"Tommy?" 

Silence. 

"Tommy. Are you okay down there? Are you sure you don't want to sleep upstairs?" 

Still no answer. 

Techno eased himself down the ladder, just in case Tommy really was asleep. But of course, he wan't. His heightened senses had told him that already. 

"Techno?" Tommy sounded so small, so scared. 

So easily broken. 

Techno had to protect him. 

"Techno, what are you doing down here," Tommy asked, feigning irritation. It was one of the things he did best. 

"Tommy, don't try to lie, alright. I know you're scared. But... we have to get through this together. And we will, okay? For L'Manburg." 

Techno would say anything, do anything, to keep Tommy happy. 

Tommy thought for a moment. 

"Techno?" 

"Yeah?" 

A short pause, then...

"I'm scared." 

Techno smiled. Here was something he understood. 

"Do you know why, Tommy?" 

Another pause. 

"No." 

"Then tell me your thoughts, Tommy. Maybe we can find out that way. Alright?" 

Tommy nodded slowly, and opened his mouth to speak. A torrent of words followed. 

"I-I'm scared, Techno. A-and I miss Tubbo. And... I want t-to go h-home. Back to O-old L'Manburg. To w-what this place u-used to b-be. I-I miss Wilbur, too. Ghostbur j-just... i-isn't the same." Tommy curled up, covered by the thin blankets. 

"C-can you tell me a story?" Tommy suddenly blurted. 

Techno would say anything, do anything, to keep this broken boy together. 

"What kind of story?" 

"H-how about... the Theseus one! " Tommy replied. 

Techno nodded– then, "Should I... sing it?" 

"The Blade singing? Yes, of course yes you idiot!" 

He sighed. "I'm going to regret this aren't I..." 

Then, he recalled his memories of way back when... 

And sang. 

I once knew a man, back in the day

He was born by the royal bay

Techno could still see that day, that bay, with the sun shining bright. A beautiful day, not fit for a fallen hero's birth at all. 

Either mortal or divine

It was true that his traits were also attributed to his friend. They used to be inseparable. Used to. It was all gone with the wind now. 

He was stronger than his peers

He helped his people to live without fear

The best his city ever had

He remembered the times they had spent, walking along the walls and training. One unable to defeat the other, perfectly balanced equals. But he was forgotten, and his friend rose to fame. 

But he fell from his grace

And now you're taking his place

Now you know how heroes turn to one

All because of a failure. His friend became known for his ending. 

He stood out as he must

And like him, you shone too much

If you think you're a hero, die like one

That fateful day, so far away now. But another fateful day surfaced, the anniversary of Theseus' lost happy ending. November 16th. Where he had spoken those same words to the broken boy in front of him. 

His tale remained for a thousand years

His death was mourned by a hundred tears

He was honored for his life

But he himself, Technoblade, was not honored. He was lost to time, while his friend had his tale chronicled. 

His legacy has reached to you

It isn't your choice, you were destined to

Live the rest of your life despised

But maybe he could free Tommy from this curse. This curse that had started with the two of them– Technoblade and Theseus, and then countless others, and now... two of his old friends. Dream and Tommy. More than friends, really. Children. His broken children. 

'Cause he fell from his grace

And now you're taking his place

Now you know how heroes turn to one

Turn to one indeed. Turn to him, Technoblade. Because he was one of the few that had threw off the curse, only to teach others who had the curse passed onto them. And watch them fail. 

He stood out as he must

And like him, you shone too much

If you think you're a hero, die like one

Would Tommy really die? Techno hoped not. Surely, he'd escape. He could have one single bit of luck in his life, right? Right?

And now you want to come to me

And now you're living secretly, away from the seeing eye

Techno swallowed a laugh as he thought of RaccoonInnit. They'd joked about that when Techno had first found Tommy, living in a room underneath his cabin. When Tommy had first brought up a cobblestone tower to assert his dominance. When they'd just allied. 

You're just repeating history, don't blame me if you die

Just live this time with caution, I'll make sure

You'll be fine

It was eerily similar to Theseus' story, with the hero going into hiding. But... he wouldn't turn Tommy into Dream, like most believed. No. He was going to fight for this broken boy, and do whatever it took. 

And by the time he finished the song, Tommy was long asleep.