Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Look!"

Tubbo came running at Tommy's request, gasping as they leaned against the window of the inn they were staying at. Some of the other kids grumbled and rolled over, though none of them shouted for the two 8 year olds to be quiet. Everyone knew that would only make the problem louder.

"Woah!" Tubbo breathed. There were a line of the largest icicles Tommy had ever seen on the lip of the roof of the house across the lane from them. They sparkled and almost seemed to sing in the sunlight that streamed down on them through a gap in the seemingly ever present clouds.

"I didn't know that they made icicles that big," Tommy said, his breath fogging up the window.

Tubbo nodded. "Maybe.... maybe this wouldn't be too bad. Snow is fun."

"Yeah! Snow is fun! I'm sure the people here all know the spell Puffy knows to keep warm, too, which makes it extra fun," Tommy said hopefully. There was a small, hateful, voice in his mind that warned him that he was setting himself up for failure, that he was going to find himself desperately disappointed if he wasn't careful.

We aren't staying. Don't be an idiot, the voice whispered, sounding somewhat disappointed itself. Puffy told Madeline that she wouldn't have to stay here. That the Antarctic Empire wasn't a good place for humans.

Normally, he wouldn't care about a place not being suited for humans. He wouldn't mind looking forward to warmer places with families more prepared for a human child, but his best friend, Tubbo, was a satyr. One built like a mountain goat. Satyrs did well nearly anywhere, which was why he and his best friend lived in the quiet plains town for so long together with their families. However, when the... when.....

Tommy blinked hard against the thought. When they had misplaced their families and Puffy collected them all, he had found out that Tubbo had an uncle in the Antarctic Empire. Tommy, having lost nearly everything in his life, was determined not to lose his best friend as well. He would become adapted to the Antarctic Empire and stay, or he would die.

He was surprised when Tubbo knocked his fluffy head gently against Tommy's head.

Tommy turned to look into his best friend's strange eyes. There was a deep sadness there. One that Tommy himself understood all too well. He wrapped his arms around Tubbo and they hugged each other, shivering a little in the chill of the window, but they wouldn't allow themselves to leave that moment. They both knew what was going to happen later that day.

..............................................................................

Puffy counted the children she had with her again, glad to see that the maths came back around like it was supposed to. She nodded and turned again, mentally checking the strength of her enchantment. She had managed to find a good thick jacket or coat for each child, but she knew it wasn't enough to face the Antarctic Empire's morning chill, so she had placed a strong warmth and comfort charm on the little group. If all went well today, they would be on the ships to warmer seas soon enough by evening.

She glanced back at Tommy and Tubbo, who walked together silently, holding hands.

That wasn't going to be good. A quiet T&T was a dangerous T&T. This was a phrase that had taken over her life since she added those two to her collection of orphans.

She sighed to herself and turned forward. She was starting out with the other two children who had family in the Empire before she tackled that particular problem. That gave her time for her to steel herself up to becoming the bad guy in this. Tommy would never forgive her for this, and Tubbo likely wouldn't either, but at least she wouldn't have to live with Tubbo for another couple of months. Tommy didn't have any family that could take him in, as far as she had been able to track down, but she was sure she could find a home for the bright young boy.

The first two placements went very well indeed. So smoothly, in fact, that she knew she was going to be in for it on the third. When things started to go to well she knew she was going to have her comeuppance soon enough. Always. She thought she had rid herself of the curse for 20 years, but alas, when it came crashing down on her, she found she had 38 children to take care of and a duty to find homes for them because on some level she felt it had been her fault.

The estate they approached was a large building made of quartz and black stone. Most of the Antarctic empire was made that way, with a layer of insulating materials and then covering in rich, imported wood from allied countries. This particular building was a lot nicer than the ones they had visited already. The children watched with awe, a couple of them whispering about how much they wished this was where they were going to live. All except for the child this place was actually meant for.

Puffy stepped up the stairs, glancing over her shoulders to count the children again. They were still all there. She gestured for Tubbo, and Tommy came along with him, his shoulders set and his eyes squinty in that endearing way of his. He seemed to think if he squinted hard enough he could get adults to do whatever he wanted. Maybe he didn't realize how cute it made him look, but the hard look in his eye and his increasing age was beginning to work against that squint.

Puffy sighed, preparing to go into her speech when the door opened and a surprised butler looked around at them all through thick satyr bangs. "Ah, we-"

"I'm sorry," Puffy said, turning quickly, "I am Puffy. I sent a message ahead to Lord Schlatt. I have his nephew here."

"Oh! Oh, yes. I apologize. I will retrieve him. You and your... ah, your party are free to wait in the foyer where it's warm in the meantime."

Puffy nodded gratefully and shuffled all of the children in, counting them all as she did so. The butler disappeared in the beautiful mansion after securing the doors against the cold and making sure the warming stones were turned on for them.

Puffy turned to Tubbo and Tommy, who were both eyeing a tapestry in the same way a cat would. To prevent any destruction to property, Puffy dove into the conversation she was not looking forward to.

"Tommy, Tubbo. Come here, I need to speak with you."

She crouched on her cloven feet as they approached, feeling a bit like a dragon watching a pair of under prepared knights sidle up to her.

"Alright," she sighed. "We should have talked about this earlier, but better late than never. I know this is very difficult for-"

"I'm not leaving," Tommy said, puffing up his chest and giving her his best squint. "You'll just have to tell Lord Slat that he's going to have to take me too. That's it."

"His name is Lord Schlatt," Puffy said gently, "And Tommy, this is no place for a human. You have seen how cold it is out there, and it is much colder in the dead of winter. You wouldn't be able to leave the house at all! You wouldn't want to keep Tubbo inside as well, would you?"

