This is for the whumptober prompts: Internal bleeding + Fainting + Bedside vigil.
This one is just a small, incomplete drabble for now, for an AU I posted about on socmed here and there. The basics is that there are three types of people with superpowers: Stars, Suns and Moons.
Stars have a small to medium amount of power. They can link up with other Stars who are compatible, and it gives them a small boost in powers. A group of Stars working together is called a Constellation.
Suns have a large amount of power. They can link up with Moons, allowing a Moon to share and enhance their power. Moons have no powers of their own, and can only use superpowers when linked up with a Sun. Suns and Moons usually work in pairs, though rarely you'll see a Sun with multiple Moons or vice versa.
Compatibility is partly based on how well two people get along, and partly on fate - kind of like a soulmate bond. Stars are usually compatible with a lot of other Stars, while Suns and Moons usually only have 3 or 4 people they're compatible with.
Sometimes, Techno feels like the worst villains wait to strike until they know Phil isn't around.
The odds of this being true are pretty unlikely. The UHA is very meticulous about keeping the whereabouts of their employees a closely guarded secret. When you sign up, you also sign away any right to privacy or a personal life. You sign away your freedom, essentially. And in exchange, the UHA gives you food, a roof above your head, the training needed to use your powers without blowing yourself or anybody else up, and any further things you might need. It gives you a family. It keeps you safe.
Nobody should know when Phil is out of town, except other people who work for the UHA too. And even then, only a select few have been informed. Since Phil took Missa, Chayanne, and Tallulah with him, that's a heavy loss to their numbers so keeping their absence on the down low is vital, lest any villains get the itch to take advantage.
But here Techno is struggling to keep an entire building from collapsing.
Really, that's just a regular Tuesday for him.
"Tommy," Techno says into the walkie that's dangling off his shoulder, knocked loose by debris. "Are you having trouble tying your laces again?"
"What?!" Tommy's voice comes through the speaker crackling and unsteady, and sounding very confused.
"I just figured that's why you're late," Techno says, knowing Tommy can hear the smirk in his voice. He's treated to a string of expletives that the walkie mostly cuts out. Especially since it sounds like somebody snags it from Tommy.
"We're trying to get there as soon as we can but we're a bit uh- a bit delayed," Ranboo says on the other end of the line. "Yeah, delayed."
"By Tommy not knowing how to tie his laces?"
Techno winces when the radio squeaks loud and shrill right next to his ear. Ouch. That probably was Tommy grappling with Ranboo to pull the device out of his hands again. He flicks his wrist, finally finding enough metal support beams that he can move into some sort of construction beneath the foundation to keep the building from toppling. Sweat runs down Techno's neck, making his braid cling to his skin.
Using powers without Phil around is such a pain.
"You won't believe how many roadblocks are out here," Tubbo says into his own communicator. "It's actually kind of crazy."
Techno hums in agreement. "Looks like this attack was planned and targeted."
If the UHA has a mole, they're in serious trouble. Though until Techno finds evidence this is the case, he'll just have to assume these villains planned this a long time ago and had the incredible luck to set their plans into motion in the same week the UHA is missing some of their best.
"Do you think you can hold out until we get there?" Tubbo asks.
"Niki is with me," Techno says.
There's a beat of silence, during which Techno has a fair guess about what's going through their minds. Then Tubbo clears his throat.
"We'll be there soon."
Techno decides not to answer because he's a bit too busy dodging out of the way when a car is thrown at him. The metal roof slams into the pavement. The car gets smushed together like a can in a hydraulic press, and Techno really hopes there weren't any civilians in there. He can't tell.
They need to make short work of this.
"This is getting kind of ugly," Niki says, touching ground next to him. Great minds think alike and all. Her pink hair shimmers with waves of orange and red, set aflame almost like a sunset. The veins on her hands and along her arms glow a similar golden color. Niki doesn't look like she's holding back any, yet it's still not enough to get rid of this villain.
