To focus. To breath. To focus.

To take in his surroundings.

Think of a way out.

"I'm okay. i'm okay. i'm okay-" Wilbur repeated, voice wavering as he felt the cold stone at his back and the looming shadow above him-

A strong arm wrapped around his chest and Wilbur lifted his good hand up to grasp onto it. He was panicking. He knew that. Logically he knew that. But that didn't stop the voice from speaking into his ear-

"So predictable. Feral too-"

The fingers from curling around his ear and refusing to let go. Skin tearing-

"No. I don't think I will-"

Cold eyes looking down at him as his head was held in place.

"You see, Wilbur, you have caused me a fair bit of losses-"

A warm hand on his cheek brought Wil back into the moment. For a split second, he was back and in the room with his elder brother. Techno has shifted them so Wil was now sitting longways over his lap and was held in a one arm embrace. Techno's other hand was wiping away the tears that were rapidly falling down his face and the only thing Wilbur could think to do was to grab onto Techno's shirt with both hands.

His former mantra was broken by sobs he didn't remember letting out, but he could feel them now as his mind fuzzed over once more. He didn't want to go back. He didn't want to remember. Not yet. Not now. Not ever if he could manage that. But its too late and his mind was already spinning and flicking through the images of strange and violent men. The smell of freshly spilt blood and sweat on musty stone. The sounds of an angry voice echoing in the small space and demanding more blood. His blood-

Techno's arms hold him a bit tighter and all Wil can think in those few precious seconds of logic and clarity is that he…he really wasn't okay. He really wanted a hug.

Xx-xXx-xX

Techno's heart ached as he held onto Wilbur as tight as he dared. The trembling had subsided a fair bit by now, but his brother's eyes were still clouded as he stared into a place that wasn't here. He wasn't sobbing anymore now, which was a plus at the very least. Techno had Wilbur's head tucked under his chin as he continued to chuffle softly, as soothing and calm as he could make it.

Wil's hands in his shirt were still firm, but one was obviously weaker than the other and that was a worrying thing. Wilbur's wings shivered behind him against Techno's arm, or tried to. One of them was dislocated, which they'd have to fix before too long, and the other looked strained. He wasn't even considering doing that now though when just touching his brothers ear had been enough to set him off.

It wasn't the first time Techno had held Wilbur during a panic attack, though this was the first time he'd done so paired with such severe and recent trauma. The last time Techno could remember needing to hold Wilbur this way it was when the other was learning to fly.

They had been young and Wil had jumped off of something a bit too high on a night when their father wasn't around. He'd pulled a muscle in his wing but at the time he thought he'd messed it up in a more permanent way. Wilbur had been terrified and Techno held him steady until it passed, until his breathing evened out and he was able to think again.

It hadn't been like this. Wilbur hadn't 'left' him like this. Eyes vacant and distant and body looking so frail and broken.

He wanted to do more for his brother, but right now holding him steady was the only thing he was able to.

It just, didn't feel like enough.

He'd tended to what he could while Wilbur was sleeping as far as injuries go. Aside from his ear which he had stupidly missed. If he'd done that when his brother had been unconscious he could have avoided this-

X-

Breathe

Saved him

Needs more hug tho

Technosoft

Like a baby blanket

Babybur?

No

Babyinnit

Traumabur?

Probably

Saved him

Deep breaths

X-

Of course his Chattering was as helpful as ever. They had focused him enough to make the weak healing potion earlier but couldn't manage to remind him to check the obvious blood down his neck? Useless.

X-

L

Technoblind

Didn't see it either

Shush

Still bleeding

X-

"i'm aware." Techno huffed under his breath in barely a hiss.

He'd managed to calm down enough to use his words again, not just in Piglin either. Hopefully he'd be better able to help Wilbur when he came back around. Though…before that Techno really should finish tending to Wilbur's ear. It was…Prime, it was bad.

The delicate membrane that made up the webbing of Wil's ear was totally torn, tatters of what remained hung loose and one of the smaller spines looked potentially broken. He didn't know how this would effect Wil's hearing but it certainly would cause him pain.

He just hoped that tending it now wouldn't push Wil back down whatever pit he just tumbled down.

