It was cold.

The kind of cold that chills your bones and refuses to thaw no matter how hard you try to make it go away.

It was cold.

The air, the snow, the icy fear in Tommy's heart.

Tommy always hated the cold, it always felt lonely and suffocating to him. He needed warmth, the sun in the sky, the sound of birds calling to each other, the flowers that he tended to so carefully throughout the spring and summer.

Summer doesn't exist here anymore. Not in the snow biome and definitely not in his heart.

He was running, running, running. Running from the cold to somewhere even worse. His foot caught and he tumbled into the snow, but he didn't stay down.

Pushing himself up with aching hands he continued to run. To where? He wasn't sure. No, he did know. He wanted to go home.

Home.

Tommy choked back a sob, tightening his coat around his body. He couldn't go back home; it wasn't safe anymore. It would be the first place they would look.

His so-called friends would drag him back kicking and screaming his throat raw, clawing and cursing, locking him back up in that god-forsaken room. For his own good, they had said, to keep him safe.

Fuck that and fuck them.

He wasn't a prisoner to keep hidden away like a toy. Not in a jail cell, and definitely not in a place that was supposed to be warm and welcoming.

He was tired of being lied to and manipulated, a pawn in someone else's game, being told what the best for him was. Their biggest mistake was keeping him in a room with a window.

Blood dripped down from deep cuts that covered his palms, but he paid no mind to them, instead tightening his cloak around his body and continued moving forward.

His breath formed in front of his face in crystallized puffs as he continued forward, letting his mind go blank and his body move blindly.

He was beginning to recognize the path he was on and almost wanted to laugh at the irony.

The cabin would have been comforting to any other traveler, a beacon in the snowy wasteland. But Tommy knew better. This was the home of a predator. A betrayer. An enemy.

This was the home of Tommy's brother.

The imagine of Dream's bloody head flashed in Tommy's mind and he had to stop himself from gagging. Swallowing down bile, Tommy stepped up the stairway, fist poised to knock.

Before he even got the chance, the door opened revealing his brother. Techno was dressed in a cozy sweater, glasses situated over his nose, and hair tied up in a tight ponytail.

Tommy could see the fireplace flickering behind him, a book hanging off the edge of an armchair. So, Techno was relaxing while Tommy was having a mental breakdown.

Typical.

The two brothers stood at a standstill; eyes locked with each other. Something buzzed with energy between them; hate, love, something that couldn't quite be placed.

Techno's face was as emotionless as ever, but so much more vulnerable without his boar mask.

Tommy inwardly wondered what he looked like to this foreboding warrior. If it was any other situation, he would be embarrassed by the dried tears on his cheeks and the way he shook, but he didn't care.

He just didn't fucking care anymore.

"Theseus."

It was one word, nothing more than an exhale of air, but Tommy still couldn't contain his full-body flinch. Techno made no remark, instead stepping aside.

An invitation.

This was a bad idea. Of course it was. It wasn't that long ago Techno was threatening to kill him.

You want to be a hero, Tommy? Then die like one!

The fox was welcoming the rabbit into his den. And Tommy accepted.

Stepping into the living room was like stepping into a furnace, but Tommy was grateful for the warmth, his shoulders dropping from their defensive shield against the harsh winds.

Techno closed the door and followed him, stopping a few feet away. Tommy could appreciate that at least.

In any other circumstance, he would have already had his arms flung across his big brother, head buried in his chest, pride be damned.

But he wouldn't. Not now. Not never. Their bond was too broken for that. Techno made that clear the last time they faced off.

The man's eyes flickered down to Tommy's hands that were still sluggishly bleeding. "Your hands. You've been hurt," he grunted, reaching towards the boy. Tommy snatched his arm away, stumbling backwards.

"Do not fucking touch me," he snarled, ignoring the hurt that flashed over Techno's face.

It was fake. Everything they had ever shared was fake.

Unless, of course, you want to cash in that favor?

Tommy bit down on his thumb, pacing back and forth. He shouldn't be here. He needed to leave. Brave the cold. If he froze to death? Oh, fucking well.

"Theseus, sit down."

Techno was seated back in the armchair across from him, hands folded neatly in his lap. He looked so calm sitting there, like he hadn't just ruined his little brother's life more than it already was.

"Let's talk."

"I have nothing to say to you," Tommy shot back, but obliged. He sat on the edge of the couch, ready to bolt if need be. Techno just sighed at his posture. "I don't even know why I'm here."

"Though your presence is surprising, it's not unwelcome."

Tommy snorted at that.

"Could it be about your gift? I've been curious as to what you thought of it. I can only hope you liked it?"

Did he like it? He wasn't sure. Was it ungrateful that he wasn't jumping up and down in joy? He couldn't even think about it without feeling sick.

It should have been the best moment of his life, but all it did was make him want to curl up in a ball and sob.

"Shit, Techno, I don't know. I just don't know anymore," Tommy said, hands curling into his hair and pulling at it roughly. "What game are you trying to play? Are you trying to torture me? I don't fucking understand!"

Techno chuffed softly and Tommy felt himself relax at the sound. His brother pulled his hands away from his hair and cradled them gently into his own, careful to keep his claws away from the cuts.