But Techno is only tapping into a tiny bit of her power.
"Reinforcements are on the way," Techno says.
Niki nods, offering him a little smile mirroring relief that is probably misplaced. Techno isn't so certain the others will get here in time. "Who are they sending?"
"Tubbo, Tommy and Ranboo."
"Big Pogging," Niki says with a smirk.
"I'd rather die than call them that," Techno deadpans. He doesn't care who had been foolish enough to elect Tommy as the leader of that trio, or that the leader making up a nickname for their Constellation is mandatory. Tommy shouldn't be allowed to name a pet fish, let alone a group of professional heroes.
Another car hits the ground nearby, the horrible sound of metal screeching against concrete fills the air and makes Techno grimace.
"If we don't do something soon, you'll actually die," Niki says, sounding vaguely amused to hide the worry that edges in there. Techno admires her for always putting on a brave face, even in the most hopeless situations. An admirable trait for a hero.
"Yeah, I think waiting for them is a bad idea," Techno agrees. "We might have to solve this ourselves."
The suggestion does make Niki falter. Techno can feel her anxiety like a prickling sensation running along his skin, raising goosebumps. He's very aware of the energy that radiates from her. He's even more aware of his own, trying to latch onto it. He's only holding it back because it's a terrible, terrible idea and he knows it.
"What if-"
A rush of air warns them of the third vehicle in as many minutes hurled towards them. Techno jumps back, and Niki moves quicker than the eye can catch. But it drives home the point. They have to make haste.
"Let's just get it over with," Techno says. "I got important plans later that I can't miss."
"You never have plans," Niki accuses playfully. Though she does scoot a little closer, making it easy for him to link up with her.
"Ramen and video games alone in my apartment are plans," Techno says. Niki laughs.
He closes his eyes for a moment, balling his hands into fists as if he's physically pulling the power that lingers around her toward his core. Phil always makes fun of him for it, but also admits that he's not a Moon so he can't know how it works. All he feels when Techno does it - and all Niki feels when Techno does it - is a surge of energy as their own power is reflected back at them.
"Stick close," Niki says, bending her knees. She moves fast, a blur of motion in Techno's peripheral. But now that he's actually tuned into her powers it's like they're connected. He can feel every twitch of her muscles, can tell which direction she'll go in a second before she actually does. It's not quite mind-reading, but close. It feels right.
And it burns.
Niki's powers are wild and unrestrained, a forest fire. She's training with them day and night, and Techno can feel her try to reel them in a little bit. The first time they linked up, Techno thought they weren't compatible. That would be the more plausible explanation, given most Suns and Moons only have a handful of people they can link up with.
Techno has Phil. Their compatibility is so high even the UHA was stunned at first. There are a few others Techno has linked up with before too that seem to mesh well with him - Chayanne, Skeppy, one time he linked up with Quackity and the results were… interesting but not disastrous. Niki is a bit of an outlier though.
Despite being compatible with her, she has such wavering control over her unstable energy that the exchange isn't too much different than what it would be if he linked up with an incompatible Sun. And the dangers are just as real.
It's fine if Techno only reflects a little bit, which is what he has been doing during this fight so far. But he knows they can be so much more powerful if they're willing to accept the risks.
Niki extends her arm and the world explodes into a series of tiny bursts, sparks and ash fill the air. The villain is fast, sidestepping every blow thrown their way. They're a Sun themself, most villains are. Either that or Stars, the two types of superhumans who can use their powers without anybody else around.
Techno isn't jealous, nope sir, not at all!
"This is just getting annoying," he says, watching the villain prepare to lift a truck and lob it their way. They really seem to be a one-trick pony.
"They're not very creative, but they're quick on their feet," Niki points out. Techno snaps his fingers, allowing a fiery blast of power to run from Niki through him. The burning sensation doubles, the amplification inside him leaves traces of pain behind. Techno grits his teeth and bears it.
The villain manages to dodge.