Tommy's squint slipped, but he redoubled his efforts and said, "He can play outside on his own! We'll play together in the summer. And after a little while I'll adapt. I'll grow fur all over and-"

"Tommy," Puffy said in a stern voice. One that brooked no argument.

Tommy was the only person she had ever known that brooked anyway. "I will not leave! Tubbo is my best friend and we're not going to separated. Understand?"

Puffy wasn't able to respond when the Lord of the estate appeared. The older man was clearly shedding his winter coat as his richly made suit was covered in little hairs. His curled horns were decorated with gold rings embedded with rubies.

"Hello! You must be the great Puffy! I am surprised to see you helping out with a job like this, not that it is too low. Helping the orphans of the world is an incredibly important task," Lord Schlatt said warmly. "Are you retired from you, hem, past occupations."

"If you mean being the Witch Pirate King, then yes. I quit that half a century ago," she said coolly.

Lord Schlatt nodded genially and looked down at Tubbo. The smile he had been using on Puffy, which had looked like it had been purchased in a store, changed into something real and warm. "Hello, Tubbo. My, you have grown, haven't you. You're 8, yes?"

"Yes," Tubbo said softly.

"And he's a big man for it!" Tommy exclaimed. "He's started growing his horns!"

"Oh, has he?" Lord Schlatt asked with real interest. "I am glad to hear it. Did you receive the gift I sent for your birthday?"

"The game set?" Tubbo asked. "Yes. I... it burned in the....."

"Oh," Lord Schlatt said softly. "Well, I will get you another, alright? And anything you want. This is your home now too."

Tommy cleared his throat impatiently, giving Puffy another squint.

She shook her head sternly, opening her mouth to try and cut him off, but she was never quite quick enough when it came to Tommy.

"And where will I be staying? Tubbo and I are good at sharing a room."

Lord Schlatt blinked at Tommy. "I... what?"

"And I am human so I might need an extra coat, but I 'spect that I will get used to the cold soon," Tommy continued.

"Tommy!" Puffy snapped, and for the first time, her tone seemed to actually have an effect on him. All of the other children had frozen in some sort of fascinated horror, fearful of what was about to happen, but unable to look away.

Tommy turned to her, eyes wide and somewhat damp.

Great, Puffy thought. Just my luck, isn't it. I'll have to find him a family next. A really, really nice one if I'm ever going to live with myself.

"You are a human, and as such, you cannot live in the Antarctic Empire. You could very easily die here with one wrong decision about going outside. Understand? You cannot stay here and you will not stay here. We will be finding a family for you next, but it is time that you say good bye to Tubbo because we need to be leaving soon."

"But-"

"No! Obey me, Tommy. This is for your own good. Say goodbye."

Tommy's lip trembled and he turned to Tubbo, hoping for some help there.

Tubbo gave a weak, sad smile. "I'll be happy here. Uncle Schlatt always sent me nice gifts and fun letters," he said softly. "You deserve someone nice too, and I don't want you to stay somewhere dangerous for you."

"But-"

"I'll be fine, Tommy. Thank you for being my friend," Tubbo said, tears running over the soft fur on his cheeks. "Puffy can tell you how to write to me, and I'm sure Uncle Schlatt will take me to visit you sometimes."

Tommy was stunned into silence. Puffy shielded her heart against the tears she saw creeping from Tommy's eyes, only just barely beaten to the outside world by his runny nose. It was hard. It reminded her of another small child she had once cared for. One that had cried when she stroked his hair and called him her little duckling.

She stepped forward, bending and picking him up gently, putting his head in the crook of her neck.

"I'm sorry, Lord Schlatt. That have been friends for a long time," she said softly.

Lord Schlatt waved his hand. "Oh, that is alright. I understand. I'll make certain they stay in touch. I certainly have practice in doing so."

She nodded. "Thank you. Goodbye, Tubbo."

She leaned down and kissed his forehead gently. Tommy sobbed quietly at that moment, and Tubbo hiccuped, on the verge of sobbing as well.

Puffy turned, herded the children together, and left before this could become even more a mess.

Tommy squirmed and she put him down quickly as the door closed behind them.

Tommy stared at the door, wiping his face on his sleeve as he tried, unsuccessfully, to stop crying.

She counted the children, and started to guide them all to the docks where she could use some favors to get them shipped off today.

She kept a close eye on Tommy, who cried for an hour no matter what child came to comfort him. Then he sniffled, then he walked in silence. She smiled when she saw the docks and spoke with several captains until she found one she recognized.

"Hello, Puffy! It's good to see ya," Yarrow said, grasping her forearm. "Wha' can I do ya for?"

"Well, I need a ship to take me and mine to the warm isles," she said. "I believe you owe me a favor from the Gilford battle."

"Aye, that I do. Twas only a boy then, but I certainly remember. There won' be much room, 'm 'fraid."

"We'll make do," Puffy said with a nod. "I have about 13 children left now, I think."

Yarrow looked over her shoulder, his sharp eyes darting until he frowned. "I only count a dozen, Cap'n Puffy."

She whirled around. Tommy was missing.

Chapter Text

Tommy never allowed himself to be sad for too long. This did usually lead to him turning that sadness to anger and inadvisable decisions, but that hadn't stopped him yet.

He scampered down another alley, shivering a little as he looked for anything familiar. He needed to find that estate with it's stupid polar bear knocker. He could hide there until Puffy and the others had stopped looking and then he could convince that Slat person to let him stay. That was it. It wasn't much of a plan, but it was more of a plan than he usually had.

It would have been a good plan, too, if it weren't for the fact that Tommy had gotten immediately lost.

Tommy had become somewhat more world traveled since losing his parents to.... since he had misplaced his parents. He had explored some sea side towns, some inland cities, and a couple of swamp villages. They had all been wondrously chaotic, built around a center. After a few of them, it started to make sense. The center was here so the business were generally around that, and then the homes around that, and farms around that with some odds and ends scattered here and there.

