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The cursed night was soon to begin.
And Tommy was so excited about that, he couldn't wait for it, and yes, he knew it was literally a cursed night. The night where the paranormal and the normal met, the matrons at the orphanage had warned them time and time again about how monsters, ghosts and strange creatures would lurk around the same streets they walked on. Repeating each night as the day got closer how people tended to disappear mysteriously more often close to the date.
They had told all of the other children too that they were going to need to disguise themselves as monsters to go unnoticed by them. That got Tommy really excited. He chose to dress as a werewolf, while the rest of the kids dressed as vampires, faes, zombies, ghosts and many more.
“Why do you want to dress as a dog? That’s so boriiing!” they said, mocking him for choosing to have a fluffy tail and ears.
Tommy didn’t agree with that. He wasn’t a dog! He was a wolf! He had never seen one, but he was pretty sure they were big! And intimidating! So much cooler than dogs! Even if he had nothing against dogs… he actually liked dogs very much … well maybe he did choose the werewolf costume because wolves were similar to dogs, something about ancestors and all that.
He couldn’t wait to go out. Technically, he wasn’t allowed to go out on the cursed day. The costumes were meant to be more of a second layer of protection rather than a primary one, seeing as he was never meant to go out, it was just in case the monsters got in. But he was a big man, and rules weren’t going to stop him from seeing all the cool and scary creatures with his own eyes!. He couldn’t quite sneak out at day. The matrons kept a close eye while the children played.
So he sneaked out at night.
After everyone had gone to sleep.
He grabbed onto the vines on the wall to climb down, trying his best not to fall. Once he had made it out, he sneaked near the bushes, trying to hide his blond hair as one of the pretty flowers in case someone were to look out the window. He made it past the front gate, squeezing past one of the bars that had been broken long ago (His small body allowed him to do things like that).
As he walked closer to the center of the village, he started to see more and more people dressed up, some of their costumes were not as good, a monster would clearly see through them. But Tommy hoped nothing bad happened to those people.
Eventually midnight kicked in, with a large bell coming from the church echoing all over the streets. The sound bounced on the walls like it was meant to mean something, but he didn't know what.
Tommy let out a yawn, not used to being awake at this hour.
It is after he rubbed his eyes that he noticed the people walking faster to get to their destinations. He wasn't sure why.
Someone pushed him as he was passing by, almost making Tommy trip.
“Hey!” He called as he held his ears in place that threatened to fall out of his messy hair.
The person looked back at him, with a smirk on their face. Their yellow eyes were too bright almost as if boring into his soul, and they had scales on their faces, almost like- like a siren.
He froze, gasping.
The siren just clicked their tongue, making a low gurgling sound to then walk away.
Well … that was just the excitement Tommy was looking for, now he would make it back to his room and pretend this night never happened.
But as he turned around, more monsters and creatures followed the one in front. People with horns and small wings, some others with pointy ears and fangs, some even with a different color of skin. The stench of rotten food followed the salty scent in the air.
None of the creatures seemed to pay much attention to him (thank the gods that the disguise worked), no one did anything more than spare a pitied glance at him.
And then Tommy looked at someone in the eyes, their void irises stared back at him. And he couldn’t control the way his body wanted to shiver any longer, nor could he hold back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.
He ran.
He ran across the town, bumping into people without saying anything about it, ignoring the calls that the others made.
He needed to go back to his room, but the orphanage was in the same direction the big group of monsters had come from. He couldn’t go back.
Tommy needed to hide, at least until the night was over, when all the monsters were gone, then he would go back to the orphanage and apologize to the matrons for sneaking out, promising that he would never do it again.
Too lost in thoughts Tommy missed the way someone shifted to walk and he tripped on their foot.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry little one-” Tommy didn't spare a second for the scary man with feathers on his face and bright green eyes to reach down towards him.
Smacking the claws, he ran away.
He panted loudly as he doubled on an alleyway to hide there. Tears fell down his cheeks as he tried to keep the air inside of his lungs that burned.
Tommy looked down, to his knees that were hurting. They were scratched, small droplets of blood dripped down his legs.
He went to press himself into the back wall as he heard footsteps approach, clacking on the concrete like tap shoes. A lanky and pale figure stared at him with bright red eyes. A smirk plastered on their face, letting long fangs show, no longer hiding them behind their lips.
He gasped, his eyes wide open as he let a fearful sound.
A vampire.
A vampire was approaching him. Probably allured by the scent of his own blood dripping on the ground.
Tommy took a step back, shaking and cowering on himself. His eyes never leaving the creature’s in some kind of twisted staring contest. But instead of losing a game Tommy felt like if he were to blink he would lose his life.
He heard a growl and then saw as the vampire snapped his gaze behind him.
Techno wasn’t a fan of coming down to the human towns, only doing it for tradition, and to accompany his friends … who he had lost when they arrived. Gods knows where Wilbur and Philza went but whatever, he could meet them again after all this was over. If he wasn't with them they couldn’t yell at him for wanting to go anywhere else. He would say that he was there all night trying to find them.
Just as he was about to call it a day and go back home, something pushed at his legs, or rather, someone. A little werepup, with blond hair running along between the rest of the people’s legs. Nothing seemed to be chasing them but they still ran with a purpose.
That was strange, werepups were an unusual sight on its own, since werewolves don’t really like to turn kids and born ones aren’t allowed to come down to human towns until they get older. Techno would know, his former alpha wouldn’t allow him to even come near the territory of the humans when he was still a pup.
Maybe this one was just lost.
He sighed, looking around for any other werewolves … he didn’t find many, and the ones he did were not preoccupied in finding the young puppy.