It took a bit of maneuvering, especially as he had to detach Wil's hold on his shirt, as Techno had turned Wilbur in such a way that the injured ear was furthest from him earlier. He had hadn't been thinking about it, he just, moved on instinct. He didn't like the idea of moving Wil so much, but, well, it was what it was. Once they were home he could make a proper healing potion for him. Though he was sure their father had some on hand too.

Their father.

Techno hadn't even messaged the man more than a 'I've got him' earlier while brewing. He was sure he had messages sent to him since, but he hadn't bothered to look. Once the pair returned home he was sure it would be understood why.

Techno took a special care in his cleaning and wrapping of Wil's ear. His brother had let out a few disconnected whines and had flinched here and there, but otherwise hadn't reacted much. It was both concerning and a relief in equal measure.

Once he was done he carefully placed Wil's head on his chest and allowed them both to sit in the silence of the house. His arms were once more around his brother in a protective embrace and his chest was rumbling in what Tommy used to call his 'Piglin Purr'. Which, rude, but…also potentially accurate?

Techno wasn't sure how much time had passed before he felt the gentle nuzzle of Wil's head against his chest. One of his brother's hands had climbed back up enough to grip onto his shirt as well and Techno moved to take hold of it.

"you back with me?" Techno asked softly, his voice a whisper between them.

Wilbur nodded slowly, letting out a tired sigh.

"need me to get you anything?"

Wil shook his head and his hand tightened in Techno's shirt.

"just…stay like this…for now." Wil whispered back.

Techno nodded before adjusting his head and arms so that he was practically curling around his brother. He rocked them steadily as he continued to 'purr', his chest rumbling enough to fill the room with a constant thrumming of noise.

Wilbur's wings shuddered as he tried to pull them in and Techno had to move one of his hands to rest against them least Wil' strain something more in the effort. While it made Wil shiver at first he also relaxed at the contact. As much as the pain in said appendages would allow.

They really needed to fix that wing.

"you're going to strain more muscles if we leave it like that for much longer." Techno stated, still speaking in a whispered volume.

Wilbur tensed but nodded after a moment.

"i know."

"...Its going to hurt."

"...i know" The shake in Wil's voice was back, but it wasn't like before.

"do you, want to try to hold off until we get to dad?" Techno asked despite not liking the idea.

He didn't have wings of his own and so he wasn't exactly sure of how breaking or popping something like that might..effect someone. One the one hand, they were just, regular limbs for Wilbur. So logically it should be like fixing a dislocated shoulder. But on the same note, Wil had always been- okay, well technically it was the whole rest of his family, but, wings were….important. If he wanted someone like their dad present, someone who understood better then-

"no. we…we should just, do it quickly. before it gets worse." Wil replied, the waver in his voice more noticeable.

He started to move though, pushing away from Techno even if it was halfhearted. Techno wasn't going to fight the opening to fix that damn wing because honestly it looked bad hanging like that. Even when he tried to sling it earlier it had just…been so wrong looking.

Wilbur slid off his lap and managed to get onto his knees. It looked like he was going to throw up honestly. He leaned forwards and rolled his shoulders back enough that his back was straight and Techno carefully pulled open the wing slit of his sweater to check over the joint area.

He winced seeing how much it had swollen already.

"We're, going to want to ice that first at least." Techno said as he looked to the bowl of cool water on the night stand.

It was tinted blue with Phantom blood and honestly probably wasn't that cold anymore. It wasn't like this house readily had actual ice in it to use and Techno worried about how long it would take him to pull up anything from the well for this. He'd struggled to do so quickly the last few times-

X-

Home has ice

Too far

Hurtbur

Think of something

X-

Techno's mental rambling as well as his Chat was cut off at the sound of water sloshing suddenly. Looking up and towards Wilbur Techno could see his brother had pulled something out of his inventory with his good hand.

A bucket.

A bucket of water.

From their basement.

Techno looked at Wilbur with a 'somewhat' judgmental squint.

"Why, do you just have that?"

Wilbur managed to get a somewhat cheeky grin on his face.

"Heading out during daylight. Didn't want to risk catching fire without it." He replied in what was supposed to be a joking voice.

"...Fair…and currently handy. But don't think I wont tease you for this later." Techno stated as he reached for the bucket.

