//Techno angst maybe? idk i am not good at angst yet xD

Techno knew something was wrong when Brian came speeding towards them, cawing and shrieking to get their attention. This wasn't like when Tommy came to them to help... this time the crow seemed panicked himself. Without any hesitation, Techno dropped his stuff on the ground and ran back to the base, telling the others to keep building and that he will get them if he needs to, reassuring them that it's probably just Phil moving around the house when not supposed to. Though Tommy did look guilty about it when he was told to just stay and keep going, like nothing was wrong.

The first time he leaves Phil all by himself and then there is immediately some sort of trouble. Who wouldn't feel guilty about that?

Techno practically smashed the button that opens the heavy iron doors before pushing them open and was about to run towards the house, ready to give Phil the biggest lecture of his life about watching his health, when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, near where their small food farm is. To his horror, that movement turned out to be Phil. Phil outside the safety of their house, without a shirt or his hat to protect him from the sun that's burning down on them, his new featherless wings with fresh skin that is highly sensitive to any outside influence twitching on his back as he moves around the farm, a pained expression on his face and clenched teeth which only show in how much pain he actually is and all of that while he is trying to replant the field all by himself.

Shit... Techno forgot to do that this morning.

"Phil! What do you think you are doing?!" Phil grumbled something under his breath, his body shaking with effort when he scooted a bit to the side so he can reach the next section of the field. For a second the younger thought his friend was pretending not to hear him, which honestly only made him even more mad. But them came the answer to his question, hissed through clenched teeth while he leaned down a bit further so he can reach a spot further in the back of the field. "Feeding... you... little shits... ow..."

Techno sighed and walked over to where Phil was working on the last section of the field, grabbed him by the arms and carefully pulled him away from the field. He tried to not hurt him, he really did, because he would never willingly hurt his friend in any way, but it did seem to still hurt him though as Phil yelped and flinched away from his touch instantly. He let go of his arms as soon as the first pained noise left the other's throat, instead crossing them in front of his chest like a parent ready to lecture their child. Funny, how the tables have turned now, with the usual parent now on the ground and waiting to be yelled at.

But he felt bad... and maybe doesn't want to even give an opening to try and start a new argument that cold end in chaos, so he tries the calm approach first. "Phil please. You are in no condition to be doing any kind of physical work right now. Just go back inside and rest. We don't want you to get hurt." The blonde only huffed and picked at the grass beneath him. "I don't want to back inside. It's boring and I feel trapped in there, not doing anything to help you guys. Please... I feel better, I promise. It barely hurts anymore. I don't need to stay in bed."

Techno didn't know what to do. On one hand, it's not good for Phil to be walking around yet, especially outside. He knows Phil is straight up lying to his face about the pain, literally flinching whenever he moves or when his wings even slightly brush over the ground. This is not healthy at all and he knows this... but on the other hand... the way he practically begged to be allowed outside again, the desperation and even fear in his voice about being forced to go back inside... it made him feel kinda bad. They did trap him in the house... not even giving him the option to somehow leave, even if he wouldn't want to.

"You can't stay outside like this though. You'll burn your skin and your wings. A sunburn won't exactly help the growing or healing in any way." "We can cover it!" "With what? We don't have any wing friendly clothes for you yet. And your wings would need to be covered as well." "We can make holes in my clothes. That'll be enough right? We don't have to fit all the feathers through yet, just the bones." "And your wings?" "I can put a blanket over them!" "You'll get a heatstroke." "Not in the shade! And it's only my wings, not the rest of my body."

The blonde was desperate and his friend could see it. For a second he tried to tell himself that this is wrong, that Phil should rest and only come out once he his back to his full strength. But that would be cruel... Phil obviously is able to move a lot better than before, even if he is still in a lot of pain when doing it. He should be okay... as long as Techno made sure he is safe and doesn't move around too much on his own. The tiny voice at the back of his mind tried to protest, tell him that Phil belongs inside right now, but one look at the way he looks up at Techno and he caves.

"Fine... okay... We fix your clothes, take a blanket and then I'll take you to the others. But I'll carry you and you won't do ANYTHING yourself. You are only there to hang out and chat with the others." His friend grinned in victory while watching Techno disappear into the house to grab his shirt and a pair of scissors. When did he become such a softy again? That usually only happens around animals... and maybe his family, because he does love his little siblings and parents a lot.

Family... right...

His hands froze over where he wanted to pick up Phil's blanket. What are they doing right now... did they even notice he is missing? They must have, he lives with them. They are probably worried sick about him. And he doesn't even know if he will ever be able to go back to them... especially if the only way to leave really is to beat the dragon.

"What do you mean you have been here for weeks?! I saw you streaming, we were in a vc together! There is now way you have been here for that long!"

He can still recall how shocked, terrified Tommy had looked when he fully realized the meaning of Techno's casual 'We have been working on this base for weeks'. They were streaming... talking... as if none of this was happening. As if all of this wasn't real... just a dream... just a nightmare. What if... what if none of this is actually happening? If they are all just trapped in some sort of split mentality kind of thing. They are still home, still living their lives and being happy, while their other half is here. Trapped, hurt, scared, homesick.

What if... all of this is just his dream. His mind coming up with this scenario and making him live through it. But... it feels so real. The shirt in his hands, the clothes on his back, the sun coming through the window. It's too real to be a dream. So that means...

trapped here forever

never seeing home again

alone

crazy

left to die

won't survive this

never meant to survive

no way out

all alone

not alone his friends are here

not for long if they realize he is crazy

Crazyblade

Technomad

better just go now and-

"Techno?" Techno's head never turned faster as he stared over at Phil, who was holding on to the door frame with both hands to keep himself steady. "You okay mate?" Never have been never- "Yeah, just got lost in thought. Sorry." "Hey it's okay. I got a lot on my mind too." Phil smiled, one of his soft, caring ones you barely get to see other than when he looks at Kristin or talks about his mother and his sister. One that screams I care about you it's okay don't be worried you are safe and for a second, Techno was worried Phil knows. Knows about the tiny voice in his head that had grown from a whisper to a slightly raised one.

One that he feared might turn into many. Make him as insane as he pretends his smp character to be. Just this time it's not pretending anymore and Sapnap was the first to get a taste of it.

"You wanna talk about it?" Despite his own pain, his own thoughts, Phil still looks out for everyone that is part of their group, his little crows always the father figure no wonder everyone calls him dad, and it made Techno feel bad. Feel bad about ruining that smile, making the one person that tries to keep them happy and entertained even when he was in pain sad as well, so he won't. If he opens up about his thoughts, Phil will break. Techno never wants to think about being the person to say 'You will never see your wife again' into his face, see the way his expression crumbles and tears starting to spill.

"No it's fine. It was just different scenarios of you getting hurt when I'm not looking. You know... because of your back and shit." Phil huffs and leans heavily against the door frame. "I am not that defenseless you know. Just a bit slower than usual. Besides, there are no monsters out there until nightfall, so we'll be fine." The smile returned, this time more bright and cheery. "You have to stop overthinking so much and enjoy the moment. Now come on. I actually want to get outside and hang out with the others."

Techno nodded, trying his best to ignore the echoing laughter in his head as he quickly cut holes into Phil's shirt, helped featherless wings slip through with as less pain as possible before giving Phil a piggyback ride to where the others were still working on the stable. 

Still enjoying the moment without a care in the world.