Techno doesn't return until the sky is dark, snow clouds covering any sign of stars.

After what happened outside, you're not entirely sure he even wanted to come back inside.

But nevertheless when he does return, the first thing you hear is the clunk of his boots on the steps. Long even steps, graceful in pattern, yet heavy against the stone.

The door swings open next, and your met with snow covered Techno, a sight you've started to grow accustomed to.

It surprised you that he walked out without his bone mask. You swore he wore it for intimidation, so perhaps he didn't think he needed to intimidate anyone today? Or maybe he thought it too awkward to come back in to grab it? Whatever it was, you didn't know, but he was here now, dusting off snow and hanging up his cloak.

You were nestled next to the fire, huddled in blankets and various pelts. Far too comfy to do anything but huddle there.

It was funny.

Once he figured out how often you sat next to the fire, pelts started accumulating there instead of your bed. Which was good.

Because your bed did not have enough room for as many pelt's he'd been collecting.

Another clunk of boots touching the ground.

Another piece of ice skittering along the wood.

"Welcome back." You call over your shoulder, flicking your head back to the fire once you spoke your greeting.

He hummed, before letting out a small, "Hallo..."

His footsteps headed your direction. Before he paused.

Maybe a slight miss thought? Forgot what he was doing?

You didn't know.

But when he didn't start moving again, didn't start doing any of the things he usually did, you flipped your head back around to look him in the red of his eyes.

He was staring at you.

And when your eyes made contact, he flinched.

Which made you flinch.

"What uh-" your eyes flick to look behind him before refocusing, "What are you doin there bud?"

His hands clenched, and this strangled expression wriggled onto his face.

The conflicted expressions he'd give everytime you tried to converse about deeper topics, the expression he gave when he didn't want to reveal a piece of himself, or didn't like that someone else was revealing a piece of themselves.

You squint.

And squint harder when his tongue flicks out to nervously lick at his lips.

"Any room by the fire?"

You stare.

Just for a small moment, before slowly nodding your head and patting the spot next to you.

A breath of relief escapes him, like something on his shoulders came tumbling off. A few long strides had him right next to you, before he dropped to the ground with crossed legs.

He didn't speak, and neither did you.

Even though you wanted to ask what was on his mind, you didn't. Because this wasn't Tommy.

This wasn't your friend, who will openly say how uncomfortable he is about something, or how bleak he feels things are.

This was Techno.

The Techno.

The person who hated showing anything that was happening in his mind, and gave out peices of information about himself only after it got brutally wretched from his hands.

So you waited.

You sat next to the warm fire, and waited for whatever thoughts he was having to sort themselves.

Maybe you also hoped he would tell you, but if he didn't, then it wasn't your business to pry.

You tried prying with him, and it never seemed to get you anywhere into his head space.

You glance at him, watching the gentle glow of fire flicker against his form. The soft pink of his hair was lit with such an orange hue that it made it appear as though the edges of the sunset line him.

Techno is very pretty.

You fluster at the sudden, reaccuring, thought and divert your attention back to the fire, just in time for his voice to pick up with a soft, and slow, "....Your brother."

You go ramrod stiff at that, tense because you don't know what he's trying to do.

"How..." He pauses to try and rearrange the thoughts in his head, "...Important is he to you."

You exhale, trying your best to release your tension, passively looking to the fire.

"Very." You answer, "Family... is very important to me."

There's a silence that filters in when you say that. And you felt you needed to cross the point of just how important family was for you.

"So important that-" He looks at you as you speak, but you hold your gaze on the fire, "It makes me genuinely angry when people fuck around with the people I feel close to. I try to remain neutral... I do.... but fucking mess with my family and I can't help but get pissed."

"I can tell." He hums.

He's probably thinking of Tommy.

Which he isn't wrong about. You'd consider Tommy a piece of your family.

You're not entirely sure what to say to him to continue conversation. You get the feeling that Techno's digging for something, but you have no idea what, and have no way of telling.

Techno picks up again with a, "Is the compass the only thing that leads you to your brother?"

"I suppose."

"..." He squints, so you roll your eyes in return.

"We're not exactly on speaking terms, so the only way to find him is to track him with that compass."

"It tracks him."

"Yes."

"Odd."

"Kinda."

"Why would he carry around a lodestone if he didn't want you to find him?"

You purse your lips.

Too much information to give there. You are not digging into that secrets bag.

"No reason."

Techno snuffs, "Figures. You like your secrets." Another, lesser snuff, "Secrets you don't want to divulge to someone like me."

"Secrects I don't want to divulge to anyone." You firmly state.

"Sure."

You purse your lips, "Is there a reason you're asking these things?"

"Is there a reason you were so panicked when you found out you lost the compass?"

The stare you give him is quick- a flash of confusion angled towards him. One that said, 'Why do you care?'

And Techno, being the ever observant- nearly as analytical as you person he was, knew exactly what your face said.

Even though he didn't respond to it, you knew that he knew you were intensely questioning his intentions.

"I can."

He says.

Still looking you dead in the eyes, still staring down your confused expression.

"I can find the compass for you."

Oh.

You...

Don't know what to say.

A nervous laugh came out of Techno, and his eyes flickered between both of yours with a nervousness you had yet to ever openly see on Techno's face, "Your- your eyes are all big-- is- is that a good wide eyed look or a bad wide eyed look...??"

You still have no idea how to respond.

"You're silence is sending me mixed signals-" when you still don't speak, he let's out a nervous laugh again, lifting a hand behind his head to scratch at the mop of pink hair, "Ah Hah- Hah- uh- Press one to leave a voice-mail- press two to tell me to never search for the compass-"

"Three-" you softly whisper, "...You really would....?"

At the sound of your meek voice- Techno smiled. Just the smallest of smiles- the slight twitch of his lips curling up.

It was almost like he knew what thought you were thinking- like he knew how all your thoughts narrowed down to 'you have no reason to do this- and yet you are'

A small snuff escaped him. Assurance? Amusement?

"For you, I make exceptions."

.

.

.

.

Technoblade. The violent maleform of chaos and anarchy- the person who's convinced he can't do anything but fight- the person who despises emotions- and forcefully holds people at arms length-

Here he is.

And he's being something other then brutal- and you are so, so confused.

Again.

Because you don't think you can wrap your head around how unevenly he treats people.

With some people, he seems so rough and cruel, and with others he bends over backwards for them- and it just doesn't make sense to someone like you, who tries their best to treat everyone as fairly as possible.

Still.

With his words, you felt soft in your heart- because who wouldn't turn into a puddle after someone vaguely insinuates that you mean enough to them to put in the effort of being nice.

You smiled, he looked flustered, you felt flustered-

What the hell was even happening anymore.