"We wouldn't be brothers if you didn't." Wilbur replied with a breathy sort of laugh.

Techno reached for the extra pillow on the bed and tore the casing off of it. Dipping it entirely into the bucket to soak.

"So, what happened?" Techno asked, his tone casual but expecting.

"Got jumped." Wilbur replied at first.

Techno didn't ask anything more, waiting for his brother to elaborate.

"Saw your things and wasn't pay enough attention around me. Got blindsided by the bastard that took Tommy."

"That isn't possible." Techno cut in here with furrowed brow as he took out the cloth from the water, "I broke his kneecaps, or at least one of them. He wouldn't have been able to stand, let alone throw a punch with shattered hands. Pretty sure I did break both of those."

"I assumed it had been him. I didn't exactly get a look at them. What with the 'blindside' and all." Wilbur sighed out, "It was enough that I blacked out. Not sure for how long."

Techno nodded as he wrung out the extra water and moved to wrap it around the base of Wil's wing. His brother winced and let out a short gasp at the feeling as he tried to hold said limb still for it.

Techno watched as Wil's other wing, the strained one, twitched awkwardly. He should probably ice that one too if he was honest. Without a word more he reached for the pillow Wil had been use just earlier. It's not like he was going to be using it again.

"I woke up, obviously, and I was already tied. Felt like I'd already been used as a rag doll too." Wilbur went on with another wince, this one unrelated to his being treated.

Techno let out a heavy breath and Wilbur glanced back at him.

"I'm barely home for a few hours and both of you end up kidnapped and bound up. Can't either of you stay safe for like, five minutes?" He asked with a mild exasperation.

A look of guilt passed over Wilbur's face and Techno frowned. He….he knew it was a joke, right? Surely.

"sorry." Wilbur said softly as he looked away and down at the bed.

Okay, so maybe not.

"It..I wasn't serious, Wil. This isn't on you." Techno tried to back peddle quickly.

He didn't want his brothers to think of themselves as a burden to him regardless of situation. He would easily tear down cities or nations for them if they needed and then ask what they were doing for snacks after. As much as he might stress about it he would never regret it nor hesitate.

He needed his brothers to know this.

"If I had been more careful, more attentive, like you taught us-"

"I taught you that for basic defense. That doesn't always translate to, you know, professional kidnappers, or whatever they were trying to be." Techno cut in as he placed a hand on Wil's shoulder, "Don't blame yourself for someone elses actions."

"...you sound like dad."

"It came from dad."

Neither one spoke after that, letting whatever message was in those words linger. Techno worked to wrap the newly dampened cloth around Wil's other wing. They sat and Techno waited for Wil to find any more words he might have.

"got a glass of water or something?" Wil asked after an extra few beats of silence.

"Not anymore." Techno sighed, "Had to use it for that potion, which turned out practically useless."

"It got me to speak, so I'd hardly call it 'useless'." Wil stated as he looked at the bucket between them, "How dirty do you reckon those cases were?"

"...You've drank worse." Techno replied after a brief few seconds of thought.

"...Fair enough." Wilbur nodded as he reached for the slightly sullied pail of water.

Techno stopped him though and leaned over to the nightstand, grabbing the discarded bottle from earlier.

"Be easier that slurping from the bucket." Techno stated as he filled said container up and handed it over.

"Not another 'awkward potion' is it?" Wil teased as he started to sip it.

"Don't think so. Its not made from Tommy."

Wilbur almost spite the water out as he laughed and Techno grinned. Progress.

"You have no idea. I think he might have drank a few too many of them when we were younger." Wilbur stated with another laugh, a smile spreading on his face that almost seemed to corrode the edges of tension that lingered.

Techno laughed lightly along with him, his chest pinching with a touch of guilt realizing he didn't even know his own joke as much as Wilbur did.

Techno was picturing little thirteen year old Tommy he'd last seen. Stumbling over his own feet as he navigated between Avian and Human forms or bursting red whenever his voice cracked during an argument. Wilbur was thinking of…of seventeen year old Tommy.

Current Tommy.

And…Techno wasn't even sure what that entailed for the last four years.