The Antarctic did not work like that at all. Tommy couldn't tell the difference between the businesses and houses. He couldn't figure out which streets led to the center as every single one was built at the same width and well taken care of. He didn't even realize he had made it to the edge of the city until he had stepped through a gateway in the wall and found himself faced with the snow dessert beyond. It had given him a queer feeling, like the world had dropped out from under him entirely. He had to turn and run deep into the city again, eyeing each archway and door in the walls with a serious suspicion born of a newly discovered fear. He would not survive the world outside and this city gave no warning when it was going to simply dump out out into the wind scarred lands.

Tommy's feet hurt, and he was most definitely not crying. He huffed into his hands before tucking them into his cold cloak, pulling it tighter around him. He paused, stamping his feet as he waited for a cart to pass by, ignoring the weird look he got from the driver. He did his best to stay out of sight as occasionally an adult would call out for him, but sometimes it was unavoidable when he needed to cross the street.

The driver actually did stop his cart, turning and opening his mouth, reaching out a fur covered hand, but Tommy was already gone, running down another alley. He dragged ice cold air into his aching lungs as he slowed, looking over his shoulder, but the man seemed to have given up the chase.

Tommy took a couple of deep breaths, letting the ache soothe him before he tucked his frozen nose into his collar. It was starting to get dark, and the temperature was dropping rapidly. Tommy really needed to find somewhere warm for the night.

The streets emptied quickly as it got dark, people retreating to the pools of orange light within their homes. Tommy couldn't stop trembling, and he was on the verge of tears, but he didn't give into the urge to knock on one of the doors that spilled warmth and light through their seams. He ignored the glimpses he got through double-paned windows of families huddling together around a fire, laughing together.

He missed his parents. He wished they were here to keep him warm and take him home. He wished he could go home. He wished he didn't know his house had been burned down in the destruction Dream left behind.

Tommy wiped hard at his face. He would not cry. He was a big man and he didn't need to cry. It would be a waste of energy and he needed to concentrate on finding somewhere warm to survive the night.

His heard a soft noise nearby, and turned, following it without another thought. He found himself shivering in front of a stable, watching the fluffy creatures inside. They looked like goats, but so much bigger than any goat Tommy had ever seen.

"Hi," he whispered.

The huge rams turned their horned heads to look at him for a moment before going back to what they were doing. At the center of the stable was a heating stone, carved with magical runes and pulsing with small waves of heat. Tommy took a small breath and squeezed through the gap in the fencing, stopping before coming too close to the rams. He was near enough to feel the heat from the rune stone and the animals, so he crouched and closed his eyes, willing for his limbs to warm up enough that he could sleep comfortably.

...................................................

"Sire, the Pirate King is waiting to speak with you."

Philza glanced over, raising an eyebrow at that. "Puffy?" He asked as he teased his hair with the gel Wilbur had sent him from the Sommer Isles where he was currently living. "I wonder what she could need. Let her know we will be there as soon as I have finished getting ready."

"Vain bird," Technoblade commented from the other room where he was also getting ready. 

"No more vain than you," Philza replied with a laugh. "Thank you, Sam. Just let Puffy know we'll be out soon. Well, I will be at least."

"No you won't," Techno called. "I'm goin' to need help with my hair."

"Techno, it's best not to keep The Dreaded Pirate King waiting."

"She's not the Pirate King anymore," Techno grumbled. "She retired, didn't you hear?"

"Just like how we retired?" Philza asked.

Techno grunted as Sam closed the door quietly. 

Techno came out of the other room, his deep pink hair flowing over his shoulders, tangled at the ends. 

"What, you didn't even brush it?" Philza asked, a little annoyed now. 

"You're better at it than I am," Techno said with a little shrug, handing his brush to Philza. "Anyway, I wanted to talk with you before we speak with Puffy. What do you think she wants?"

"How am I to know that? Retired folk are unpredictable at the best of times."

Techno chuckled as Philza started running the brush through his hair. "I heard she had some sort of protege recently. Do you think she's coming to talk about him?"

"Maybe," Philza said as he contended with a particularly nasty knot. "What was the boy's name? Dream?"

"Yeah, I think that was it," Techno said, wrinkling his nose. "Though why Puffy let him choose a name like that, I have no idea."

"Oh don't you, 'Technoblade'?"

Philza received an elbow to the side of that. 

There was a soft knock at the door again and they both heard Sam call out, "Sires, Puffy is-"

The door slammed open and Puffy was standing there, Sam staggering off to the side. "I don't have time for this!"

Philza got to his feet, as did Techno, and Philza could see Techno's hand inching toward the weapon at his side. Philza gestured for Techno to leave it and asked, "What's wrong, Puffy? You look frazzled."

That was an understatement. She looked very different from what Philza remembered of her. Her hair was loose from her bandanna, her hat nowhere to be seen. Her hair itself was frizzy and on its way to becoming matted. Her clothing was wrinkled and travel stained, her face so much more aged since the last time he had seen her. 

"I was here dropping off a couple of orphans to relations they had here, and I lost one," Puffy said quickly. "Our ship leaves in two hours and I don't have any more time to look for him. I was up all night as it is. I have to get the next kids to their relatives in time for the flocks to fly south in the Sommer Isles. I'll come back for him, but I need you to look for him before he freezes to death. He's only human-"

"Wait, heh?" Techno tried to interject, but she ignored him and continued.

"He's about 8 years old and he's got blonde hair and an attitude bigger than any fae child. I really have to go. Let me know if you find him, dead or alive, and I'll plan accordingly. He may have tried to go to Schlatt's neighborhood since that's where I dropped off his friend, but he could have very easily gotten lost. I really have to go. We'll need to chat when I come back for him. You're looking very well. Goodbye!"