He decided to follow the direction he saw the pup go. Might as well help the kid if he couldn’t find his friends.
Walking and apologizing as he made his way past.
He made it to a small alleyway.
Wolf instincts already screaming at him to find the pup.
He noticed the tall figure lurking far from the entrance. A vampire most likely, going by the long cape they tended to use. Not who he was looking for.
Technoblade was ready to turn around, when a small fearful sound reached his ears. He now noticed the fast and small heartbeat, the smell of blood reaching his nose.
He approached, growling.
The vampire gaze snapped towards him. He didn’t flinch.
He took a quick glance behind the vampire. There he was, the small little werepup, tears streaming down his puppy blue eyes, with a cut on his knees.
The pup is here. Needs protection. Hurt. Too small. His instincts cried.
The vampire hissed at him, baring his fangs as he turned completely to him.
Techno growled again, this time louder, baring now his own sharp teeth. And just as he was about to turn into a wolf to protect the pup, the vampire huffed, walking past him, pushing at his shoulder.
Rude, but still, that vampire should’ve known not to mess with a young pup, if they don’t want people messing with their nestlings they should respect the other’s young ones too.
He huffed, looking at it until he disappeared from his vision. He then turned to look at the pup.
Speaking of the pup, he was still crying, now plopped down to their bottom, their little tail splayed on the ground.
He kneeled.
“Hullo pup.” he said as he tilted his head, sniffing at the air.
Huh. Weird. There were no other scents mixing with the smell of dirty flowers of the pup, a faint milky scent lingering on it, usually he’d be able to scent the rest of his pack. But there was nothing past the faint scent of the rest of the people who he pushed past. The smell of rust hit him again, reminding him of the blood in the kid’s knee that had lured the vampire in in the first place.
“You’re hurt. Let me take a look.” He said softly.
He reached out for the pup, but the poor little thing flinched back at the sight of his hand approaching. He was scared, no wonder, the little boy shouldn’t even be here.
“It’s alright pup, I’m just going to take a look at your scratch.”
The kid shook his head, backing away slightly, Techno could see how the pup’s leg flinched in pain, the kid holding back a yelp.
“Pup, you’re going to hurt yourself even more, let me look at it.”
He reached again, when the pup’s back hit against the wall of the alleway.
“It’s alright pup, I’m just looking at it.”
The kid shivered, like the night was too cold, the wolf instincts at the base of his skull yelled at him to fix that, shouting to go in search of the sun or burn the village down to warm up the small pup.
“D-don’t hurt me p-please.” they whimpered.
Techno let out a soft whuff, trying to calm the little thing’s nerves.
He must've been scared of a strange wolf hurting him, his pack- if he even has one, hadn’t taught him that others wolves wouldn’t hurt him as long as he was good. Even more if they are just a small little thing, smaller than any child he had ever seen, with too much sunken cheeks and with fluff not well kept.
That didn’t make his inner wolf happy.
He reached instead at his cheek, brushing it softly with his hand, the kid gasped, surprised by the touch. Techno cleaned out a stray tear with his thumb.
“It’s alright pup, you’re alright, nothing is going to hurt you anymore.” the child sobbed “It’s alright, I’m just taking a look at your knees.”
He moved his hand from his cheek, trying not to fall into his instincts at seeing the little boy chase it, looking for comfort. He grumbled instead, as he reached for his leg.
“It’s not that bad, we’ve still got to clean it up … where’s your pack pup?”
“Pack?” he whispered, cleaning the snot with the back of his hand.
“Yeah, where are they? Your parents.”
“I don’t-” he hiccupped “I-I don’t have parents.” he murmured.
Techno almost whined at that. He’s got no parents? He’s got no pack? That explained the poor boy being here, he had no alpha to warn him about the dangers of coming close to the humans' territory. He hoped the pup didn’t run into too much trouble.
Pup alone. Too small. Needs protection. No pack. Too little. Alone.
One of his hands petted at the boy’s hair, lowering slowly to his cheek. Despite being scared, the pup still longed for the touches of comfort, and how could he not? If he hadn't gotten them for gods knew how long he had been going around alone. Techno would take care of him now. His instincts wouldn’t let him do anything else after all.
“How about I take you to my place to patch you up? Would you like that pup?” he didn’t wait for an answer, instead maneuvering the small child to carry him against his chest.
He let out a short scream at being lifted up, his small hands quickly found their way to Techno’s shirt, clinging to it to not fall.
“Sir I-”
“It’s alright pup, I’ll take you to my place and you will be better there.”
The pup whimpered, holding tightly to Techno’s clothes.
He took him, being careful with him as he passed through the crowd. People spared glances at him, and at the little pup. He coldly glanced back, making them all turn away from the frail pup.
The adrenaline eventually faded away from the small child, making him yawn and nuzzle closer to Techno with sleepy eyes that threatened to drop closed at any moment, with the kid nodding off his exhaustion. He grumbled softly and slowly the small pup fell asleep.
Techno took another good glance at him when they entered the forest, far away from that nasty town. His skin was too pale, his cheeks sunken, his shorts weren’t even fit for the fall weather, no wonder he scratched his knees, there was nothing covering them. The boy also had pretty golden hair, something in the back of his mind hummed pleased at that.
“Poor little puppy, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you now, you’re mine now pup.”
He gently shifted the boy in his arm so he could get a better hold on the kid’s nape, massaging his windpipe carefully.
Mine. My pup. So small. So precious. Protect. Care. Pack.
Once he made it to the small cabin he called his home, he put the pup down on the couch, walking to the kitchen to get a small med kit and a few potions for his pup.
