A few days passed, and my magic had almost fully healed my wound. Soon, the stitches would be able to come out and Techno would finally let me leave my cot.

He refused to let me get up and help him, only allowing me to leave to go to the bathroom to shower. After that, I wasn't allowed to do anything other than heal.

In a way, he made up for it by telling me about his life since the Manberg Revolution and stories from when he was younger. When he told me about what he had done to Quackity, I couldn't imagine what the boy's face looked like now.

But Quackity had asked for a fight, and a fight he received.

As well as a pickaxe in his teeth.

In between sitting for hours and talking, Techno sometimes left the house, only when Ghostbur and I both insisted. It took a lot of convincing since he was being so wary of my wound.

But when he did, it wasn't for long. Usually, he only went to feed our horses and work on a secret plan he promised to show me when I could move.

I kept some stuff to myself as I talked to my friend about life since we parted. I mentioned that Dream and I were no longer on good terms, but I didn't get into the details.

Surprisingly, I could feel my heart lighten as the days passed with Techno and Ghostbur. My heart felt less broken and I know Techno was making an effort to make me feel safe and happy in his home.

"Okay, now we have to climb back up the ladder," Tommy said.

Techno was out at the moment, and Tommy was able to hang out with me. These were the only times the two of us could see each other for short periods of time. I still hadn't been able to talk to him about things, yet.

I did have a moment to draw his wings back in, but he refused. After what he had gone through, I didn't want to fight with him over it, so the wings remained out.

We were standing in what I discovered to be a chest room and bathroom in the corner, below the floor I was staying on. Tommy was hiding two floors below this one, a tiny room with a bed and a chest.

"I don't know if I can get back up, Tommy." I glanced at the length of rungs.

"You got down here, you should be able to get back up."

I would have to climb back up soon if I wanted to be found in my cot when Techno got back. When he was out, Tommy had gotten me to stand up, despite Techno's rules.

He had shown me this room and helped me walk around, stretching my stiff legs. It would definitely take some time to strengthen my body again.

Luckily, I now lived with one of the most skilled fighters I knew.

"But because I climbed down, my stomach hurts." I looked at the double door that led outside. "Maybe I could just try to climb the stairs."

Tommy placed himself next to the ladder, blocking my path to the outside. "No. That's a shit idea. You'll be freezing from the blizzard, covered in snow, and who says you could even climb the stairs."

I glared at him. "Okay, what's your idea then?"

"You climb the ladder."

"Tommy, I don't think I can. It was hard enough getting down here."

He walked towards my side, opening one of the chests I wasn't leaning on. While he sorted, I continued complaining, "It's bad enough I let you stand me up. Hopefully, I didn't damage the stitches."

A crisp golden apple was held out to me, a bunch stacked in Tommy's arms. The exterior sparkled and shone like a gold bar, yet it looked irresistibly good.

I took it, Tommy beginning in a high-pitched voice, "Um thank you, Tommy, for getting me out of that bloody cot while big brother Techno is gone."

"My voice does not sound like that."

"What? Like this?" His words were accompanied by my playful punch on his arm. He cackled and stacked some potions on top of the apples in his arms.

"Don't you think he'll notice that some of his stuff is gone?" I asked, giving Tommy a look.

He ignored my gaze and closed the chest with his free hand. "Techno won't notice." He bit off a part of a golden apple, munching loudly. The boy ate gapples as if they were snacks.

"Yeah, sure-"

My words were cut off by one of the doors opening, a burst of cold air pushing into the warm room. Tommy scrambled behind me, and I stood frozen.

Techno stood in the doorway, closing the door while he stared at me and at the place behind me. Flakes of snow were stuck in his hair and fur part of his cape.

He pushed the snow gear out of the way, the goggles on top of his head and the covering below his chin. Now I could see the shocked expression on his face.

I gave him a sheepish smile and a small wave. "Uh, hey, Tech."

Something clunked behind me, and a golden apple rolled out in front of my feet. I cringed.

Tommy was the worst at hiding.

"First off, you aren't supposed to be out of bed yet." Seriousness filled Techno's voice, him crossing his arms while he talked to me. "You aren't healed yet."

"But-"

"Second, Tommy what are you doing in my house?"

Tommy crept out from behind me, a mortified smile on his face. I could see a faint blush on his cheeks as he became flustered and also waved at Techno.

"Hey, Technoblade!" He ruffled his wings slightly, pushing them tighter behind his back. "'Ow do?"

Techno glanced between the two of us for a moment. He didn't seem angry, which was surprising, considering he and his brother had left on bad terms.

"I'll ask again, what are you doing in my house?" There was no harm in his question, only patience.

When Tommy didn't respond, I spoke, "Um, Tommy is here because-"

"You knew he was living here?" Techno turned to me, surprised.

