Technoblade was used to being more alert to his surroundings than this.

Looking back on it he didn't know how the creeper has slipped past his notice. He hated to admit it, but maybe he had been pushing it a little when he decided not to postpone mining until tomorrow, when he wouldn't be working on three hours of sleep and an entire day of running around chasing mobs. He had really wanted to finish this adit before the day ended though, and Ranboo had offered to come with him.

Why did Ranboo have to be with him?

The telltale hiss of the creeper tipped him off mere seconds before it would blow itself apart. Technoblade had always resented that instinct of theirs, backward as it was. It didn't make much sense – biologically speaking – for an entire species to develop an ability that was directly proportional to their continued survival. As soon as he became aware of the sound he was turning, taking in the sight before him instantly.

Ranboo hadn't heard it coming either, which made sense because he would obviously have said something otherwise. But that meant the creeper had managed to sneak up to them close enough to be an issue. And with no time to spare before it exploded, Techno didn't think even his reflexes would be sufficient to draw a sword and knock it back before it could.

He'd have to resort to the next best thing.

Grabbing Ranboo's wrist, he pulled hard enough for the taller hybrid to go sprawling across the cobblestone floor of the cave. Techno would probably have to apologize for the unprompted manhandling later, but his main concern was minimizing any damage to them or their tunnel. The creeper let out a final, high-pitched whine and then the expected force of the explosion threw Technoblade back.

Speak about backward instincts.

He slammed into the wall with his shoulder first, then his head. Techno's ears were ringing horribly and what had once been the dull ache of sleep deprivation wasted no time blossoming into a full migraine because of the blow. Trying to push up on his elbows, the entire cave seemed to be tilted sideways.

Did the creeper's explosion damage something? Then he blinked and, no, it was really just his vision that was fucked.

Ranboo was speaking to him, and grabbing his shoulder, but Technoblade found himself unable to discern the words through the continued ringing. He stared blankly at Ranboo's lips as if that would somehow help him understand what the enderman hybrid was saying.

"Uh... what?" he asked eventually when the world had stopped spinning in circles. Eloquent as ever Technoblade, he thought to himself – but discarded it quickly. Chat was already having enough of an uproar at his expense. They were sure to have a field day with this blunder.

"You're bleeding," Ranboo said, worry and anxiousness in his voice, and his hands were hovering. Unsure of what to do to help.

"Am I?" Technoblade asked. As if to prove Ranboo's statement, he suddenly became aware of a warm, wet sensation dripping down the side of his face. Oh, definitely blood.

"Uh, what do we do? Should I get Phil? I should get Phil-" Ranboo was trying to get up but Techno grabbed his wrist.

"Don't get Phil!"

He pushed up to get on his feet, the ringing slowly fading away but leaving more pain in its wake. Nausea swept over him as he tried to get up, Technoblade ignored it. "Let's just get home, we're not too far out."

"If you're sure," Ranboo said, clearly hesitant about it.

"I'm am." Techno stumbled, unsteady on his feet, and he was secretly grateful for the fact that he was still holding onto Ranboo's wrist. Ranboo hunched down awkwardly to help support him. "And we don't tell Phil this is how it happened. We need to tell him I was hurt while doing something very cool."

Ranboo nodded covertly. "I'll think of something." Technoblade was satisfied with that answer.

If Phil knew he got snuck up on by a creeper he would never live it down.


Requests are open, come get ya'll techno!whump juice

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