With that, the sheep hybrid was off like a shot, and, despite Techno's attempt, he was not able to catch up with her before she had turned a corner and ran for the exit. 

Techno wandered back into the room, perplexed. "A human child? It would be a miracle if he is still alive."

"She didn't even give us a name," Philza said, shaking his head in utter bafflement. 

"I suppose we won't need one. There aren't going to be any other humans in the city besides this one," Techno growled. "How annoyin'. I had plans for today."

"We all did," Philza sighed. "Come on. Let's get finished here and figure out what we can find. Sam, could you please get Ranboo? We'll need him to prepare the guards for the search."

"Do you think we'll be looking for a child, or a body?" Techno asked as Sam ran off to get the head guard of the city. 

Philza shook his head. "I have no idea. Puffy didn't say what to expect. It sounded like he had been lost for a little bit, but she didn't say how long. Besides, 8 is a pretty resourceful age. He might have found somewhere warm to stay or maybe just hugged a runestone all night. It's not exactly a pleasant way to spend the night, but it's survivable."

Techno grumbled a little, but Philza could read him like an open book. There was a little crease between his eyebrows and an almost buried look of worry. Techno was always a softie when it came to kids, likely coming from a leftover instinct ingrained in him by piglin culture.

"We will find him," Philza said. "And I'm sure the little tyke is alright. I'll get ready for a flight and see if anyone saw a strange little human boy roaming around last night. You should go check with Schlatt to see if he did make it there last night, and if not, perhaps the child Puffy dropped off to him with know more about where his friend might have gone and more details about him. Try and get me a name as soon as possible so I can call for him while I'm flying and spread the word."

"Why can't you talk to Schlatt?" Techno asked, a pained expression on his face. 

"Schlatt is not that bad. Especially recently. He's been really trying as of late. Maybe because Puffy let him know she was bringing him a child to look after. Just go, please."

Techno rolled his eyes but he nodded. "Alright, I guess I can do that. Whatever."

"Good. I'll see you later then."

"But my-"

"You can do your own hair."

Techno gave Philza a wounded look but twisted his hair up into a bun, turning to prepare himself for the search. Philza would leave it to him to speak with Ranboo and the guards and plan the search patterns on foot. 

Philza went back to his closet, changing out of his regal palace robes and into his flying gear. There were a couple extra warm layers underneath a sturdy set of leather armor to protect him in case of a fall or midair collision, He tightened the straps on his arms and legs, attaching the collar piece last to protect his throat and considered his weapons belts. He decided to leave them behind. He wouldn't be attacked by anyone in his own city. 

He did, however, grab his pouch belt and put it on around his waist. He would need to stop by the kitchens and grab some warming potions and food for when he found the child. He knew Techno would be making the same arrangements with his pockets.

Chapter Text

Tommy woke up cold and hungry. He whimpered, reaching out an arm to try and find Tubbo, and while he did find fur and horns, he knew the creature was much too big to be Tubbo. He opened his eyes to see the large mountain goat snuffling at him, its whuffs in his ear almost drowning out the morning noises coming from the street. 

Tommy sighed deeply. It was time to get up and face the day, but he was so sore and cold it was hard to convince himself to do anything but lay there. 

That was, until the smell of some sort of street food reached his nose, sweet and savory in texture. 

He hopped up, stomach growling and dug in his pockets for any spare change he had. He and the other children would be given money for treats sometimes, and they would use the change they still had after to make bets or trade for goodies or better places to sleep in the inns Puffy had them all stay at. He still had some, and he could only hope his currency would be accepted here and it would be enough for some breakfast. 

He was careful about exiting the stable, watching for anyone who might spot him sneaking through the gate, but he managed to get out easily enough. 

He pulled up his hood, looking around for the food stall he had been smelling. 

He spotted it on the corner of the street near a glowing runestone he knew provided a decent level of heat. He smiled. Food and somewhere warm to sit while he ate. That was all he would need to get back on his feet and looking for Tubbo. Maybe he would actually try asking some adults if they knew where that Slab guy was. 

He waited in line at the vendor's stall, ignoring the strange looks he got from the adults behind him, and when he stepped forward, he nearly dribbled down his chin at the food spread before him. It appeared to be meat and veggies on a stick, wrapped with bread and slathered in that sauce that had smelled so good it brought him to his feet. 

Tommy put on his manliest voice and cleared his throat. "I have been doing a lot of traveling so I have a lot of different coins," he said, holding out the coins in question to the vendor. "I want one of these, two if I can afford it."

The vendor, a fluffy cat hybrid, gave him an uncertain look. "I see. Here, let me take a look at what you have."

Tommy watched his face as the vendor sorted through the money, and his heart sank as he realized that the man didn't seem to recognize any of the coins. 

"If they don't work, maybe I can-"

"It looks like you have enough for two," the vendor said. He picked some of the coins at random and handed the rest back. "Would you like them wrapped to have for later, or are you planning on eating them now?"

"I'm going to eat one now and have the other for when I'm going to my friend's house later," Tommy said, a little miffed by the charity he'd been given. Still, better to be a bit annoyed that someone took pity on you than be dead, he figured. 

"Alright."

The vendor handed him one of the kebab things and wrapped the other in a waxed cloth. 

"They're the best while warm, but they're still good cold," the vendor said, handing it over to Tommy. 

"Thank you," Tommy said before he stepped out of the way to go stand by the runestone. 

At last, when he was comfortable leaning against the side of the building by the stone, he bit into the kebab thing. He closed his eyes and gasped at the flavor. It was so so delicious. Maybe the best thing he had in his life! For the first time probably ever, he didn't scarf down his food, instead taking each bite slowly, enjoying every warm, flavorful moment. The meat fell apart easily in his mouth, the breading was soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside, coated in that sweet, savory sauce. Even the veggies were the most incredible thing he'd ever had in his life, though he couldn't really identify anything besides the occasional bit of potato. 