Had he gotten clumsier? Had his mood swings been as sporadic as Wilbur's had been? Had there been any awkward girl or boy, or in general potential dating interests that Techno missed out on seeing Tommy go through?

He didn't even know if Tommy was interested in dating at all actually.

He'd talked to his father and brother a few times through the years to keep up. But…he'd never really talked to Tommy specifically. Not alone at least. He…he really couldn't even recall what their last conversation together was.

"Techno?"

Wilbur's voice was enough to pull him out of his head and he looked up quickly. Wil's face was set into a worried frown once more. Techno just shook his head with a deep breath as he rolled his shoulders a bit.

"Its nothing. We should get this set back in now. Phil's gunna want us home before nightfall. He might actually send the crows after us." Techno stated, trying to lighten his own tone to sound less… uneasy.

"You think he would? He hasn't sent his chat after us in…well, after you for three years. Its been about…four months for me." Wil considered as he tilted his head.

"Four months? New record pog." Techno stated in a deadpan that had Wilbur letting out a short snorted laugh.

"Shut up. It's almost a personal best." Wil replied before the small smile that had formed tightened up and turned into a determined frown, "If we're doing this than better now. Before I lose my nerve for it."

Techno nodded and shifted up onto his knees. He placed his hands onto Wil's wing and traced down the bone and muscle first. It wasn't relaxed enough to be ideal, but it would do. Their father would treat it better at home. Wil straightened his back and tried to let his wing rest as lax as possible in his brother's hands. Judging by the shivering twitch in them it wasn't easy.

He had to make this quick.

Techno moved one hand onto Wil's back where the socket should be. He could almost feel it under the skin and it made his stomach turn a fair bit. He shook his head once to push the thought and feeling down.

"Okay. On the count of three." Techno directed as he fixed his grip on the wing.

Wilbur nodded, taking in a deep breath as he prepared to count with Techno.

"One-"

Wilbur let out a startled and pained cry as Techno swiftly tugged at the wing, popping it back into place with an audible sound. Both noises made Techno's stomach turn, but he didn't have time to think about that.

"-Son Of A Bitch! That Wasn't 'Three' You Fuck!" Wilbur shouted out with a painful crackling rasp before devolving into a whined whimpering sob.

Wil's arms had given out and he was now face down on the bed and shaking. His tail, wrapped in a bandage as well, whipped back and forth a bit with agitation before going limp and curling around one of his legs.

Techno kept a hand on his brother's back, rubbing small soothing circles between his wings. He could feel the sporadic contractions of the muscles and knew how bad that would feel. Nothing good ever came from muscles tensing that badly.

"Shhh, sh, I know. I'm sorry. But its over now." Techno tried to placate as he leaned down to almost lay beside the other.

Wilbur let out another pained whine before he shifted, his good arm reaching out and latching onto Techno's shirt, dragging himself closer. Techno slipped the hand on Wil's back over to better help him bring his brother all the way to him and rest him against his chest.

Techno was laying down now and had Wilbur tucked under his chin once more. Wil's wings shivered as he pressed into the embrace further, a stuttered chittering noise managing to become audible. Techno chuffed in response and began the soothing rumbling of his chest once more.

Wilbur had never really done well with pain as far back as Techno could remember, and so Techno had no problem staying here and holding him as long as he needed.

X-xx-X

It was almost an hour later when Techno woke up the almost dozing off Wilbur in his arms. As much as he wanted to let his brother sleep he needed to get them home first. Where it was safest and where they were protected.

The sun was setting, but it was still far to bright for Wil to travel about in. Judging by his condition he wouldn't be able to use his powers either least they falter. Leaving Wil to wake himself up more Techno went searching the place for a solution.

The blankets had been his first idea but they had proved too thin or too small to be effective as he had learned when trying to use them to block the windows. He'd had to use a lot of them to get the desired result and he wasn't going to risk his brother's health on needing that many layers.

If he had his cape…

Techno let out a sigh as he looked towards the basement door. It was closed to keep the smells of blood of and the dead body contained since the heat of the day was practically cooking it into the air.

He wasn't unaccustomed to the smell, but that didn't mean he liked it any. The thought of going down there a third time for…anything really, was off putting to say the least. However, looking back at the staircase that lead up to where Wilbur currently was gave Techno just enough reason to do so.

