Day 4 - nightmares with hurt!Techno

Other characters: Philza, Wilbur, Tommy

Other tags: Origin smp, SBI (adopted) family dynamic, nightmares (duh), panic attack, going non-verbal, mentioned character death, mentioned racism against hybrids

Summary: Bunnies are prey animals, after all


Technoblade doesn't have wings.

Not that it matters much most of the time. He can still leap higher than Tommy can glide so he's easy to keep up with, and Wilbur doesn't enjoy flying much at all anymore. Techno's not scared they'll leave him behind, no matter how much they tease him over it at times.

But it's something they have and he doesn't and deep down that worries him a little.

(he used to be the runt of his litter. Small and weak and insignificant. He didn't have the potential to work labor as his parents did, he didn't have the lean muscle or supple flesh that his siblings had. The hunters had killed them, and barely batted an eye when Techno fled and hid - because they didn't think he was worth killing)

From that day only one face remains in his memory. Dark eyes, a chin lined with stubble and sharp cheekbones that seemed to look straight at Technoblade while they bludgeoned his sister to death in front of him. Her skull caved in with a sickening crack, body going limp. Ripe for the harvesting.

And when Techno ran they didn't even bother chasing him at all.

But in his nightmares, they're there and they're the one who is throwing the nets to drag Wilbur down. They're the one who is pushing their metal hooks through Tommy's wings to keep him grounded.

And they're the one who will slit Phil's throat when the crowfather tries to protect his flock.

Technoblade stands grounded in this horrible dream, shivering like a leaf, weak and vulnerable and so, so useless he wants to puke with it. With no wings to fly and reach them, he watches as his new family is slaughtered all over again and he's left behind once more because he's simply not worth the dulling of a blade for the hunters to waste their time on him-

He wakes up gasping and rolls over onto his stomach to make himself appear smaller, claws scratching at the nest. Of all the things he adjusted to, relinquishing his comfortable burrows and sleeping underground had been the hardest. He deals with it - because he loves his family and they love him and sometimes Techno wishes he could die for them even if he's not worth it just so he doesn't have to worry about losing them anymore.

Phil grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him closer, tugging him to his chest. "Techno, Techno mate, calm down. It's okay, you're okay."

Techno shakes his head but he doesn't know how to make Phil understand. He doesn't explain the dead glassy eyes he saw staring back at him in his dream just a moment earlier.

"Shhh, it's okay." Dark wings close around him. He can hear Tommy and Wilbur wake up, disturbed by his noise and now Techno gets to feel guilty for that as well. Stupid, stupid useless bunny.

"It's just a nightmare," Phil says - a little louder, offering it as an explanation to Tommy and Wilbur who by now are crowding closer, peeking through their father's wings. "Just a bad dream, Techno. You're with us now, remember? You're mine." His talons sink in a little further, reassurance. "Nobody is going to hurt you."

Techno whines, unable to explain that it's them being hurt he's worried about.

But his tongue won't cooperate and his heartbeat is going way too fast and he can feel his muscles lock up with tonic immobility because he's not strong enough, not big enough, no wings, no claws, nothing-

(prey animal. That's what the hunters called them. Nothing more than prey)

"Dad, is he okay?" Wilbur shoves the great mass of feathers aside to crawl through, tail winding around his own leg nervously. When he reaches out a hand Techno latches on and grabs it, not caring how much colder his brother's skin is than it used to be.

"He'll be fine," Phil says with false confidence. Techno can hear the helplessness in his voice, the nervous thrilling that resonates in his chest. "Give him a bit yeah?"

Wilbur crawls closer and Tommy follows his example until all three of them are practically crowded into Phil's lap and Wilbur rubs his thumb along Techno's knuckles in a soothing gesture that doesn't hit home at all.

"Don't be scared Techno. We'll protect you."

Techno nods because he knows, he knows, he knows-

He just wishes he could do the same for them.