When he finished, he licked the stick clean and stuck it in with his other kebab, fighting off the urge to eat that one right now was well. He did need to save it for later in case he got lost again. He wasn't certain if his change would be enough to earn him another bit of pity food. 

With the wrapped kebab in hand, warmed to the core by the food and the nearby runestone, he turned and set off looking for Tubbo's new house, completely forgetting his plan to ask an adult for directions. 

........................................

Techno sighed as he stood in front of Lord Schlatt's manor. He didn't really like talking to the ram. They had their differences in the past and Techno wasn't entirely certain that Schlatt was loyal to the ice throne, never mind to Philza and himself. He had been working for another empire at the time that Philza and Techno were conquering the lands, and he had been involved in banishing the two of them to the Antarctic for the time being. He had come crawling to them when his empire had crumbled, and Philza had taken him in with that stupid soft heart of his. Schlatt had proven very useful, though, as a well known merchant, and their kingdom had done well, allowing Schlatt to live in a mansion like this one, but Techno certainly did not have to like it. 

He grabbed the wooden polar bear knocker (nothing that you were meant to touch was made out of mental where you could help it in the Antarctic Empire) and rapped it loudly against the door. 

It opened quickly enough, a bird hybrid poking her head out. She was dressed in the uniform of the head servant of the house and her feathers immediately fluffed with nerves when she recognized who he was. 

"Hello," Techno rumbled. "I am here to see Lord Schlatt and his new ward."

"O-of course," she said, opening the door wider for him, "Come in. I will send a servant to get a warm drink."

Techno nodded and stepped inside. The foyer was nice and neat. Perhaps a little empty when it came to decorations and items, but Schlatt had only moved into this mansion recently. 

Techno was led to a side room with several plush chairs, each laid with blankets on their backs for anyone especially chilly. The fire was already going and there were a couple of cups set upside down on the table in preparation for any hot drinks that needed to be dispensed. It wasn't a bad set up, in Techno's opinion, though he decided to stand in front of the fire place and wait. He wasn't interested in sitting down in Schlatt's home. 

He heard voices approaching and Schlatt came in, followed by a servant with a steaming kettle that she set at the center of the table. 

"Ah, your majesty, welcome to my home," Schlatt said brightly, though there was tension around his eyes. "How can I help you this morning?"

"Schlatt," Techno said, inclining his head slightly. "Where is your ward?"

"My... My ward, sire?"

"Your ward. The child Puffy brought to you yesterday. Where is he? I requested that your servant bring him along too."

"He's only a child, why-"

"He is not in any danger or trouble and neither are you. Bring him here. Now."

Schlatt bobbed his head. "Ah, yes. Clementine. Could you please find Tubbo and bring him here? Let him know he isn't in any trouble."

The bird hybrid servant nodded and left as quickly as she came. 

Schlatt cleared his throat. "What is this about? Why would you need to speak with my nephew?"

"Your nephew?"

"Yes. His parents.... It is a very long story. He will be living with me now."

"I see."

Schlatt waited for Techno to give him an answer to what this was all about, and Techno took pleasure in the uncomfortable silence. 

A few minutes later, Clementine came back with a small goat hybrid child. He was not very well dressed, clearly still in his pajamas and having just been pulled from whatever explorations he had been making of the mansion as there was dust in his hair and on his knees.

Clementine shot an apologetic look at Schlatt and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before saying, "Tubbo, this is his Majesty Technoblade, one of the two rulers of the Antarctic Empire."

Tubbo's eyes, what could be seen of them under his bangs anyway, opened very very wide.

"Is... Is this about Tommy?" He asked very quietly. 

Techno raised an eyebrow. If Tubbo already suspected that this Tommy could get into so much trouble it would bring one of the kings of the empire to his door, he and Philza were in for a ride. "I believe so. He is blonde and human?"

"He is. I was afraid he would run away from Puffy when she wouldn't let him stay here," Tubbo said, wringing his hands together. "Is he okay? Do you know where he is?"

"Not yet. We didn't even know his name until now. I came to ask you where you think he might have gone and where he would likely hide if he was spooked."

"Oh," Tubbo said, disappointment and anxiety thick in his voice. "He would try and get here, but he gets lost pretty easily. We both do, I guess. We just don't pay enough attention, probably."

"Does he have any habits we can use to find him? Any place he would be drawn to more than others?"

Tubbo wrinkled his nose, his lips pursed as he thought hard about Techno's questions. "He has a lot of habits.... He gets really loud when he's hungry or tired or excited or.... He's really loud. But he can be really quiet when he wants to be or when he has to be. He likes.... Um..... He likes going where he's not supposed to, I guess."

"A trait you seem to share with him," Schlatt said sardonically, stepping a little closer to try and brush some of the dust out of Tubbo's hair. 

Tubbo flushed, but to his credit he continued, "If you can think of the worst place or the most dangerous place or the most off limits place possible, he's likely to be there."

Techno sighed. "That's not much to go off of. A human really shouldn't be in any part of this empire for long periods of time.... Is there anything else?"

"Um... Well, no offense meant at all," Tubbo said quickly, "But you are very scary looking, and Tommy might think you're coming to try and hurt him or take him away..... Are you going to take him away?"

"That remains undecided."

Tubbo worried his bottom lip for a moment. "There is a password we use, but I don't want to give it to you unless you promise you're not going to send him away."

"I can't promise that," Techno said firmly. "This is the worst place on the planet for a human to live, and it will only be a detriment to him if we allowed him to stay here. We aren't even in the deep winter months, and still the nights are cold enough to kill. Do you really want that for your friend?"