The little boy didn’t even twitch as he cleaned the injury, nor when he rubbed a cloth with the potion to heal it.
“Poor pup, you surely need the rest.” He whispered, caressing softly his hair to then carry the small child and take him to his room, to the den, placing him carefully in the middle of the mess of blankets and pillows.
“Pup, pup, puppy.” he murmured, he couldn’t help the small smile that curved its way to his lips at the sight.
Techno was not tired, but he still curled up next to the child, holding a blanket closer to the kid and covering him with it, savoring the sight of the pup curling closer to the warmth.
He held him close, taking in the faint milky scent mixed with dirty flowers.
He closed his eyes, thinking of what the pup might need later, a tasty meal was for certain, then maybe a bath and warm clothes, he could use some of his old shirts as he gets him something more fitting. He grumbled at the thought of his pup with his clothes.
But that could wait for later, now he had to let the small pup rest.
Tommy didn’t know what to do with the fact that he just woke up, curled against the werewolf’s chest.
He was scared, that was to say the least, too scared to move or do anything else than stay put.
He also didn’t know what to do with the memory of a warm hand patting at his hair, caressing his cheeks, cleaning the tears away with a gentle thumb. Gentler than when the matrons wiped at his face when he cried. He didn’t know what to do with the fact that his knees didn't hurt anymore, or the fact that this was the most comfortable sleeping place he had ever been in.
He wished he could stay there, warm and protected, held securely to someone’s chest and under the soft blankets. He let out a quiet sigh.
This is how he always dreamt of waking up, except for the werewolf part, but he did want to be held closely, kept safe and warm on a comfy bed under warm blankets. If only he could really be a werewolf to keep this, so that when the werewolf found out about his ploy he didn’t kill him.
Oh boy.
He was surely going to die, when the werewolf found out that these were no more than a fake tail and ears, nothing more than a disguise, the werewolf would kill him. He sniffed, trying to be quiet, blinking the tears away, so as to not wake the wolf up.
But apparently he wasn't quiet enough.
The man shifted and soon he was growling, softly, but he was growling, (or at least Tommy thought he was) patting at his hair gently. Despite his fear Tommy couldn’t help but melt into the touch, maybe he could savor these blissful moments for when he eventually died.
“Pup?”
He stilled, clinging a bit tighter to the shirt in front of his face.
“What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”
Tommy didn’t move.
“It’s okay pup, you’re safe, nothing can hurt you while I’m here.”
Except you, Tommy thought.
“I…”
“Mhm?”
“Wh-where am I?” He forced the voice out of his throat.
“We’re at my house, in the den.”
“Den?”
He builded the courage to look up to the werewolf, who looked at him with a sad look. Then after a moment, he was caressing his cheek again.
“A den is a place where you are safe, you’re comfortable, it’s home, meant only for pack.” He said letting out something close to a small bark, like a whuff.
He looked at the man confused.
Pack … he had said that when he was asking for his parents … but pack couldn’t only be parents right? Then … pack is like- a family? But Tommy isn’t the werewolf’s family, why is he here then?.
The man pet his hair gently, and Tommy couldn’t help the way he pressed his head back to get more of the careful touches.
Suddenly a kiss is pressed to his brow. And listen … the man may be a werewolf, but this is the touch Tommy always dreamt about, of a loving mother kissing his cheeks and a father who would hold him close. And right now the man was doing both. He pressed his forehead closer, a small sound coming out of him. He could hear a chuckle, and he felt a smile form against his skin. Then he gets another kiss, and then another, and another, covering his brow, eyes and cheeks.
“Pup, pup, my pup.” he whispered.
And oh… the illusion broke.
The werewolf thought Tommywas one too. Of course. This was not going to last after the creature found that he was nothing but a simple human. And he would be lucky if he got to live after that. Maybe the man would spare him and toss him outside, leaving Tommy on his own … hopefully if that happened he would be able to find his way back to the orphanage.
He stood still as the werewolf breathed in his scent.
“You must be hungry pup.”
“Tommy…” He whispered.
“Tommy?”
He nodded.
“M-my name is Tommy.”
The werewolf hummed.
“Tommy.” he tested. “That’s a nice name, mine’s Technoblade, but call me Techno.” he held him a bit tighter.
And then he got up, still with Tommy in his arms, he easily maneuvered him with one arm as they walked around the place. He hid his face on the man's shoulder, trying to make it difficult for him to notice the way the fluffy ears were attached to his hair.
The house was cozy… not what he would've expected for a werewolf's place.
He expected to see some sort of cave, with rock walls or maybe being underground, not- pine wood and a soft looking rug.
There was also a couch, in front of a fireplace, and a small table with three chairs next to the kitchen.
"So tell me pup… what happened to your parents?"
He asked as he set him down on one of the chairs.
“My parents? I … um … I don’t know.” he whispered, trying to force himself to answer despite the ball of nerves clinging on his throat.
“You don’t know?...”
“I … I must’ve had them… at some point.” he tried.
The wolf kneeled beside him.
“How old are you Tommy?”
Should he lie? Should he tell the truth? What would give him a better chance of survival? He should … He should tell the truth, right? He was pretty sure he heard someone say before werewolves don’t like liars… or was it-?.
He didn’t think much before he spoke.
“S-six.”
The werewolf’s face morphed into something preoccupied.
Faes, faes don’t like liars. He should’ve lied, he should’ve said that he was older, stronger. But wouldn’t that make him more of a threat to the werewolf? He should’ve said younger then! He should’ve-
“You've been alone all this time?” The werewolf- Techno said instead.