"The entire block will be leveled if this drags on." Techno looks at the buildings around them, several are already damaged to a concerning degree. A lot of civilians managed to evacuate, but tuning into Niki's powers sharpened his senses and Techno can hear some people screaming, begging, trapped and trying to get out.
"We have to buy more time until the others get here," Niki says. Techno shakes his head.
"Just go."
He allows Niki's powers to run free inside him.
Her eyes widen, blue irises bleeding through with gold in an instant. "Techno-"
"Go! Don't worry about me."
To her credit, Niki does go on the offensive, throwing everything she has at the villain and then some. Techno knows he should be keeping up with her, but it's hard when his entire body hurts too much to move. Every time Niki uses her powers, it's as if his insides are set on fire. Since Techno has to put all his concentration toward making sure their link doesn't snap, he can't tell if it's working. He can only hope it is.
He thinks he can hear Phil.
Not in the literal sense, like Phil is there and putting his hand on Techno's shoulder and laughing at his stubborn nature. Though Techno would give pretty much anything for that to be the case right now. It's just that the small speck of common sense in his brain has developed a voice that sounds concerningly close to Phil's, which is a whole thing Techno can unpack when he's not busy saving the world.
"Bruh, life is so unfair. How come you get to throw fireballs around whenever and I have to borrow powers from somebody else if I want to do somethin' cool."
Phil chuckles, bright and easy. "Maybe the universe knew the sort of shit you'd get up to otherwise."
"They nerfed me, Phil," Techno complains, throwing up his hands. Phil's skin is warm against his own. When they're linked up, they share their world.
His insides all coil together, shrinking and withering and turning to ash. Techno doesn't know if he's standing or if he has fallen onto his knees. The pain is bad enough to blot his vision out completely. He can't hear, he can't see, he can barely think. The link burns and burns and burns.
The villain screams - anger and frustration and defeat. Barely, Techno smirks through the taste of blood sticking to his teeth.
Then it bursts, an unfettered flame inside him that scorches away whatever was left, and takes with it the remainder of his consciousness.
As Phil walks along the hallways of the UHA headquarters, people can't seem to get out of his way quickly enough.
They all avert their gazes and bow their heads when Phil passes. Maybe it's because of the energy crackling at his fingertips, eager to escape. Or maybe it's just because Phil is making no effort to hide how fucking pissed off he is.
He throws open the door of Sam's office, not blinking when it slams into the wall. Sam doesn't blink either. He's already on his feet behind the desk, aware that Phil is on the warpath and Sam is the first person on his shit list. The only one who does flinch is the woman in a white lab coat who is standing beside Sam. She drops a few of her papers in surprise, then quickly bends over in a flustered state to collect them again.
"You may knock next time," Sam says, voice deceptively calm despite how annoyed he probably is.
But this concerns Techno. And when it concerns Techno, Sam is used to Phil not giving an inch.
"Mind telling me why the fuck Techno was out in the field," Phil says.
"Because it's his job," Sam answers. He dismisses the woman with a wave of his hand, and she can't get out of there fast enough. Phil feels vaguely bad for barging in and stressing her out. Just like he feels vaguely bad that he ended up bailing on Missa, Chayanne, and Tallulah's training trip at the last minute.
But it's the sort of guilt Phil pushes away to deal with later.
"Not without a Sun to support him," Phil says.
"Niki was with him."
Phil walks over and slams his hand down on the table, barely containing his rage. "You know that's not good enough. They both could have died."
"She's never going to learn if she avoids linking up with people forever," Sam says, but his lips pull down in a noticeable frown. "I… miscalculated the threat this villain posed. But neither of them will grow if you keep coddling Niki or never push Techno to play nice with others."
"You-" Phil cringes at a sharp stab of pain in his lungs, stepping back with a gasp. The pain is dulled because it's second-hand, but that doesn't make its sudden appearance less concerning. Phil turns on his heels and storms off, he can revisit this conversation with Sam later.
