Waking up today felt strange. Today was the day you had to go meet Wilbur halfway and trade supplies.

Because apparently you worked for the revolution now?

Apparently you were having a hand in supplying war criminals?

You weren't sure how this happened, but it was nearly four days after the initial conversation with him, and now you're meeting halfway to help them.

And yet you were perfectly aware of how this happened. Sad and lonely and paranoid you decided to pick a side to have some semblance of a social life.

Great.

Rising from your bed, you set to get ready, freshening up, changing into traveling clothes, packing.

Only the essentials were being brought. And of course all the stuff you were eventually going to fork over to Wilbur and his ragtag group of merry man.

Even after you were finished getting ready for the journey, you had time. So you walked about in your kitchen with boots on, preparing a random type of tea and settling at your kitchen table to sip at it.

This would probably be the only calm of the day, all things considered, so you took your time enjoying it.

When you finished, you dropped your mug in the sink, and set out. The sun was still low in the sky, morning light dancing between oak and birch trees with a quiet and peaceful promise.

You had to relax more.

Glancing to the paper in your hands, you read off the rendezvous coordinates in your mind and prayed to whatever god was out there that you wouldn't get lost on the way.

Your compass kept your current coordinates on it, so you tried your best.

Eventually, you found yourself on the outskirts of the Dream SMP. Dangerously close to Manberg.

The coordinates lead to a few trees, of which you took a seat by.

You could only hope no one saw you meandering over here. You especially hoped the fuck that Jschatt wasn't out for a stroll. Or Dream. Gods. Dream was so strange and... uniquely scary. At this point literally anyone felt like a threat. Everyone except the people you had an alliance with.

The sound of footsteps made you freeze, and you stood up like an alert deer. Someone was nearby.

And you hoped it wasn't any of the people you mentioned you were scared of.

The footsteps got closer.

Well shit- now you're really scared. You don't even have a weapon with you.

Who doesn't bring a weapon with them??

Just as you were ready to run, a familiar pink figure rounded a tree, and the tension in you noticeably uncoiled.

".... Hey there Techno."

"Halloo..."

He was the only one here... wasn't Wilbur supposed to pick up the supply drops? Why did he send Techno?

Perhaps he was too busy?

Shoving your thoughts behind you, you slung a satchel off your back and onto the ground, "Uhh- so I don't know how to do this- what do you guys need?"

Techno mimicked you and crouched down to peer into the bag, bone mask chilling to look at.

"Uhh- I guess anything would be useful- ores- building materials..."

Looking up at the mask you uncertainly asked, "Is there anything you need in particular?"

The exposed part of his jaw and mouth pursed themselves as he stared down into the bag.

"Honestly, the most helpful thing would be netherite. Or gaps. Anything for combat really. Potions?"

You reached a hand in and rustled around, pulling out all the gold you had.

"...Gold?"

"Sure." He took it, giving it a suspicious once over.

This was incredibly awkward.

Not like you had a weird mock fight to break the ice this time around. Honestly having a fight would be better then doing whatever it was you were both doing.

Just... two awkward people tryna have a reasonable trade. Not to mention how stiff Techno was right now.

He looked very on edge, and tired, and in general like he was completely out of his element at the moment.

"I have stuff for potions- if that counts." You muttered, brushing your hand through the bag to try and sort through the mess it was.

"Poggers- that'll work."

You handed that over as well.

Taking a brief pause to glance between Techno, his hands, and the ingredients he was currently stuffing into his satchel, you pursed your lips.

"I feel like maybe you should take this whole bag."

"Probably."

Very gently, you passed it over to Techno, his larger hands brushing over yours as he took a firm grasp over the bag and slung it onto his back.

"So... I guess that's what a supply run is like?" You questioned- half to yourself, and half towards Technoblade.

"I suppose so."

Welp. Guess that was that.

This was where you both went your separate ways.

At least that's what you thought until Techno's head snapped to the left- towards the clearing. His body tensed again, and he reached an arm out to grab you and pull you behind the cover of the trees.