Has he? Technically no. He has been in the orphanage, along with a bunch of other kids. With the matrons taking care of them. But he was- well, he had always had an empty feeling inside of him. The other kids and the matrons didn’t take too kind to him, they said he was loud and annoying and a brat. Maybe Tommy was not alone … but he has always felt alone.
His silence is more than enough of an answer for the werewolf, who sighed, taking then a deep breath and putting his hand once more in Tommy’s cheek, brushing his thumb softly against it.
“Don’t worry, I’m here now, you won’t have to be alone ever again.”
He smiled softly at Tommy, and he felt like he could cry.
If this was a different scenario, he would’ve been euphoric, happy tears falling down his face. Because this was what he always wanted. He should've been happy.
But he wasn't.
The tears running past his cheeks were not because of happiness, but instead of helplessness, because this was nothing more than a tease, the universe's way of telling him that he'd never get what he wanted, and if he did, it’d be ripped apart from him.
He wanted to keep this. But he knew this little game would be over as soon as the werewolf discovered the truth. If he could glue the ears and tail to his own skin, he’d do it, if only to keep this.
But he didn’t want to think about the time when this would all end, instead he let the hand on his cheeks wipe gently at his tears, sobs and hiccups going past his lips that were met with a deep rumble.
The man hummed, he cupped his face, kissing his eyes.
“Why don’t I get you something to eat, that’ll be nice right?” Techno murmured, pressing a last kiss to his forehead.
He stood up, walking towards a counter, grabbing a couple of ingredients for a meal.
Tommy got off the chair, slowly and carefully walking towards the man. He inspected him closer. He had both a fluffy white tail and ears and- how could he have missed the pink strides on his hair?
He glanced behind him. The front door was right there … he could go now that the man was distracted.
But… was it worth it? He got freedom … but how long would it last? What if the wolf chased him? What if he killed him then? If he stayed… could he feel loved before it was all over? Could he spend his last moments alive thinking that somebody wanted him? Even if it was all a farce?.
“Do you want to go outside?”
He flinched at the question, the man had noticed him looking at the door. He was going to find out! He would know he wanted to escape! He-
“We could go out after you’ve eaten something.” he said instead, looking again to prepare the meal.
Tommy stood there. Frozen.
Having something to eat sounded really appealing. He could… He could stay here. The werewolf, Technoblade, hadn’t done anything to hurt him yet … So what if he stayed? If he enjoyed the moment while it was still present. Just today. Just … just this moment.
He walked closer to the man, just because he was going to stay here didn’t mean that he’d stay bored.
“W-what are you doing?” he asked, still with a too small voice for his usual self.
“Food” He said as he looked up at him.
Tommy scrunched his nose. Well, he knew that the man was doing food, he wanted to know what it was though.
Technoblade chuckled.
“Do you want to see?”
Hesitantly, he nodded, and he was picked up by the armpits, a small squeal escaping his lips, he’s set down in the counter, he could now see the bowl filled with what looks like cooked and cut potatoes.
The man returned to his task, setting a cutting board aside and smashing the potatoes in the bowl, until they looked creamy. Tommy just watched attentively.
He watched as the man added a few species, and then grabbed a few eggs he had left boiling on the stove, taking away the peel and cutting them in small pieces to add them to the mix. After what felt like a brief moment and eternity at the same time, the meal it was done, and Technoblade served two plates, taking them to the table, then he picked up Tommy and sit him up in a chair.
“There you go, eat up pup.”
Tommy took a spoon, eating a portion of the mashed potatoes. And- his eyes went wide, this was the best food he had ever tasted! No offense to the food of the cafeteria in the orphanage, but Technoblade’s cooking was clearly superior, it was also a bigger portion that what the matrons ever gave him, he understood, taking care of a hundred children would make food scarce, but the other kids always got bigger portions than him. But this! This was the best meal he had ever had! He ate all of his portion and Techno only offered him more! He got to eat seconds for the first time.
After he was full he waited on the table, for the werewolf to finish. He expected more meat on his diet. But he wasn't going to complain.
“Do you want to go outside now?” The man asked after he was done eating and putting the plates away.
Tommy nodded.
The werewolf walked past him, opening the door, and letting Tommy out. Tommy watched around, finding only big trees, he had never even been close to the forest. He had only watched the start of it from afar, but now, while he was in the middle of it, he thought it was beautiful. Calling out in the way the wind danced with the leaves on the trees, and how the bushes echoed the sound.
He ran a bit down the stairs of the porch, looking around in every direction.
He heard a chuckle from Techno and as soon as he turned around he saw the man transform into a large white wolf. He froze at the sight, mouth slightly agape.
The wolf walked up to him, Tommy stayed still, the animal is as big as he is, his muzzle reaching his head. If Tommy was reconsidering trying to run, now the idea it’s totally out the window, he wouldn’t even make it a few steps before the huge beast caught him.
It sniffed him, and then it licked his cheek. For some reason all the nerves he was building up disappear, the fear still lingering in some further part of his mind, distant. It tilted his head at him, and it let out a soft barking sound. Tommy cautiously lifted up a hand and pet at the fur at the side of its neck.
Then the man was back again. And he pressed his head to Tommy’s hand, reaching out to hold his wrist.
“Can you shift pup?”
Shift? Like- shift forms? Well… that was certainly something Tommy didn’t know he’d have to fake. And that he was pretty certain he couldn’t do. Fear struck again. This was as far as he could’ve made it? He should’ve stayed inside, maybe then he’d have more time. The wolf was going to find out now. He panicked.