He was going to need a long and very hot shower after all this.

X-

Sadza gettin Madza

Tick Tock

Technolate

X-

"I know, Chat, I know. Its getting late. Trust me, I can feel that." Techno huffed as he pushed the door open once more, wincing at the smells below, "Its easy for you to complain. You don't need to deal with this. Just a bunch of loud mouth voyeurs that don't pay rent. Which is rude by the way."

X-

Lol

Free pog

blood

More blankets might work

Cocoonbur

I pay rent

Pepelaugh

Suffer

To the trench

Technoloot

Blankets are too thin

Crispbur

On the floor

X-

Techno was rubbing his temples as Chat riled up, though he still peeked out ahead of him at the directive. On the floor where Wilbur had been laying was a thick sort of material that bore a light shimmer of enchantment too it.

"At least one of you is helpful." Techno muttered as he descended the last few stairs and moved to crouch at the edge of said fabric.

He picked up a corner of it and squinted as he turned it over slowly. It wasn't often one came across enchanted fabrics, it just wasn't practical. Even holding just the side of it made Techno's skin crawl a bit. Something about it seemed…off. His ear flicked at he tried to think of what about it could be unsettling. Considering the torn up body in the corner didn't bother him in the slightest but a shiny blanket did-

X-

Blood

Not now

Its dead

Calm

Its blood

We should keep that knife

It was sharp

Smells like blood

The whole room is blood

Smell it

Blood

For the Blood God?

E?

For the thieves

X-

Techno's brow furrowed in confusion. That was…less helpful that usual. Still…he raised the fabric to his face and sniffed it. His stomach turned and he gagged almost dropping the thing back to the ground.

Blood.

It reeked of blood. Old, new and just, so much. So many kinds. He wasn't exactly gifted with the ability of enhanced 'smell detection' or whatever, but, he knew enough. He'd been around enough bleeding people to know different species had different scents.

There were a lot of different scents on this 'blanket'.

Wilbur's scent was on this blanket.

Techno's stomach dropped further and he fought the urge to both throw up and burn it all at once. Instead, he placed it in his inventory. He…he could use that somehow. Track down who it belonged to maybe.

X-

Return to sender

Wrap around sender

Send sender

Sender sent?

Scent*

Blood of sender

Delivered by and for Blood God

Lol

Tick tock

X-

Techno nodded to the warning, trying to push down the mix of anger and urging from the rest of Chat. Time. Better time. He had things to do right now first. Like find a way to get his brother home safely.

X-

Red

Blood red

Behind

Look behind

Sh, don't tell him

For Wilbur

X-

Techno let out a steadying breath before standing once more. Chat continued to shout to look behind him, when it wasn't shooshing itself and calling him blind. But he wasn't listening to it right now. He just…he needed a second.

When the shouts became too much though he turned his head with a heavy breath to at least appease them. He was sort of surprised when he noted a familiar red material on the floor. It looked like it had been dragged partially down the short hall looking area beside the stairs. Not too far, but far enough that he hadn't, in fact, noticed it the last time he was down here.

That, was certainly a plus. He walked over quickly to it and lifted it up. If it was just simply discarded then-

A rattle of broken glass and Techno huffed in frustration. Of course. He just wasn't allowed a break today.

Reaching into the hidden pocket of the cape Techno carefully picked out the broken glass of a potion bottle. A former healing potion to be exact. That would have been useful. Oh well, best not to linger on it for now.

X-

Why break it?

We liked that one!

Potion-chan!

Noooooo!

L

Didn't even drink it

F's for Potion-chan

Didn't even get drank

F

F

F

L

Potion-chan our beloved

X-

Techno sighed as he emptied the pocket entirely before looking the rest of the cape over. It..it wasn't in the greatest shape. It looked like they had taken a knife to it, but, by some luck it was mostly just the edges. His cape was still big enough that it would cover Wilbur, the thin stalk that he was.

"Well, at least I wasn't entirely robbed." Techno muttered as he glanced over the small space once more.

There wasn't much left aside from the body with the knife still sticking out of it. Chat wasn't wrong about taking that with him.