"Maybe," I said, averting my gaze.

This prompted Tommy to jump back in, some confidence in his tone. "You see, my good friend, was he my good friend?" He cut himself off, losing his train of thought.

"No, no he wasn't. Dream and I, we had a love-hate relationship." I could see the battle occurring in Tommy as he spoke, but he ignored it and continued forward his head high. " And, I need my discs back."

I just put a palm to my forehead and stifled my sigh.

Techno stared at his brother, and then said, exasperated, "That was an awful summary! Why are you in my house? You're like a raccoon!"

"Uh-"

"And you're taking my stuff!" Techno glared at the potions and pile of golden apples that were in Tommy's arms.

"Oh, I moved out by the way. You know my old home? Well, I'm here now." Tommy dodged the question.

"Yeah, I kinda noticed that!"

I tried not to laugh at their bickering. From this argument, it was clear that the two were brothers and had grown up together.

"Tommy, just explain what happened," I said, leaning back against the chests. I hadn't heard what happened yet, and I wanted to know but also maybe this would stop their arguing.

Tommy spread his hands out in front of him, easing up. "Well, I was living alone, kinda sad. So, um I was living with my friend Dream, he was my friend and it's been a really confusing past few days. Emotion wise it was so confusing."

The manipulation Dream had used on the teen had worked. Tommy was stuck thinking that Dream was his closest friend and that he actually cared about him.

That made the punch I had given Dream even more satisfying.

"I don't like thinking about him, but I know right now he has my discs. And you see, I've been exiled, Technoblade."

"You did all that work for your country and you got exiled by them?"

"Yeah, but I've realized that I need to get my discs back. I can do it alone ..." He glanced at me and his eyes lit up. ".. Or with y/n."

Before I could respond, Techno put up a hand and started, "Listen here, Tommy. L'manberg, those guys, they exiled you and left you for dead. Whatever Dream did to you, happened. They took everything from you."

I could see where this was going, and it surprised me. After everything they had gone through, years apart only to come back and fight, maybe Techno and Tommy could mend their relationship and grieve Wilbur together.

It's what Wil would've wanted.

"They tried to take everything from me." A calculating look made its way onto Techno's face as he spoke. "There are two things we could do here. One, you can get out of our house."

He nodded at me and turned back to his brother. "Or, we could team up. We could take down L'manberg and get your discs back."

Tommy was as surprised as I was. Techno was offering him a home, a place of safety. And in return, they team up for their own desires.

Yet, I could see the hesitation running through the teen. Techno did try to kill Tubbo under peer pressure and destroyed his home.

"You tried to kill Tubbo," Tommy said, his voice more serious now. "He's my best friend."

"And he exiled you, Tommy. Does he think of you as his best friend?" This made Tommy pause again. "You see, Tommy, I know a lot about putting trust in other people, and having them betray you."

Techno glanced at me, appreciation in his eyes for a second before he looked at his brother.

"You wanna be friends with Tubbo? You wanna know what's driven you apart and why you don't have your discs? It's because of the government."

I moved so I was standing at Techno's side. My gaze softened as I looked at the broken teen in front of me.

He deserved a safe place with family, after all he had gone through.

"Tommy, he's right. Please make the right decision," I said, reassuringly. I waved a hand between Techno and me. "We can keep you safe."

Techno followed my words, "Join us. We can help you get your discs back, and we'll get the rest of the details along the way."

Tommy looked to me, innocence shining through. Both of the options he had would be rough, but if he chose to stick with us, we could help.

And maybe, I could feel like I was a part of a real family.

I nodded, smiling warmly at him. Sadness crept out of his crystal blue eyes, and his wings relaxed a bit. "Fine, I'll join you or whatever."

Techno's form eased, and relief flooded the air around us. I knew that, even if he didn't show it, he was happy to have his brother around again after losing his twin.

Tommy bit out of a gapple again, seeming as if nothing just happened. He ruffled his wings a bit, letting the tension out of them. "So, what now?"

I looked to my side, at my friend who was staring at the wings as if he had just noticed them. The snowflakes had melted in his pink hair, and droplets clung to his golden crown, making it shine in the low light.

He turned to me, a skeptical look on his face. "That depends. How are you feeling?"

Truthfully, I was definitely still sore and tender, but the wound was ten times better than it was when I woke up. My magic was constantly working to push it to heal faster and was still continuing to.

The scabs on my knuckles and hands had disappeared, and my fingernails were beginning to heal. I also felt a lot better, mentally, after spending my days with Techno, Ghostbur, and Tommy.

"I feel a lot better. I'm pretty sure it's almost healed over," I said. I wasn't lying, but I wasn't telling the whole truth. "But why does that matter?"

