Why did it always have to end in weakness? Technoblade woke from the onslaught of memories and rage to see Philza's wings covering him and to feel the angel's hands holding his own. He groaned, wondering what on earth he'd done this time.

Well, nobody died.
This time. -Ros
I still want potatoes. -Mag
PHILZYYYYY -Lem
Oop, there's a mad boi nearby.
(Sniffs) b l u d -Boa
D A D Z A S T A N -J_Rap
Gosh, you guys are loud today.

Techno sat up. He felt Phil's wings draw away and the sunlight fell upon him again. His body felt so tired; his limbs trembled beneath him and he wanted to just collapse again. But his pride kept him upright.

"So..." An unfamiliar voice spoke off to his left. Techno looked and saw that Creeper-hybrid kneeling on the ground a few feet away. Only minutes ago he'd been breathing smoke and handling Technoblade like a ragdoll. Now he sat, his front feet tucked securely beneath him, his hands folded in front. It was he who spoke. "...you're normally peaceful. That...episode with Tommy..." more smoke drifted from his mask and Techno heard a light growl, "...that wasn't usual?"

"No." Philza replied. "Techno hasn't had problems like that during most of the years we've known each other. This...he must've been triggered by what you said earlier, about Tommy."

Sam narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Alright." He nodded and slowly rose to his feet. The same small girl from before, though Techno had previously paid little attention to her, trotted up beside her father and plopped upon the ground. She stared intently at Technoblade, like a strange mixture of childish wonder and grown-up fascination. At first, Techno thought it bothered him. But as he returned her stare, he realized it was the fact that she didn't bother him that was confusing. So he just sat there and looked back at her. He didn't really have the energy for much else.

The voices of Philza and Sam faded into the background as Techno's adrenaline crash came over him. But he didn't want to lose himself again so he kept his eyes steadily on the horned child, who was gradually beginning to bounce in place. Her lips pursed and after a second or two she whispered loudly, "There's so much dirt in your hair. We need to wash it out; do you guys have a bucket?"

Bucketbucketbucketbucket
It's hair. Who cares? -Mag
I'm still hungry. -Tho

The Voices mumbled and squeaked in Technoblade's head, distracting him from the girl's question. He didn't answer, instead focusing on her horns, on the way they twisted and bent upwards, deer-like in their slenderness, but with more points and angles. He felt someone pat his hair and start combing it through their fingers. It was probably Kai, for Philza was still visible a few feet away, talking to the Creeper-hybrid.

Kai's soft tones broke the silence. "We do, but it's at the house." He began separating locks of hair and plaiting them together. Techno, not quite sure what his brother was doing, sat still and waited to see what would happen. He didn't really feel like making a response to it right now.

The girl leaned forward, her fingers playing with each other more rapidly then the hybrid could really follow. "Soooo...that story you told. Was that a memory or a dream? 'Cause it was really good, bestie."

Good? Did she even hear what...wait. What did I say? I don't remember...Technoblade could recall the memories that had taken over his mind, but he hadn't a clue what he'd said during that time. He found himself answering rather dully. "It...it was a memory."

The girl's eyebrows went up and she immediately tugged a notebook and a tiny inkpot from her belt. The white feather in her hair was also carefully removed and used to scribble in her book whatever it was she found so interesting. Suddenly she glanced up at him again. "What's your name, bestie?"

There was something about her that was weirdly familiar. Something about the way she spoke, the movement of her eyes or head. Techno frowned as he tried to analyze it.

"He's Techno. Who're you?" Ranboo came over and sat down beside the little group with Wilbur, leaving the adults by themselves. A little ways behind them, the blond child struggled to get down from the mechanical arms that held him safe and out of Techno's reach.

The girl flashed a grin. "Lune. Just Lune, sorry." She went back to writing.

Ranboo glanced over at Kai, who was still messing with his brother's hair. "So...you okay? Either of you guys?" Ranboo asked gingerly.

Technoblade closed his eyes, focusing on the rhythm of Kai's hands going over and under, of strands of hair being laid carefully in place. The effort of speaking was becoming less. "I...yes. I think so."

Lune tapped her chin with one knuckle. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm ok. You're a pretty Enderboi. Who are you?"

Ranboo flushed, nudging his glasses further up his nose. "Uh-um-I, ahem, I'm Ranboo. That's Kai and this is Wilbur."

Kai spoke quietly again. "I thought Dad introduced us already."

Lune coughed and grinned rapidly again. "Yeah, sorry, bestie. I forgot your names because the angel's wings were pretty. Are his wings attached to his back or did they grow there?" Her light green eyes fixed on Wilbur, where he sat gazing up at Technoblade.

"They, uh, they grew, I think." Ranboo answered. "I don't know much about them." He leaned over to see what Kai was doing, then sat straight again. "But yeah, he is an angel. He's pretty rare."