But he still tried to get a second chance (even if Techno didn't know he had ruined the first), shaking his head at the question, refusing to look the man in the eyes.
Technoblade huffed, sending a bit of air into his hand.
“That’s alright, shifting is pretty hard at first, I could teach you later.” He ruffled Tommy’s hair, making a small smile appear in his face. “I bet you’ll be pretty good at it soon enough.”
False. Tommy wasn’t even a werewolf in the first place, there was no chance he’d ever be close to ‘shifting’. But he could pretend. For as long as he could, he would ‘try’ to shift.
The man was gone and the huge wolf was back again, licking at Tommy’s hand and his face. It made Tommy giggle.
“Gross.” he laughed. The werewolf seemed unbothered by his comment.
He left Tommy alone after a moment, and Tommy took his time to explore a bit. Technoblade laid on the ground, in front of the porch, watching lazily as Tommy picked up rocks and sticks, getting mud all over his hands and knees. Tommy watched a line of ants and followed it to their hive, watching for hours at the little things retrieving leaves and other stuff.
“Tommy.” The man called, now sitting in his human form on the porch.
Tommy listened and went to him.
“Could you stay here for a bit? As I go hunt dinner?” he asked, cupping his head with one hand.
The touch was not necessary, Tommy had never had someone who would want to be that close to him, so the man was doing more than enough. It was not necessary but it wasn’t unwelcomed either.
Tommy nodded, leaning slightly to the palm.
Technoblade grumbled, standing up then.
“I won’t be long, okay?”
Reluctantly, Tommy nodded, sitting on the old wood.
Techno shifted and ran into the forest. Disappearing between the bushes and trees. Tommy watched him until he couldn’t see him anymore.
He busied himself with moving dirt with a stick but the more time he spent sitting on the porch's stair the more a feeling of wrongness grew in him. He felt too exposed, the big and lonely forest didn’t seem too bad while there was company. But now, he could feel as if the trees bore eyes into him, judging him, making him feel like his big secret had been revealed. He felt the sweat falling down his spine. It was fall and the air was chilly, but that didn’t stop his body from feeling scared, from sweating while trembling from something more than the cold.
He stood up, getting closer to the front door, in case something were to pop out from the bushes he could quickly lock himself inside the house.
Nothing ever came.
But time passed all the same, and Tommy started to wonder if Technoblade left him here, all alone in the middle of the woods. The mud on his skin had long gone dry and his eyes burned each time more and more, a headache starting to form. He rested his back on the door as he let himself down again, hugging his knees.
Maybe he did leave him alone, he though as he buried his face in his arms.
Another hour passed and soon the sun was setting. Tommy watched with tears building in his eyes how the sky grew darker. And then he couldn’t hold it any longer.
A sob broke past his lips, and then a hiccup and then another sob, and the next moment he was crying, fat tears rolling fast down his cheeks.
What if something went wrong? What if something had happened to Techno? What if he got lost? What if he just left?.
He cried harder. Still trying hard to muffle his own sounds in fear of something coming at him once the sun settled.
He heard a rustle of leaves and he snapped his gaze towards the sound, seeing a white coat of fur coming out, a wolf, Techno, with two rabbits on the muzzle. Techno, who stopped in track at seeing Tommy, who shifted, leaving the bunnies forgotten on the ground as he sprinted at him.
The hunt had taken longer than he had expected, it had been a bit since he actually put in the effort to look for a big enough rabbit. But his pup deserved the best, even more since this was his first night in the house.
After what looked like hours he managed to find a herd big enough for him to hunt two adult rabbits, which was the easy part. He had actually wandered far, right by the borders of his territory so it took him a while to come back. His instincts were already on edge, mad at him for leaving the pup alone, unprotected. But Techno knew that the forest wouldn’t let anything happen to his pup.
He knew he was safe yet he heard sobs echo in the trees that forced him to run faster and when he came back he found his pup on the porch, sitting and crying. Every instinct in his mind was already screaming Hurt?!. Pup. Fix it. Crying. FIX IT.
He dropped the dead rabbits on his muzzle, shifting immediately to his human form, sprinting towards his pup with stretched hands. He held him close, looking for an injury, smelling the air, but there wasn’t any rusty blood anywhere, just a salty scent that lingered in the air and his pup dirty flowers.
“Pup?” He forced through his throat.
The kid didn’t answer, only clinging harder to his shirt.
He caressed his hair, slowly descending to his nape, watching as he melted slightly to the touch.
“Are you okay pup?”
He weakly nodded in his chest.
“Are you hurt?”
He shook his head. And only then did Techno let out a shaky breath he didn’t know he had been holding.
“Alright, you’re alright pup, you’re alright.” He said as he held the pup a bit tighter, like trying to convince himself that it was true.
He massaged his nape, running a hand up and down his back, until eventually the pup’s cries died down into sobs and then little hiccups, then nothing, only soft breathing that slightly sounded like wheezing muffled by his own shirt.
“You’re okay.” He repeated again.
The pup’s soft wheezing was quickly replaced by soft snoring, light and small. The moon had already risen, and the sky was dark. He could come back for the rabbits later, but for now the pup had a really emotional day, so he should let him rest.
He carefully lifted him up, taking notice of the dirty hands and knees of the kid. He could wake him up to take a much needed bath, but preferred not to, his poor puppy didn’t need to be woken up from his peaceful sleep. So he set him down again in the middle of the den, curling closer to him.
He fell asleep, and in the morning he retrieved the rabbits. He could’ve chosen to start up breakfast, but the sight of the shaken pup still lingered in his mind, his instincts screeching if he left the pup alone for more than a few minutes.