X-

Technodenial

F

Swordza is gone

Gift was taken

Our gift

Gift from Dadza

Unacceptable

Cut off their hands

Carrrrl, that kills people!

Stop

We're not doing that again

X-

Techno just sighed as he walked over to the discarded body and plucked the knife from it with ease. It was filthy and bore a sickening mix of red and blue both. He was definitely going to rinse that off before storing it anywhere.

With a nod to himself and without another glance at the former body Techno turned to leave. Nothing would make him happier right now than to leave the place and never have to come back. Aside from maybe burning it down. That would be a treat.

Another time though.

When Techno arrived back at the room Wilbur was in he found his brother sitting on the end of the bed looking rather deflated as he stared at his wrapped tail in his hands. It hadn't looked great, but the damage itself was small and easily recoverable.

"Surprised you still have it out." Techno commented lightly as he entered the room.

Wil didn't even look up at him as he partially rolled his eyes and glanced towards the floor.

"Not supposed shift them when we're injured, are we? Something, something, healing, something." Wilbur sighed out tiredly.

Techno just stared at his brother with a raised brow and waited. It wasn't long before Wil was meeting his gaze with a raised brow of his own and trying to look innocent.

"I might've tried and it didn't work." He admitted as a smirk fought to find a place on his face.

Techno rolled his eyes as he approached fully.

"That tends to be the case when you overextend yourself. Surprised you even managed to get it out after earlier with the tree. You looked near passing out even then." Techno stated as he flung the cape out and draped it over his brother' shoulders.

He was met with a level of surprise as Wil took hold of the familiar fabric.

"Your- the rest of your things-" He started to blurt out but Techno just shook his head with a hopefully disinterested shrug.

"This was all that they left. Aside from this, but it ain't one of mine." Techno stated as he held up the dirty knife.

Wilbur winced at the appearance of it and Techno took that as a sign to rinse it in what was left of the bucket water.

"Not yours?" Wilbur questioned as he turned to keep eyes on Techno.

"Nope. Its one of the ones used by Tommy's captor earlier. Apparently they didn't think it was worth picking up or something. Which is odd cus the sharpness enchant on it is pretty good." Techno commented, his stomach turning at the memory of how the man had been holding it to his brother.

It would have gone right through him-

"I'll say." Wilbur cut through his thought with a voice that sounded every part of the wince he showed.

Right. Wilbur had actually been stabbed with it.

"At least it didn't have fire aspect?" Techno tried with an awkward sort of grimaced smile.

Wilbur gave him a flat look and he could only sigh and deflate at the sight.

"Fair-"

"I wont say it wasn't helpful. I-" Wilbur cut off and Techno could feel the tension rise in his voice, "I… think I might still be alive because of it."

"Does that mean you'll want to kiss and make up?" Techno asked as he held out the now cleaned blade with a smirk.

Wilbur looked at him with an impossibly flatter look than before.

"Hey, just because it stabbed you a few times doesn't mean you cant be friends. I've made like, two that way." Techno stated as he tucked the knife into one of his pockets.

He'd need to get a proper sheath for that before he ended up needing to tend his own wounds. He did not need this thing getting two out of four of his family members in the same day.

"Ok, bundle up in that and we can get going." Techno announced as he dumped the remaining water from the bucket onto the floor.

It wasn't his problem and he wasn't going to carry a pail of blood home if he could help it. Which he could. By doing that.

"I can walk-"

"No you can't." Techno cut Wil off quickly, "Not in this heat and not that injured. It's a long walk and I'm not having you pull a 'Tommy' move right now."

Wilbur and Techno locked eyes in a silent battle for a moment or two. Wilbur's determined glare however was no match for Techno's far more decisive one. He'd already made up his mind and Wilbur, whether he liked it or not, was going to have to deal with it. With a defeated breath Wil's shoulders slouched dramatically, because this was Wilbur and he wanted his displeasure known.

"Fine, but I'm not going bridal style. Piggy back or nothing." Wilbur stated with highly displeased frown.

"Not sure that's a good idea. What with the stab wounds and all." Techno pointed out casually.

"Its only two. I can manage that for a walk home." Wilbur insisted as he pushed himself to his feet.