"Hm." Lune scribbled faster. "I hope nobody hunts angels. They'd kill him and stuff him and put him in a museum or something. Then nobody could touch his pretty feathers anymore. And he'd be dead! Because that's also important!" Her words flicked from her lips as though she were trying to spill them all. Techno suddenly realized why she was familiar. She sounded like some of his Voices. Like some of the stranger ones, those who usually seemed nicer, until the rage came. Then they screamed the loudest for bloodshed.

Behind him, Kai shuddered. "Kill Dad?" He shrank down into himself, folding his wings around his body.

"Don't worry," Ranboo assured. "No one is hunting Phil. He'll be fine." He tilted his head quizzically at Lune. "Where'd that come from?"

The girl bent over her notebook, no longer scribbling but still looking uncomfortable. "Sorry. Sorry, I do that a lot." She glanced at Sam, who had just finished whatever conversation he was having with Phil and was now walking over towards them.

Seen from the ground, Sam was a giant. Techno looked up at him and wondered where he'd seen him before. Possibly in one of the facilities he'd destroyed when he was younger. The Creeper-hybrid returned his gaze calmly, then bent down to Lune. "You good?"

"Mmm." Lune hummed and swayed back and forth. She tapped her notebook and then her forehead. "Mmm."

"Ah." Sam murmured. "Okay. Want a ride?" He held out his hand to her.

"Yeah!" Lune's demeanor changed all at once, becoming instantly delighted as she scrambled up onto Sam's back. She turned to look back down at Techno, Kai, Wilbur and Ranboo. "I still like you guys, by the way. Can we come back?"

Technoblade stared at her. "I almost killed your brother." But he understood. Just a little, but he understood.

Lune lay down on Sam's back. "Yeah." She said in a matter-of-fact tone. "But it's not like he doesn't almost kill himself every day. Gremlin child has energy like you wouldn't believe. And I know it was just a dream."

Sam humphed. "That may be, but I'll make the final decision on that matter, alright? You are both my highest priority and if I think you're in danger..." He sent a warning stare at Techno, "...I'll keep you away from whatever or whoever's trying to hurt you."

"Mmmm. But it wasn't his fault, Papa." Lune protested, wriggling a little.

Technoblade wasn't sure he agreed with her, but he didn't have much to go on either way. He glanced towards Tommy, the blond boy who'd given up struggling against the unyielding hold of the android and was now just hanging in midair, glaring at the ground. Not an Orphan. Techno thought forcefully. This one's not an Orphan. It helped a little.

Tiny golden boy. Does he have golden blood? -Ros
Shhhhhhh! We're not going there right now! -J_Rap
Badumps.
Wanna scare him a little at least.
Give me popcorn or give me angst! -Mos
Both. Both. Both. Both is good. -Tho

"We'll see." Sam said, answering his daughter and breaking Techno's train of thought. He looked up to see Sam turning away with Lune on his back. "Come on, Sam Nook. We're going home. Goodbye, Philza." He tramped off down the field with his own family.

Techno felt a tug on his hair and then Kai let go. The Piglin-hybrid put up his hand to feel what Kai had been doing, and discovered a long, tightly done braid. There were soft things threaded into it, but he couldn't tell by touch alone what they were right away, until he moved and noticed a nice scent. He put...flowers...in my hair. Techno wasn't sure what to make of this. He knew Kai adored flowers, but having them in his hair seemed a trifle girlish. Still, he decided not to remove them for now. Kai probably put a lot of work into that braid, after all.

Philza came and sat down in front of Techno, who quickly looked away. "Mate," Phil said quietly, "look at me. What happened?"

He didn't really want to, but after stalling a little, Techno lifted his head and met Phil's eyes. "You know what I saw. I heard that hybrid say his kid was an Orphan and that was it. I had to keep him away from Wilbur, Phil. I had to."

"But he's not an Orphan anymore." Philza reminded him. "Sam's adopted him. Doesn't that mean he's not a monster?"

The memories in Technoblade's head responded with laughter. Techno winced and got up, walking quickly away before they urged him to do something he'd regret. He heard footsteps as Philza followed him. Techno stopped once he was sure the kids could not hear him. "Phil...that boy...I just hope he wasn't an Orphan for long. If he had been...there's no goin' back from that state, Phil. Orphans are monsters. All of them are. But if you catch 'em before they've been like that for too long, you could save them. You just gotta..." His voice died away as he heard faraway chanting all over again. The smell of burning wood and flesh came back to him and he nearly choked on it. His hands wouldn't stop shaking.

"Techno, mate," Philza swooped round in front of him, putting both hands on his shoulders, "you're safe. D'you hear me? Safe. No one's going to burn you here. And there are no Orphans. Got it?" He laid one hand on the back of the hybrid's neck. "You're not alone anymore. Remember that."

"Sorry, Phil." Techno muttered. "I haven't been alone for seven years, but I still keep forgettin'. It's a hard habit to lose."

"I know." Phil answered. "I'm not mad, mate. I know you'll always need reminders of how much you can rely on others. And that's alright." He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to Techno's. "I'm here for you. So is Kai and Ranboo. Maybe Wilbur one day. Point is, you're alright now. And all those years of pain don't have to control you."