"Holy shit- what is it-" You whispered- nails unconsciously digging into Techno's arm as he took an uncertain peek.

He ducked back behind the tree.

He didn't answer your question and instead gestured you to follow him as he started to crouch and walk the opposing direction of whatever it was he saw.

Uncertainty laced into your gut, as you silently decided to follow after Techno. You couldn't stop your hand from latching onto his cape- and if he noticed that you did, he didn't say anything.

He just kept slowly creeping farther into the cover of the trees, his tense way of walking forcing you to pick up speed.

When you both got far enough into the trees to not be visible, he stood from his crouch, trading it for a brisk speed walk.

Your grip on his cape tightened as you hurried after him, mouth tightening as you fought the urge to ask him what he saw a second time.

You failed- mouth opening to ask him but you were immediately cut off by running straight into his back.

With a shake of his head, he straightened his back, forcing his body to relax in a much more confident looking position.

Someone was in front of us. You could here the singular shuffle of clothing and weapons- plant life doesn't make those noises.

A voice came from in front of the both of you, one you couldn't see past Techno's shoulder, and one you rightly didn't want to peek out for.

"Hello there."

Techno's head stayed motionless when he answered back with a, "Dream."

Of course its Dream. The freak.

You decided to just stay behind Techno for now.

You didn't know either that well, but Techno was at least more familiar to you.

"Nice day out."

"Oh absolutely. Just- the perfect weather for taking leisurely strolls."

You were surprised at how... lazy Techno sounded. Not lazy in a bad way, but the drawl of his gruff voice oozed with a confidence that was so hard to tell if fake or real. Lazy in the sense that his voice sounded like he had no worries with him- even though just a moment ago he had been so tense.

"I'm sure your buddy there enjoys the weather too."

Your grip on Techno's cape tightens, and you just barely decide to peek your head out from behind Techno's shoulder. You kept your eyes locked on the pure white mask he had- smiley face shifting along with his head to look at you.

Call it a gut feeling, but you could not trust Dream. At all.

Everything in your gut told you to keep twenty feet between you and the aforementioned green goblin.

You tried to give a response, but the moment took too long, and Dream continued to talk, "It's funny- seeing you two so... close to the borders."

"Well... believe it or not... it was a great place for leisurely walking." Again- how he could act so relaxed was unbelievable. Maybe he just didn't feel the heavy drop of dread like you did.

Maybe he trusted Dream.

"Yes." Dream hummed, a noise of discontent at the off-topic things Techno kept talking about, "You know- Jschlatt recently declared a bounty on you."

Techno's relaxed acting faltered, and he stood straighter. He was on edge, and when he went to respond he was cut off.

"Not you Techno. Your little friend."

The first step Dream took didn't make your temporary companion fold his act of nicety.

But the second step instantly made Techno taut. His hand reached for his sword, gently grasping it, but not removing it from its blade. Something strange started to happen. Not with Dream, but with Techno.

His figure grew in size.

Not drastically, but significantly enough for you to know that something wasn't right. His height grew, the cape was hoisted higher off the ground, and if you didn't think you were hallucinating, it almost appeared that his face was... longer. Filling out the skull completely, when his usual face only partially filled out the skull.

It was incredibly intimidating.

But maybe that was the point.

"If I didn't know any better- I'd say you were threatening us." His voice was just as threatening as Dream's in that moment, gruff, and filled with the promise of violence.

Dream froze, a small chuckle escaping him before he held his hands up in surrender, "No fights here." You could almost hear the thought of 'just gathering intel' that probably went through Dream's mind.

Techno grunted, taking a step forward, and immediately Dream caved and started to walk away, "Have fun with your bounty-"

He got a few feet away before his voice said something else, a low and malicious, "Good luck." Carried over the air as he vanished into the trees.

All at once your body sagged, a breath of relief falling from your mouth at Dream's retreating figure. Techno's figure dropped back down to normal size, and the air of intimidation he had went with whatever that was.

Everything about the previous situation was uncalled for.

It was especially unnecessary for someone like Dream. If he was looking for you because of a bounty, why didn't he just grab you and run?