Tubbo squared his shoulders stubbornly. "Tommy is really tough! He's the toughest human I've ever met in my life. All the other orphans cried for so long about our parents, I did too, but I haven't seen Tommy cry even once about them being gone! He could survive this place forever, easy!"

Techno sighed. The hard way it was, then. 

"Thank you, Lord Schlatt. That was all I needed. Alert us immediately if that boy manages to find his way here."

With that, Techno pushed past them and left, opening and closing the front door for himself and ignoring Schlatt’s confused voice behind him. 

Chapter Text

Tommy eyed the strange figure in the sky above. He didn't have any proof that the bird hybrid was looking for him, of course not, but there was something in the way he circled that made Tommy half convinced that the bird man was indeed searching for him. 

Tommy shivered and looked around hopelessly for one of those warm runestones or maybe something to eat. He had already consumed the other kebab thing hours ago and evening was starting to set in. He had been hiding in a cramped little hole in the wall since around noon as well. It hadn't been that bad at first because it seemed to be the outside wall of a heated store, but now that it was late enough that the store had closed, they had obviously turned off the heating and Tommy was quickly freezing. If he could have been able to keep walking or even just stamp his feet occasionally he would have been able to tough it out, but all he could do was sit and wait, ignoring the cramps trying to form a team in his legs to play ball together. 

He stiffened when he heard the sound again. Hooves on the frozen cobbles. That had been what had sent him into hiding earlier. He had glimpsed a huge piglin man with pinkish hair in a stunning blue armor set with at least three different huge weapons on his person. Tommy had been all set to stare at the strange man when the piglin had spotted him first. His face had set into an extremely serious expression before he broke into a run toward Tommy. 

Tommy was small, but he was fast and he did manage to lose the brute quickly enough and found a nice little hole to hide in. Every time he had considered leaving the hole, though, he had heard those hoof steps, now as familiar as the beating of his own heart. He had been worried about being sent away with Puffy before and never seeing Tubbo again, but now he had to admit that he was more terrified of being found by that piglin and being gored to death on his tusks. They were huge!

Tommy closed his eyes, fighting back a whimper. He was a big man and he would make it through this. His dad had made it through three wars when he was young, easy, and even fought in two of them, and Tommy was his father's son. He was made out of the stern stuff, like his uncles used to joke. Innit men were all made of the stern stuff and they didn't break for anything or anyone. 

Then again, they had broken. They hadn't been lost or misplaced or run away from home. They were all dead. Tommy had seen it with his own eyes that they were all dead and now he was all alone and he didn't even have Tubbo with him anymore. There was no one to call him stern anymore. No one to call him a big man. 

His next intake of breath came out as a sob and he covered his mouth quickly, closing his eyes so so tight and begging the gods above and below that no one had heard him. 

Those hooves stopped. They turned, and Tommy was having a harder and harder time getting control of his breath, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. He was going to die here. Either that beast found him and killed him or he froze to death because it was guarding his hiding place too closely. He was going to die. At least maybe he would get to see his parents again. Maybe. He didn't know if there really was anything after death. No one knew because you couldn't just die and come back when you wanted to find out. 

"Tommy?" A gruff voice called, and it took Tommy a moment to figure out who that could possibly be. He didn't know anyone with that voice, though it did kind of remind him of his grandfather a little. "I'm not goin' to hurt you. I just need you to come out for a bit, alright?"

Tommy frowned. Yeah right. And get captured by that brute? He had to be the one talking, and he most definitely had to be lying. 

"Phil and I are just lookin' for you. Puffy said you'd run off, and I get it. You wanted to see Tubbo, yeah?"

How in the world did the brute know about Tubbo?

"I was talking with him earlier. He's worried about you, Tommy. If you come out I can take you to see him."

Tommy considered it, but the brute had admitted that Puffy had been the one to tell him that Tommy was missing and even if the brute didn't kill him for wasting so much time, he would definitely hand him back over to Puffy and he would never see his best friend again. Tommy stayed very very quiet, his breath coming under control again. 

He heard the brute sigh, muttering something about passwords. 

Tommy heard the sound of a sharp whistle and through the gap in between the buildings above he could see the bird man turn sharply and descend. 

"Any luck?" a new voice asked eventually, coming with the rustle of feathers. The bird man and the brute were just down the alley. They were definitely where they could see Tommy if he even dared poke his head out of his hole. It was a miracle they hadn't walked down the alley yet and straight up found him. 

"Not yet," the brute said. "I think I've heard him and the magic items have all pointed to here. I don't think he's left, but I can't figure out where he is."

The bird man clicked his tongue. "We'll find him. Do you think he can hear us from here?"

"I think so."

"Tommy, sweetheart. There's a bad storm forecasted for tonight. You can't stay out here. Even if you find a runestone to sleep by you might die. Please come out. We just want to help you."

The two were silent and Tommy followed suit. 

When the bird man spoke next there was a level of panic in his voice. "Techno, what are we going to do? He's going to die out here! What if he's already asleep? What if he already has hypothermia?"

"That's not our problem," Techno said. "We are doin' our level best to find him, and if he's determined to hide out here until he dies, that's not on us."

"But he's just a child!"

"I know, but there is only so much we can do. No one has reported him since I saw him, we can't get any more specific readin's, and he refuses to come out. We may just need to consider telling Tubbo and Puffy that we did everythin' we could."

Tubbo. If he heard that Tommy had died it would break his heart completely. Tubbo would never recover from it. 

"No!!" 

He clapped his hands over his mouth, but the damage was already done. The brute and the bird man were coming down the alley. 

Please don't see me, please don't see me, you can't see me. There's nothing here. 

He opened one eye slightly, watching as HUGE booted feet stepped passed him, and while he should have been clearly visible where he sat in the hole in the wall, the brute's eyes passed right over him as though there was nothing to see. 