"Whatever you say." Techno replied with another eye roll.

"Well what I say is 'get on your knees, long-pork'." Wil demanded with an amused smirk as he made grabby hands.

"Ah, see, now that's two things that if you ever say them to me again I might just have to throw you in the river. Or tell Phil he's down to two sons. Your choice." Techno replied with a deadpan stare.

"You can't get rid of me, I'm dads favorite~" Wilbur hummed as he crossed his arms.

"If you're his favorite than I'm his daughter." Techno smirked himself as he turned and crouched down, "Come on now, princess."

"That's 'your highness', thank you very much." Wil countered with as he carefully tried to clamber onto his brother's back.

It took a hot minute, but Wil finally managed to get on with Techno's aid. He tried to hide the wincing and pained whine but it didn't work too well. Despite that Techno let him be, knowing they wouldn't make it far before the other caved.

Techno fought the smile he wanted to make when he was proven right.

The pair had had just managed to get themselves down the stairs when Wilbur had tapped out. The stab wounds in his shoulder and back being too much for him to piggyback like he wanted. Not to mention the bruising and 'potential' fracture of his ribs making breathing harder in that position.

That didn't stop Wilbur from grumbling as Techno wrapped him up like a burrito. He couldn't even cross his arms and that only seemed to make him madder, or perhaps just more embarrassed. Times like this really showed how Wilbur and Tommy were so similar in so many ways. One could call out their siblinghood from miles away while looking through a straw.

Techno took care in lifting Wilbur off his feet, especially when it came to how his wings would lay. Considering it was only a small whimper and a mild shivering he considered himself as having done alright.

"We don't talk about this." Wilbur stated bluntly as Techno adjusted them so the other was firmly against his chest.

Wilbur being so tall was…awkward, but he could handle it. Thankfully he wasn't exactly short himself, like their father. Currently Wil was wrapped up almost like a mummy, his face showing only enough that the two could talk with relative ease. With how Techno was holding him it prevented any unwanted sunlight from hitting his brother and once they were faced towards home it wouldn't be an issue anyway.

"You sure? I'm sure people would love to know the thoughts of a living chimichanga." Techno couldn't help but tease as he stepped through the front door.

The evening light was strong but at least fading.

"Don't fucking call me that, that's not even the right food." Wilbur protested with a deeper frown than before.

"It will be. I could set you in the sun and let you fry a little." Techno said with a light chuckle as he glanced down at his brothers face.

"You wouldn't dare." Wil replied with a glare upwards, his pout still visible despite half his face being behind the red fabric.

"Its not a 'dare' if I plan it, right?" Techno asked, more than pleased with himself when Wilbur let out an indignant gasp.

"You dare to betray me? After I let you wrap me up like, like this?" Wilbur practically squawked out.

"You didn't 'let' me, you just realized you didn't have a choice." Techno corrected with a smugness.

X-

Princessbur

Long-pork lol

Still on that?

Vs Neverland feast

The what?

Invisible food

Phantom of the burrito

Two reasons to haunt the bathroom

X-

Techno snorted as he was unable to fully ignore Chat. Wilbur looked up at him with confusion for a second before he frowned deeper.

"What are they saying about me?" He asked, knowing roughly what was happening.

"Nothing." Techno replied in a voice that said there was, in fact, something.

"You're laughing at me."

"Technically I'm laughing at Chat-"

"So they are saying something."

"Its Chat. They're always saying something."

X-

Chat eternal

Silence is overrated

Burritobur go brrrr

Looks like a bonnet

Babybur

Soft boi

Rock-a-bye?

X-

Techno smiled wider, not bothering to hide it as it clearly made Wilbur more huffy. He also didn't hide the moment he started to actually rock Wilbur back and for with a light humming of a lullaby. Honestly, the moment Wilbur's eyes widened in understanding of what was happening was priceless.

"Are They Calling Me A baby?!"

"What? Noooo. Chat would never do that. Never." Techno replied in a mocking tone, "Now hush and close your eyes. We'll get you a bottle once we get home."

Wilbur let out a heated screech as he started to wiggle in Techno's arms, most likely trying to free his own. Techno just held on tighter and hummed a bit louder, which only incited Wil to shout even louder in insult.