The pup woke up by late morning, to calloused and soft hands running up and down his back. He let out a soft grumble.
“Morning pup.”
“‘morning.” he muttered, trying to cuddle closer to him. Adorable.
“It’s time to wake up, you need something to eat.” he pulled him out of the blankets, taking note to change them later “Up.”
The pup didn’t wake up, so Techno had to carry him downstairs, but it was no problem, in fact, it worked wonders to soothe his raging instincts, just having the pup close set his mind at ease. And he could manage to make breakfast with one arm. He settled for scrambled eggs, since it was the only thing that came to mind when he thought about a meal he could make with one hand.
After half an hour later he set the sleepy pup on a chair, giving him a plate and a fork, he ate at a slow pace, sometimes just staring at the table, others munching happily on the meal. Techno was happy if the pup was happy.
“I should prepare the tub to give you a bath.” he said casually.
A second passed, then two and he saw the moment in which the pup passed from sleepy to completely aware of his surroundings, eyes wide in a slight panic, skin turning even more pale, looking at him with dread. Techno couldn’t understand.
“You alright pup?”
The pup frowned, and after a moment his gaze focused again, decided and purposely pouting, looking back at him with determination.
“I don’t want to bathe.” he huffed.
Techno looked at him, baffled, but only for a second.
“You have to, it will get you clean, you have dirt everywhere.” he deadpanned.
The kid just crossed his arms.
“Don’t care, I don’t want to.”
It was Techno’s turn to frown.
“Tommy, you have to take a bath.”
“No!” he stuck his tongue out “You can’t make me!”
Techno groaned. Alright, he could give a rowdy pup a bath. He stood up, the pup jumped out of his chair immediately, and ran away.
"Tommy!"
The pup ran towards the living room, jumping over the couch and hiding behind it.
“Tommy, you need to take a bath pup.”
“Nuh uh!” He shook his head.
He tried to go around the couch, but the pup did the same, trying to match his pace. It didn’t matter how fast Techno moves, they just ended up going in circles.
And honestly, his instincts were not so happy at the pup running away from him.
He gave up on going around the couch entirely, launching himself instead over it. The pup squealed, flinching back from Techno’s arms and then he bolted to the kitchen again, and they ran around the table a bit more until the kid headed towards the front door.
Techno practically jumped over him, to block the exit. He couldn’t have the pup going out and risking getting either more dirty or hurt in the chase. The boy ran then upstairs, and Techno panicked slightly.
“Don’t run up the stairs pup!” He got on his feet, following the kid.
They turned the corner to the corridor.
“Tommy stop! You have to take a bath!”
“No!”
“Pup wai-!”
Techno’s eyes went wide as the pup hit the drawers in the middle of the hall, hitting his head and shoulder, falling to the ground. The pup yelped and then he was on the floor, one of his ears hovering in the air. Techno's stomach dropped along with the limb.
He swore he heard a thud echo as it hit the wood.
Hurt. Hurt. Hurt.
He panicked, waiting for the nail to drop, to hear the loud wails of the child that somehow managed to hurt himself this badly- if only he hadn’t chased him, they could’ve talked about this! His pup didn’t have to get hurt! He-!.
The pup only gasped, looking at the fluffy ear on the ground, looking terrified, holding a hand to where it was. He looked then at Techno and-
There was no blood, he realized.
The kid didn’t cry, only staring at him with wide eyes, mouth slightly open, heavy panting coming out of him.
With a sick feeling he reached out to the limb.
It was- … it wasn't real.
There was small clips attached to the end of it. He couldn’t tear his gaze away for a moment. Then, slowly, he looked back at the kid, he stared at his other ear, reaching out to it even when Tommy tried to scramble back, he grabbed the base of it, the closer part of it to the scalp, but the flesh was not connected. In fact, with a gentle tug he also took it. He brushed the messy hair at the side of the kid’s head.
He had human ears, and when Techno realized, he flinched back, as if he had just touched silver with his bare hands.
“Fake.” He wheezed, breathing out a laugh.
There was a sob.
“They’re fake…” he murmured again.
A human in disguise.
He had heard they did that. Never once believing it true ... but now he had one in front of his very eyes.
He couldn’t deny it even if he wanted to.
Techno wasn’t surprised. His instincts had once again fooled him. Betraying him. Making him think that the kid was really a werepup. Begging and screeching at him to take care of him. And he had acted none the wiser, because of course, his instincts had ignored the lack of movement in the limbs in favor of keeping the newfound pup safe.
The idea of a disguise never crossed his mind as the child’s scent was like the dirt and flowers that he could find all over his territory. How could he have doubted the child when he smelled like the woods he lived in?. He smelled like the forest so Techno always thought he belonged to her.
He looked up again.
Soft tears were streaming down the child’s cheeks.
Comfort him. Pup. Sad. Comfort him. His instincts cried.
And … why were they still saying that? Didn't they realize that this was not a pup, but a human child who had tricked them?
The child didn't move, only shivering where he laid on the floor, tears falling from his wide eyes, a hand still resting where the ear had once been.
Comfort him. Sad. Scared. Fix it.
His instincts were attached … and he couldn't deny that he was too. Even in the brief day that he had spent with the kid he had found himself incredibly fond of the small child that his instincts claimed as his own. It was nice to have company that wasn't Phil or Wilbur for once.
So … did it really matter that the boy was human?.
No, it didn't. At least not to him. But he could already hear Phil's voice from a mile away.
He reached out to the child, who flinched back, like when he had first found him. Suddenly that moment made so much more sense in his mind.