The bird man stepped passed next, and while he hesitated, eyeing the hole a little longer than the brute, he moved on as though he hadn't seen anything either. 

"He must have gone this way," the bird man said. "Hurry, Techno, we might be able to find him before he hides again."

The two ran down the alley and out into the street, leaving Tommy alone. 

He slowly relaxed, lowering his hands. How in the world did they not see him? 

He shook his head and uncurled himself from the hole in the wall, intent on leaving the alley in the opposite direction they had left. 

Just as he got to the end of the alley, however, the Brute came into view, eyes bright and wild. 

"He's still invisible," the brute called to the bird man who now stood at the other end of the alley, his wings spread to block the entire arch. 

"There! Footprints, Techno!"

Tommy looked down and realized he was leaving footprints. He had no idea how he had become invisible, but it was clear that whatever was going on did not stop the footprints he was leaving in the dirt and leftover snow. 

He tried to think of a way out, hopping over to a spot of packed down snow to wait them out, but the bird man began walking slowly up the alley, his wings open to keep Tommy from running around him without being felt. 

On the other end of the alley loomed that brute, so large that he practically filled the place. He also spread his arms a little to make sure he didn't miss anything. 

"Hey, mate, we know you're here. It's alright. That's pretty cool that you can become invisible," the bird man said. "We're just here to make sure you're alright, okay? If you come with us we can get you some food and warm clothes."

Tommy bore his teeth. "Fat chance."

He realized his mistake as soon as he made it. There was no way he would ever learn to be fast enough to dodge the arms that closed around him like a bear trap. 

Tommy yelped and kicked as the brute lifted him off his feet. 

"There he is," the bird man said brightly, lowering his wings. "And we can see him again. He looks alright. Careful, Techno. Be gentle with him. He's only human."

Techno grunted. "An extremely annoyin' and resourceful human. Puffy didn't warn us that he'd be a sorcerer."

"Puffy didn't seem to have much time to tell us anything. She might not have even known considering how many kids she's had to cart around. Oi, mate, calm down. Techno isn't gonna hurt ya, but you need to stop struggling."

"LET GO OF ME!" Tommy screeched. He felt the brute stumble as though he had been hit by something, his grip loosening on Tommy.

This time, Tommy had felt the magic he used, and he reached for it instinctively in his mind, trying to slam it over the brute's head again. 

Tommy fell out of the brute's arms as the brute fell to his knees with a gasp of pain. Tommy made it all of three steps before an exhaustion like none he'd ever known hit him and he crumpled into the old snow. 

He lay there, eyelashes fluttering as he tried to figure out where he was. It was so cold and the ground under his cheek looked so dirty. He whimpered, only faintly aware of the voices nearby. 

"Are you alright, Tech?"

"Mmph. I'll be fine, Phil. Stop touchin' it. We already know there's a goose egg there. No need to make it worse."

"Oh, he got you good," the bird man cooed affectionately, and Tommy was struck with jealousy. Someone should be cooing over him like that. He was laying on the ground and didn't feel good, for End's sake. 

He whined, this time louder to make sure he got his point across. 

"Oh, poor thing."

"Poor thing? He hit me! Twice!"

"And I checked your injury and fussed over you and you acted like you didn't want it."

There was a soft chuffing sound, but the gruff voice didn't make any more complaints. 

Tommy heard the sound of claws in the snow and then something carded gently through his hair. 

"Aw, mate, are you tired?"

Tommy whined softly, wishing he had the energy to lean into the attention. 

"Oh, I know. I'm sorry, This has all been a lot for you, huh. We'll get you somewhere warm and tuck you in. Why don't you go to sleep for a bit?"

Tommy thought about arguing, but his mind made the choice for him as his eyelids fluttered fully closed over unseeing eyes, and he fell asleep.

Chapter Text

"You're hoverin'."

Philza looked over his shoulder at Techno before looking back at the boy in the bed from the doorway he stood in. 

"I'm just worried about him. He must be really new to using his magic if three spells tuckered him out like that. I'm worried he just won't wake up at all."

"He will," Techno said, rolling his eyes and feeling the back of his head. Even after a potion the spot he had been hit over was quite tender. "He seems like a tough kit. He'll make it."

Philza simply hummed, watching. There wasn't much to look at. The boy was tucked deep under mounds of warm blankets, his golden curls just barely peeking out where they covered his face.

After a long moment of contemplative silence, Philza glanced at Techno. "He's a sorcerer."

"I remember," Techno said dryly. 

Philza elbowed him before going back to watching the boy. 

"We're not keepin' him," Techno said, warning in his tone. "He may be a sorcerer, but he's still human."

"Sure, but sorcerers learn early on how to manipulate their own bodies. He could learn to do that and he wouldn't be in danger of freezing-"

"I told you I wasn't goin' to help you raise another child past Wilbur."

Philza tried not to pout, but his wings drooped a little despite his efforts. 

Techno scowled at him. "Don't do that."

"I'm not doing anything," Philza replied sharply, though still quiet enough that he wouldn't wake the boy. 

Techno watched his companion for a moment before let out a very long, slow sigh. "Alright, alright. I suppose he could stay here for a while before we decide what to do with him, but he seems like a runner and I am not going to help you wrangle him, understand? If he gets out, he can just learn how to manage his body temperature on his own."

Philza brightened immediately. "Oh! Of course!"

In his excitement, he had become loud enough to stir the child in the bed.

That golden head lifted, blinking gummy eyes at them for a moment in confusion. "Wha-"

"Oh, I'm sorry, mate, we didn't mean to wake you," Philza cooed, his feathers fluffing up. Techno rolled his eyes. He didn't realize Philza had been feeling so broody, but that explained a few things. 

The boy, Tommy, blinked again, confusion and fear beginning to fill his face. "Where am I?"