The tips of the hybrid's tusks just brushed Phil's skin. Techno wondered with a sigh how easy it would be to gouge the angel's eyes out with a mere twist of his head. He hated that thought, but it came to him anyway. Those instincts were an inseparable part of him and they always would be. It was the curse of being a Blood god. One he would never be free of, no matter how many years he spent at Philza's side. "Okay." He replied under his breath. "I'll try to remember, Phil."

"Good." Philza gave him a pat on the back. "Now let's go back inside. There's something I want to talk to you about, but not with the children around." He strode up the hill towards the house with Techno just behind him. Kai, still holding flowers he'd been nervously picking, got up and held Wilbur's hand as he followed them, with Ranboo walking in last place.

Tired and hot, the children headed upstairs to wash themselves off and change their clothes. Philza and Technoblade, however, went up further, to the roof. The plentiful blooms and soft foliage provided a peaceful environment that Philza often used when discussing issues with his kids.

The angel knelt between two of the plots of flowers, resting his hands on his knees. Roses, buttercups and honeysuckle perfumed the air around him, while witch hazel and tiger lilies decorated the place Techno chose to sit. The hybrid stared at the colorful, silken petals without seeming to see them.

Philza let silence reign for a little time before he broke it with a question. "Techno, you hate Orphans. You told me they're monsters."

"Every one of them." Techno replied firmly. "I'll kill any I find."

"Every one?" Phil asked. "What if Wilbur became an Orphan? What then?"

Technoblade's crimson eyes flashed. "He won't. You're an angel, Phil. You're not exactly about to die any time soon."

Phil's hands tightened across his knees. But his tone was as patient as usual when he answered. "I'm just asking 'what if', Techno. If Wil, or Kai or Ranboo, became an Orphan...what would you do?" He saw Techno's expression drop and he pressed. "You said they're irredeemable. How far would you go down that road, mate?"

The flowers stirred in a synchronized dance as a faint breeze passed among them. Their scent was stirred about, wafting from one end of the garden to the other. Technoblade took a breath of it and felt a little more at ease. The flowers in his hair seemed less out of place. "Phil..." He replied slowly, "once a kid has been on their own for too long, they become twisted and monstrous. Their instincts and desires become...well. Like mine, I guess, but with less control over them. If that happened to any of my brothers, Phil..." he stood up, "then yes. Yes, I'd kill them. They wouldn't be my brothers anymore. They would be exactly whom everyone fears me to be: a creature driven by instinct and the insatiable desire for domination through any violent means necessary. I won't let anyone inflict that on anybody else. Anyone, Phil."

Technoblade turned away. He almost went back downstairs, but he didn't want to be around anyone right now. And up here on the roof was the loneliest place for the time being. He grasped the railings at the edge of it and stared out over the land below.

Philza didn't speak for a while. He worked over what Techno had said in his mind. The implications were disturbing in this context, but reassuring in another. He began to see just how solid Techno's principles were to him. Even after seven years of knowing each other, thought Philza, there are still things to learn and discover about him.

~~~~~~*

In the hallway, just behind the door that led up to the rooftop, Wilbur sat with wide, frozen eyes. What he'd just heard from Techno...would he really kill him? He'd sounded so certain. But surely...Techno had said it would only happen if Wilbur became a monster. Because then he wouldn't be Wilbur anymore. Still...the thought of those red eyes normally so kind and affectionate suddenly filled with rage and hatred shook the boy to his tiny core.

The golden-eyed crow hopped off his shoulder. Secrets, am I right? They're the best, of you know what to do with them.

Wilbur gazed at the creature. "Do you...d'you think he'd do it?"

Technoblade? Need you even ask? The bird danced in place, its feet tapping out a rhythm. He's a Blood god, kid. He solves problems with violence. 'Course he'd do it.

Wilbur gulped. "I must be good, then. I can't turn into a monster, or he'll..."

The crow's beady eyes lit up. Be good? Heh, you don't need to be good, Wil. Just better than him. Smarter. Chaos always wins against those who go against it, anyway. Even the highest beings know this.

The little boy tilted his head to the side. "Chaos?"

The bird flapped its wings and leapt to Wilbur's knee, where it nuzzled him with its beak. Chaos always wins. It's unpredictable, and therefore unstoppable. I'll teach you the ways of chaos, Wil. If you want.

Wilbur glanced towards the door, beyond which stood his eldest brother. The man who protected him at all times, but who also held the power to destroy him. But beyond Technoblade also stood his father. And his father was more powerful even than Technoblade. He could stop the rages. Wil looked back down at the crow. "Maybe later. When I ask my Dad."

As you please. In the meantime, I will remain king of birbs and Lord of Chaos. And with a roguish flirt of its wings, the crow flew off, bobbing and swooping the whole way.

At the bottom of the stairs, Kai appeared. "Wilbur, where were you?" He said, climbing up and taking the small child in his arms. "I've been looking for you everywhere. It's time for your bath."