He looked at me for a second longer, debating if he should buy my words. "Stay here, I'll be right back."

He disappeared up the ladder, leaving Tommy and me alone again in the chest room.

Once the trapdoor fell shut with a click, I turned to Tommy, trying to contain my laughter. I couldn't stop the amused smile from spreading across my face. "I told you that he would catch you."

The teen rolled his eyes but ultimately smiled as well. "How is he so bloody lucky? If he had come home a few minutes later, he wouldn't have found me."

"He probably still would've, considering you were taking half of his golden apples and potions."

"Yeah well, I need this shit. I guess it's technically mine too now because I live here."

My smile softened, and I said, "Tommy, you're making the right decision." I waved my hand around at the house. "With staying here with us and all. After all that's happened, we can heal together."

His smile disappeared, but I could see the gratefulness in his eyes. "Don't get all sappy and shit on me, woman. I just want my discs back and then I'll be gone."

I walked over, reaching my hand up so I could ruffle his hair. "Sure, Tommy, sure."

I laughed, and this time it didn't hurt as Tommy darted away so I couldn't mess with his hair.

Techno came back down the ladder, clutching something in one of his hands. Tommy and I fell back into silence, glancing at one another.

There was a nervous edge to the way Techno stood before me now, not meeting my gaze. I know he wasn't always the best at giving gifts so I waited, patiently, until he was ready.

"Um, here. I had Phil make you these for when you came ... here." Techno said, holding the items out to me.

In his hands were matching clothes to his own, and I imagined Phil also had a similar outfit. It was the same blue shirt, with a pair of white gloves. There was a dark belt on top of the pile, with a new sheath for my sword.

I took the clothes into my hands, smiling at my friend. He peered at me, a pink dusting his cheeks that almost paralleled his hair.

His friendly gesture was simple, yet heartfelt.

I quickly went into the bathroom and peeled off my dirty black t-shirt. The bandages were tight around my stomach, but no blood soaked through as it did before.

The shirt-like-jacket was soft against my skin, the cuffs tight to my wrists with the sleeve puffing out before it. White bordered the edges of the clothing and went to my waist.

Somehow, it fit me perfectly. The neck stood straight against my neck, with the buttons sliding down the middle. It wasn't too loose, or too tight.

I slipped on the belt and pulled the white gloves over my hands. There was a grip on the fingertips, for fighting and climbing. They were silky, yet they were made out of a peculiar material, different from Techno's.

When I looked closer, I smiled at two small details.

On the cuff of the left, the name Bia was stitched in. And on the other, was the shape of my elemental crown made out of tiny stitches.

Techno had obviously requested these simple details, but they instantly made me smile.

When I finally looked up at myself in the mirror, I knew I had made the right decision coming here to find a home.

I looked like I was a part of the Antarctic Empire, and like I belonged somewhere. Power, as well as love, was etched into the very knitting of the clothing.

"Techno, what-" I said as I walked out of the bathroom, peering at my gloves. My words were cut short by what he held in his arms.

A light blue cloak with fur lining hung from his hands, waiting for me to take it. A gold clasp was attached to the neckline, nestled into the puffs of white fur. A dozen almost-hidden pockets were stitched in on the inside.

Techno pushed it towards me more, a smile on his lips. "You'll need a cloak if you're living here with the snow. And of course, you want one that'll match the outfit."

I took it from him, wrapping it around my shoulders, with it stopping at my ankles. A comfortable, soothing weight rested on me from it.

I clasped the golden chain and beamed at my friend. "I love it. Thank you, Techno."

Surprisingly, Techno didn't pull away as I quickly hugged him. It was a short, but meaningful hug that expressed the words and appreciation that went unspoken.

"Y/n, this sword is bloody cool!" Tommy said, as I pulled away from Techno and went to put on the new boots that I was given. Fur lined the tops of the simple, black knee-high boots, sliding over my dark pants.

Tommy scrambled down the ladder, swinging my sword wildly. "Can I keep it?"

He fought invisible enemies with it, making Techno move out of the way to avoid getting sliced by the teen.

"Tommy, I would put that down before you hurt yourself," I said, warning.

"I'm not some child-"

"I would disagree," Techno butted in.

Before more bickering erupted, I took my sword back, sliding it into my new sheath. Tommy frowned but leaned back against the wall without protest.

Now that I was fully dressed in Antarctic Empire clothing, I turned to Techno. "What now?"

Seriousness crept onto his face, his voice hard. "We go break Phil out of house arrest."

~~~~

ayy we got new clothes from our bestie lol

I'm sorry I disappeared for a few days, I had a very busy week and I struggled writing this part for some reason. But I'm back now!

As usual, have an amazing and wonderful day! Make sure to stay safe and hydrated :)