With a careful and slow hand he reached out to his cheek, and the kid gasped at the contact, the deja vu feeling rose in him again, but gently once more, he wiped his tears with his thumb.
"Shhh, it's alright."
The kid shook his head. He hummed, a low and soothing rumble starting in his throat.
“It’s okay.”
“N-no it’s not.”
Technoblade brought the kid closer, holding him on his chest, his head resting on his shoulder.
“It is. Everything is fine pup.”
“I-I’m not a pup.” he hiccupped “A-and now you know it! And you’re going to throw me out! O-Or eat me!”
The boy pressed himself closer, and Techno’s heart squeezed at the thought of hurting him.
“No, no I’m not.” He held the kid tighter “I’m not going to do any of that.” He whispered.
“But- but, you’re a werewolf! And I’m-!” he paused, hiding himself in his arms “I’m not...” he finally whispered.
And he was right, he wasn't a werewolf. He was a human, not a pup.
He could be one. His instincts supply.
He could be one, he could be a pup. If Techno were to turn him.
Tommy melted slightly to his claws running softly on his scalp.
Would he even want to be turned?
“You’re right, you’re not … You’re not a pup.” He whispered and a sob came out of the boy, it made Techno’s heart shrink “But-” he said a bit more confident. “You could be one.”
The little boy looked at him, puppy blue eyes stared at his own, and he had to restrain himself from leaning down to kiss his forehead.
“I could … be one?”
“Yeah, I could turn you … and you could stay with me, and I’d take care of you and protect you.”
The kid’s eyes light, like he had just hung the stars in the sky for him.
“You would?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
His tiny hands curl around his shirt, holding it tightly.
“Would it hurt?”
“Turning?” The kid nodded “I don’t know … I wasn’t turned, the bite might hurt a bit.”
The boy considered it for a minute, but after a moment he looked with determined eyes to Techno.
“O-okay.” he huffed.
"You would be a werewolf, forever … is- is that okay?"
"Would you- … would you stay with me?"
"Always."
He didn't think his instincts would ever allow him to let go, not that he wantws to either.
"Then, it's fine." the boy nodded.
Techno hadn’t hurt him, he hadn’t even kicked him out of the house upon finding that he was not a werewolf. Instead he had embraced him, and cleaned his tears.
Then he had offered for him to stay, for him to be a real werewolf.
He said he would stay with him and protect him, forever. And how could he refuse the offer? How could he say no to the only chance they might give him to get love? No one in the village wanted him, no one in the orphanage liked him, he was confused why the werewolf did, but he wouldn’t complain. Not even if he had to get bitten, he hoped it was nothing like when the matrons would slap at his cheeks for misbehaving, but if it was he would endure it, if that would make Technoblade keep patting at his hair softly, if that kept his embrace around him, if that made him stay, if that made him love him.
He pressed his face to his shoulder, and the man let out again that soft growling sound.
“Do you … want me to turn you now?”
Might as well get over with the painful part now. He nodded, and then Technoblade pulled back and he almost regreted the decision.
“Okay.”
Techno pulled his shirt just enough to let his shoulder be exposed and he gave a shaky sigh. Tommy has started to shake slightly and he didn’t know if it was for his skin being in the open or because he feared what might happen.
Techno pet once more at his head.
“I’ll make sure to make this as quick and painless as possible.”
And with that, he transformed into the huge white wolf, walking closer to him, and letting a soft whuff before licking his cheek.
He moved his head to the side, baring his neck, to leave his shoulder even more exposed. He tried not to tense as huge jaws set on his skin, hot breath washing over his body. Tommy felt the sharp teeth settle and he grabbed onto Technoblade’s fur, trying to ground himself.
The jaws closed, pressing against his skin, ripping it, he choked on a scream, trying his best not to flinch away to not mess up and make Techno have to bite him again. His grip on Techno’s fur tightened, almost pulling. And what was a few seconds, seemed to be an eternity. Tears bloomed anew on his eyes, falling down his cheeks.
He let out a sob once the teeth pulled back.
And Technoblade was once again a human, quick to reach out for him and hold him close to his chest, huffing as he patted once more at his hair, pulling him up as he stood, walking downstairs and into the kitchen.
By this point Tommy no longer felt the pain, he only felt drowsy, with what he could describe a cottony feeling clouding his mind. He almost didn’t notice Techno taking off his shirt to clean the wound and bandage it, then taking him back upstairs, placing him on the pile of blankets and pillows that the bed had.
He passed out after that, closing his eyes as thoughts seemed unimportant to him and slipped out of his mind, his body with only enough energy to curl close to the first person his hands found.
…
After what must have been a long time, he woke up, he feels gooey, his limbs sore, as if he had been jumping all day and now his body was exhausted of moving. He fely restless but tired, it was weird. Still the restless feeling was stronger, keeping him from slipping into unconscioussness again as his eyes began to flutter open. The room hea was in was dim, the only light coming out from a window, in which the curtain was not fully closed.
There was no one in the room, he realized. And without his permission a whine bubbled from his chest, he whined again at the foreign sound that kept coming out of him. He wasn’t able to whine before, he was pretty sure (at least not in that high tone). He tried to move but he strangely had trouble figuring out his limbs, he tried not to worry about how he couldn’t feel his fingers.
A whine escaped him again, this time louder. And soon he could hear footsteps coming towards him.
Danger. Weak. Help. Danger. A part of his mind screeched.
And he couldn hear the door open, quick steps approaching and then he feels big hands wrap around him, lifting him up, all while the string of whines haven't stopped coming out.
"Shhh, it's alright pup, it's alright, I'm here." he heard Techno's voice and then the soft growling sound.