The infirmary is eerily quiet. A smell of disinfectant lingers over everything, and Phil doesn't like the way his shoes squeak against the overpolished floors. If anybody else is currently admitted, Phil would have heard about it, so he assumes the only room where the door has been left open must be Techno's.
Niki is sitting on a chair next to the bed.
For the moment it takes her to notice Phil walking in, he gets to observe her and take in the paleness of her face, the slightly red rims of her eyes, the way a sling has almost hastily been put around her arm.
Then she does see him and stands up, her face a mosaic of regret.
"Phil, I'm so-"
He wraps his arms around her before she can finish. Niki melts into him, holding him tighter. She shakes a bit, but refuses to cry.
"Are you hurt?" Phil asks. And it's as if those simple words release her from some invisible shackles. She nods into his shoulder.
"I'm fine, Phil, really, just…" She pulls back, wiggling her arm. "My wrist got busted when I fell."
"When your powers burst?" Phil asks.
Niki swallows and nods.
Phil has gone through it before. The UHA calls it a 'Sunburst' in their official reports because Sam has an obsession with his scientific pursuits. Sometimes, that man is more interested in figuring out the biological processes behind superpowers than the people who wield them. His people, who he should be protecting.
Sunbursting is when a Sun's power spirals out of control, usually as a result of linking up with an incompatible Moon who can't reflect the Sun's energy properly. Or in this case, when it's amplified too much. And the issue with it is that it's usually worse for the person trying to conduct all that power with nowhere to go.
"How is he doing?" Phil asks, turning to the bed.
Techno does look pretty bad, though asking if he's stable was the first thing Phil did when he got the news. The medic's assurance that Techno would make a full recovery feel meaningless with Phil looking at his friend motionless, hooked up to a dozen tubes and wires. A heart rate monitor next to the bed assures them that Techno is alive with annoying, intermittent beeping. There are a few bandages Phil can see, but most of the damage will be internal.
Phil doesn't want to lift the blanket and see the canvas of bruises that are surely painted across Techno's skin right now, from blood vessels and organs ruptured.
"The doctor said it will take some time," Niki says softly. "He lost a lot of blood. Internal bleeding, mostly. They're keeping him sedated for as long as they can, so his body has a chance to recuperate."
"How long?" Phil asks, already pulling up another chair.
"We don't know, could be days." She sits down again slowly, the book she had put on the nightstand is picked up so she can run her fingers along the pages.
"Then Sam better be prepared to bring us food in here, because I don't think either of us is leaving," Phil says. Niki almost smiles, though it never quite reaches her eyes.
"I'm glad to have the company," she admits. "I wasn't sure if you'd want me here."
Phil sits on his own chair, so now they're on opposite sides of the bed. He reaches out to take Techno's hand in his own, running his fingers over cold skin. "Why not?"
"Because it's my fault."
Phil can feel the pinpricks of pain all over his body now, especially in his limbs. It's curious - normally a Sun and a Moon only share sensations when they're linked up. But for some reason, Phil can feel Techno even when he's not trying to. As if somewhere along the way their very souls got connected.
"It's really not," he says. "Sam shouldn't have let the two of you out on the field alone, but even then I know there's nothing come hell or high water that could have stopped this stubborn asshole." He nods at Techno. "And you saved a ton of lives."
"I guess," Niki says, not sounding like she believes him.
Phil knows from experience there's not much he can do to change her mind.
The silence drags on between them, broken up only by the continuous beeping of the monitor. Phil can't stand it.
"What are you reading?" he asks.
Niki looks at the book in her lap absently, blinking away the stubbornly unshed tears. She's kind of similar to Techno, in that way.
"The Princess Bride," she says. Techno's favorite.
"Will you read it out loud for me?" Presumably, that's what she was doing for Techno before he entered. "The noise is going to drive me up the fucking walls."
Niki smiles, a tad more sincere than before. "Sure."
The sound of her voice doesn't completely drown out the sound of the heart monitor, but it makes the waiting significantly more bearable.