And if he didn't intend to turn you in, why did he bother with a half-assed attempt at warning you about that bounty in the first place?

Techno shuffling in front of you snapped you back to attention. His head ever so slowly turning towards you until his jagged bone mask was looking directly into your face.

Yup, whatever happened to his face showed no trace of being there, only the tusks in his mouth showing past his lips and hinting at whatever had showed itself.

You stared up at Techno.

"Do you... do you have beef with someone we should know about? Do you have beef with- and not that I knew him personally- the guy who practically started the whole, 'rebel for independence' thing?"

You couldn't see his eyes behind the mask, but you wished you could as you responded- you wished so desperately to get a read on Techno- anything other then mild tensing and blank looks, "I don't know him personally, no, but he always has a way of popping up and being ominous-"

Like he knew something about you that he shouldn't.

Like he knew something he- really- shouldn't.

Techno's head didn't turn to look away from you, giving you another long and blank stare-

In that moment, you realized you were still holding his cape- oops-

Releasing the piece of fabric, you watched it fall back into place behind him, and you took a small sliver of time to smooth the crumpled bit back down.

"I guess the supply drop is over though." You muttered, shrugging your shoulders and almost dejectedly looking at the ground.

"I suppose so." Techno muttered back.

"See ya." At your goodbye, Techno turned to leave. To turn back in the direction he came from.

A piece of you felt scared- because your only semi ally was going to leave you here, with a new threat of a bounty and Dream lurking about. You refused to voice it though, merely looking at the ground with thoughts of how you were even going to get home without thinking about who could try and attack you.

Clenching your hands together you gave a harsh stare at some random tree next to you.

These thoughts were completely uncalled for.

Especially right now-

You nearly jumped when Techno, who you didn't know was still here, trudged back over to you with a, "Ugh- alright- I guess I- being the kind and generous soul I am-"

"Only the kindest." You cut in, still incredibly confused as to why he stuck around.

"I, suppose, I could walk you back. Considering you now have a bounty." The tone of his voiced sounded scrunched- not at all the faux relaxed voice he briefly had for Dream, "I.. I suppose I'll be a decent human being."

It took you a moment to process what he said, but when you did, a grin broke out on your face.

Big, scary, cold Techno stuck around and decided to help you back home because... he felt bad for you.

He flinched at how bright your expression was, immediately walking in a different direction, "Don't get the wrong idea- this has nothing to do with us being friends."

"Yup- of course- we're just... ally's."

He didn't have to turn around to check your expression, but when he did inevitably look, he caught your cheeky little grin, and immediately huffed.

"Alright- which way to your house." He muttered. Any of the awkwardness between you faded after that encounter, and once again, you were reminded of how much you always found yourself enjoying Techno's company.

Even the semi long walk back to your little cabin was pleasant- two semi friends making semi conversation, and taking in the slight breeze.

By the time you reached home, you didn't want to part with him, but you didn't voice that, merely thanking him for making sure you reached your house safely, and watching him turn his back to start the trek to their hideout.

He left, and there you stood. On the outside porch, just outside your door, eyes still lingering at where his body vanished into the flora's horizon.

It was such a nice day out, but you couldn't move. You couldn't be bothered to hurry around your cabin and do chores.

Not because of an inability to, but because of what had just occurred, and what you got yourself into.

Dream was unsettling. You felt like he could be lurking somewhere, just out of sight.

The threat of a bounty from Jschlatt wasn't anything to scoff at either. He knew where you lived.

In fact- almost everyone knew exactly where you lived- they could be on their way to your house at this very moment-

You breath picked up.

Having a panic attack was a horrible idea. Mulling over these terrible thoughts was a horrible idea.

So instead, you walked back into your cabin, shaking your head to try and dissuade all the jumbled thoughts from shaking a storm in your head.

You didn't feel safe in your house anymore, and you took another glance at the coordinates Wilbur had scribbled down for you. The ones that took you directly to their base.

You decided that you didn't want to be alone anymore.

Now would be a good time to start packing.