His fast panic was soon to calm down, the whines dying in his throat, replaced by soft whimpers.
He was pressed to Techno's chest, and he now realized that he looks so big, when did he get that big?.
"It's okay." he whispered, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "You made it, you're now mine puppy."
The soft growling sound got louder, and he would be scared, but the back of his mind said that it wasn't a growl, but a rumble, that that was his packmate, his alpha, and he wasn't angry, he was content.
Tommy didn't know what that meant, but the rumbling sound was very soothing.
He tried to look back at Techno but he couldn't figure out how to climb his shirt and then he looked at his hands … but he saw no hands, instead just paws, blond paws that he had never seen before, he tried to move and realized that the paw was his.
He whined again, and Techno noticed it.
He chuckled, grabbing at his paw and rubbing it with his thumb.
"That's your paw pup, you're shifted right now … it'll take a bit for your body to learn how to shift by itself, but in the meanwhile…" he lifted him, pressing his forehead along his. "I can do this."
And soon he felt warm all around him, spreading to every part of his body, he whined but Techno only rumbled. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, he had hands once more, and he was clinging onto Technoblade's shirt.
"There you are." he laughs as he pressed a kiss to his nose "Being turned has some perks, huh?"
He stared at his hands again.
"And now you have this."
He brought up a hand to his head and he could feel how he rubbed circles on a strange limb, it twitched, and he brought a hand up to it, those were ears, fluffy wolf ears.
He gasped.
"They're real?" He whispered.
"Very real pup."
He heard his tail wag, hitting against Techno's arm, he felt a small rumble come out of his chest, and he lunged at Techno, wrapping his tiny arms around him.
Happy little barks escaped him and Techno mimicked them.
Happy. Safe. Protected. Pack.
He was a werewolf. He was Techno's pup, he got to be with him forever. He got to have a family, all he ever asked for. He could cry happy tears this time.
And was all perfect for a moment, but then he heard more footsteps approaching, his ears twitched and so did Techno's, the arms around him tightened and the rumble was replaced by a low growl.
The door swinged open.
"Technoblade you can't just leave in the middle of ou-!"
Stranger. Danger. Help. Alpha.
He whined, burying his face on Techno's shoulder at the sight of the stranger.
"Wilbur! You know you can't enter his den without permission!" Another voice called and Techno's growls got louder, echoing in the house "Get back he- oh."
Tommy peaked his head up and saw the two strangers in the door.
Techno barked at them, hiding him in his arms.
"Oh … Is- is this why you've been avoiding us for a whole week?" The one with brown hair asked.
Tommy was unable to stop himself from whimpering.
Techno growled.
The blond one huffed.
"Techno don't growl at us, you know we mean no harm."
"Yeah Tech, we're not hurting anyone, we won't hurt the pup."
Techno's growls died down a bit.
"He's my pup." he hissed, and something in Tommy's chest warms at the protectiveness of his alpha.
"Okay, okay, your pup, whatever, we won't hurt him."
Techno huffed.
And they stood there, awkwardly standing while Techno patted at his back. He took a moment to take in the strangers.
The blond one had wings, and black feathers on his face, his hands wre black and they wre more claw like than anything, the other person had brown hair and blue fins, along with bright yellow eyes.
They stared each other down.
"So…"
"So?"
"Are you going to introduce the little one to us or not?"
Techno grumbled.
"Tommy." He mumbled as he pet at his hair. "His name is Tommy."
Tommy felt the stranger's eyes fall on him and hid himself in Techno.
"Hi, mate." the blond one called, tilting his head from where he was in the door. "I'm Phil, I'm a friend of Techno's, and this is Wilbur." he pointed at the other one.
"Great introductions are done, so if you'll excuse us?"
"What? Are you just going to kick us out?"
"You're overwhelming him, so yes." he hugged him tighter.
"Wha-?! No we're not, right Tommy?"
Tommy stared at him. He had an evil face, with his big yellow eyes and the hollow lines that seemed to breathe with him, he was a wrongun he decided, and huffed, hiding his face in Techno's chest.
"You heard him, get out."
"YOU'VE BEEN IGNORING US FOR A WHOLE WEEK!" the man screeched.
The volume made his ears press into his scalp, and he whimpered.
Loud. Too loud. Stop it. Danger.
"Out. Now."
"But-!"
"Wil, let's just go, we'll come back when Tommy's a bit more adjusted okay?"
He grabbed Wilbur by the shoulder and took him away.
"We're not done with this conversation Tech." he pouted.
Yeah. Definitely a wrongun.
Techno sighed once he heard the front door close.
"Sorry about them pup." he said as he rubbed at his ears, cleaning a fleeing tear from his eyes.
"Are they your friends?" he murmured.
"Yeah… kinda, it's complicated, they are more like my family."
He hummed and then his stomach rumbled. Techno chuckled.
"You sure are hungry puppy, let's go, I'll make you something to eat."
A whole month had passed since he woke up as a werewolf.
And things were as great as Tommy never thought they would be. Technoblade was his alpha and his father. Wilbur and Phil were like his uncles, but honestly he liked Phil better, or at least he liked to say that because it made Wilbur make a funny sound, and he would give him more cookies in hopes to change his mind.
Techno had been teaching him to shift, it was weird, he still needed Techno’s help to do it. But he said he’ll learn soon enough, that there was no need to rush. But on the nights he liked to take him outside, just to practice running around the forest in his wolf form. It was fun, and when he got tired, Techno would carry him on his jaws and show the woods to him.
He finally got a family. For the first time, he felt loved, he felt wanted, and he knew that that wasn’t going to change any time soon.