"I'm not playing any games, Theseus. It has nothing more to do than the fact that I care."

"Oh, don't try that guilt tripping with me," Tommy snapped, pulling his hands away.

How dare Techno have the audacity to act all hurt and play the victim. The familiar anger was starting to bubble to the surface, and he welcomed it.

"You didn't care when I died that last time, so why should I believe you care now?"

The room was silent after that, and Tommy hugged himself suddenly cold again despite the suffocating heat. Finally, Techno spoke. Slow and deliberate, like he was testing the words before speaking them.

"You…actually died that day?"

"Don't tell me you didn't believe it. Ranboo said he told you and Phil!"

" …We thought it was a prank."

Tommy doubled over in manic laughter. He couldn't believe it. Techno, his own brother, didn't believe that he had died.

He thought it was a prank, a ruse. That Tommy didn't go through the most brutal death and forced back into life.

Hilarious!

"That's so fucked up! This is fucked up! You're fucked up!" Tommy grabbed Techno by his collar, dragging him towards him.

Anyone else would have been bleeding on the floor by now, but Techno let him. In fact, Techno didn't react at all, instead watching him with an unreadable expression.

It only made Tommy laugh harder until he was full on sobbing.

"You want to know what happened, Techie?" Techno flinched slightly at the childish nickname.

Good.

"I was stuck in that prison with, Dream. Stuck with my abuser I put away so he couldn't hurt me anymore. Ironic, innit? He beat me to death, Techno. Bashed my head against the wall as I pleaded for him to stop. As I was calling your name for you to save me."

Tommy hiccupped, letting go of the piglin. "Why didn't you save me, Techno?"

Techno didn't say anything while Tommy cried his heart out, and he wasn't sure if he was grateful for that or not.

On one hand, he wanted Techno to take him in his arms and tell him it would be okay. On the other, he didn't think he could take anymore lies and false reassurance.

Finally, he sniffed once and wiped his sleeve across his face. He gave his brother a wry smile. "Regretting your decision now? Bet you want to thank Dream for shutting me up, huh?"

Techno titled his head slightly, a deadly glint in his eyes. It made a shiver run up Tommy's spine, telling him to run, run, escape.

"The only thing I regret," Techno began, rage simmering beneath his words, "is giving that bastard too quick of a death." The man stood up swiftly, and Tommy cowered as he walked up to him, grabbing his face roughly.

"He touched what's mine one too many times, and for that I should have broken every bone in his body." He was shaking in anger, but his lips were turned up in a smile, tusks on full display. "Oh, if only you could see the way he was choking on his blood, begging me to stop, to remember our friendship. Unfortunately for him, friendships come and go, but family is forever. Don't you agree, my dearest little brother."

Tommy pushed him away, shaking his head in denial. "Stop that! You hate me, so stop acting like you care! You don't care, you never did! You destroyed my home, betrayed me, and left me all alone!"

Techno's eyes narrowed, a growl rumbling in his chest.

"Betrayed you?! You betrayed ME! For the people who exiled you no less! Do you really think they cared, Tommy? If they did, they would have fought harder! I was there and you still left me."

"Because you were going to give me back to Dream!"

Tommy was breathing heavily glaring at the man in front of him. Techno's eyebrows knitted together, and he actually looked hurt. But Tommy knew better now. He wouldn't fall for those tricks anymore.

"Why would I give you back to Dream? After everything I did to protect you, you really think I would do that?" Techno had the audacity to sound offended. "Gods Tommy, why would you even THINK that? Have you ever trusted me for even one second?"

Dream! Dream he's in here! Take him back, please! I don't want him anymore!

"That stupid fucking favor. You were the one who brought it up unprompted. What else was I supposed to think? We all know the great Technoblade never backs out of his favors," Tommy spit, digging his nails into the cuts, relishing in the pain. "Would you have given him to me? Don't bullshit me, Techno. I can't take anymore lies. Just this once, tell me the truth. Please."

Techno didn't answer, instead pulling Tommy to his chest. Tommy began to struggle, but he only tightened his grip until the kid fell limp in his arms, shaking in fear or exhaustion, it was hard to tell.

"Stupid, stupid little boy," he mumbled into Tommy's hair, tears wetting the curls. "Do you doubt my love for you that much, little brother. Even after I swore time and time again, I would fight a thousand men for you, you still doubt. I should have never said that. I-I never thought you would think I was being serious about it."

And, oh, if Tommy didn't break at that. Clinging onto his brother as he wailed into his chest. Techno didn't stop him, just held him tighter, chuffing softly.

"My little brother. My runt. Mine."

After what seemed like a lifetime, Tommy calmed down, but didn't pull away. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to doubt you. I'm sorry I betrayed you," he said.

Techno only hummed, rubbing comforting circles on his back. "Sleep Theseus. We can talk more when you wake up."

Tommy hummed in agreement, leaning into Techno's chest. Techno was warmth. Techno was safety. Techno would protect him.

His big brother wouldn't betray him again. He could live here again. They could be happy again.

With that he smiled, letting his eyes close. Only barely missing Techno pulling out his communicator, placing his mouth near the speaker.

"He walked over here, Ranboo, but he's safe. Make sure that room is secure now, we wouldn't want him escaping again and getting hurt, now do we?"