"You're in the palace of the Antarctic Empire," Philza replied soothingly, taking a couple of steps into the room. When Tommy didn't react badly to this, Philza sat on the edge of the bed. Techno could see Philza's hand twitching with the desire to smooth down those golden curls. "We found you out in the cold after Puffy told us you'd run away from the group. We- Tech!"

The little human had bolted from the bed faster than Techno had thought any human could move. Perhaps he couldn't move that fast normally and was using magic. Still, Techno had been on guard for something to happen and he took two steps forward, scooped up the boy, and gently tossed him back onto the bed. 

Tommy, now a little stunned at being treated like a throw pillow, looked wildly around for an escape. 

There was none to be had as Philza cooed, grabbing Tommy and holding him close, putting a wing between the boy and Techno. Philza grinned at Techno and mouthed, I thought you weren't going to wrangle him.

Techno bristled, but Philza ignored him and ducked his head under his wing to talk to Tommy. 

"Let me finish, my dove," Philza said gently. "Puffy told us to find you, yeah? She said she would take you away but- stop squirming, mate, I haven't finished talking yet- but we think that you could stay here if you wanted, seeing as you appear to be a sorcerer of some kind. We know people who can train you, and your magic will allow you to survive the winter here and you can still see your friend. How does that sound?"

"WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE!?" Tommy roared, causing Philza's head to come out of his wing with a shocked look on his face, ears ringing a little. 

Techno chuckled. He might actually enjoy having this child at the palace. Wilbur had been sweet and all, but he really had been a Philza's boy. Techno had never known what to do with the soft spoken, sweet voiced child, but this he knew how to manage. 

"Calm down, little warrior," Techno said, brushing Philza's wing aside. "My name is Technoblade, and this is Philza. We are the rulers of this city, did you know that?"

Tommy froze, eyes wide. "What, so you're.... Rich?"

"Very," Techno said, and there was a gleam in Tommy's eye that made Techno wonder if he had been a piglin in another life. "We have to have somethin' to make up for the cold, right? The mines here are very rich, and our kingdom is the only one that has figured out how to get to the ores stored there."

"Mmmm.... And I can stay with Tubbo?"

"Oh, no," Techno said quickly. "Lord Schlatt does not have the.... Resources to help train you, but he and your friend can visit at any time, and you can certainly visit them. Philza, here, thinks you will better off with us, and I think I agree. You're quite the spit fire."

Tommy seemed to consider this, rolling all of the options around in his head. He twisted in Philza's grip, taking a look around the room. "Is this going to be my room?"

Philza laughed. "Greedy little thing, aren't you? Yes, this is your room unless you find another room in the palace you like better."

"Is there a cool tower room!?"

"Sort of, but it takes a lot of stairs to get there."

Tommy wrinkled his nose. "I'll think about it, then.... Did you two build this city?"

"Some of it. We planned most of it and our people built what they needed."

"I think it's stupid. It's real easy to get lost in."

"No it's not," Techno said, mildly offended now. The planning of the streets and layout of the city had been his work. "Every street is clearly marked and it's all very uniform. No weird knots of buildin's or offshoots to speak of, and it's very defensible."

Tommy shook his head. "Very easy to get lost in," Tommy insisted. 

Techno shook his head, but Philza spoke before he could reply, bringing the conversation back to the topic at hand. 

"Well, Tommy? Would you like to stay with us, then?"

Tommy frowned thoughtfully. "Are you richer than Tommy's uncle?"

"Oh, yes," Philza said, amused. "But the more important part is that I will take care of you as though you were my own. I know life has been pretty scary for you, and you have lost a lot. You will not only be gaining a place to live, but the love of a parent, if you want it."

Tommy's eyes went from shining to clouded with tears, the greed replaced by grief. "I don't need... I don't need any parents," he said, clearly trying not to cry, He swallowed hard, taking a few breaths and looking up, waiting to blink until he was sure nothing would spill from his eyes. 

He nodded and said, "I will stay here. I will have the best room, and.... And I will see Tubbo."

"Of course," Philza said. "I'll send a message to have Lord Schlatt send him over now to see you. Does that sound alright?"

Tommy simply nodded. 

......................................

"TUBBO!"

The blond 8 year old ran across the entrance hall, slamming into the little satyr and taking both of them to the floor in the movement. The two shouted, Tubbo crying in Tommy's arms. 

Philza watched, his hands folded in front of him and his wings properly mantled as Techno stood at his shoulder. 

"Well, it seems you've found another one," Techno commented. 

"Hopefully it will go better this time. Things were so tumultuous with Wilbur."

"It's what we get for tryin' to raise a child and take over the wold at the same time."

"I suppose so.... He's so young, Techno. He's lost everything."

"He'll be fine. He's a tough little warrior. In the long run, this might be the second best thing that ever happened to him."

Startled that Techno must know something about the boy that he did not, Philza asked, "What was the best thing to ever happen to him?"

Techno gave a wry smile around his tusks. "He had parents, once."

Philza shook his head and punched Techno's arm, rocking the piglin a step as Tubbo and Tommy finally separated and began to run past them. 

"Tommy, mate. Where are you two going?" Philza asked. 

"Oh, I was going to show Tubbo my room," Tommy said innocently. 

Philza smiled. Already trying to make his friend jealous, was he?

"Alright. Go on."

He turned to Techno and said, "You might want to trail them. I don't want them getting into anything they shouldn't and I ought to make sure Schlatt is not forgotten."

Techno nodded. He was grateful for an excuse to get out of tea with Lord Schlatt. He trailed after the kids, letting them have their space, but keeping an ear and eye on them. 

Sure enough, they had gone to Tommy's room and Tubbo was gasping at the size of it. 

"-Said I could decorate it any way I please," Tommy said proudly. "I think I'll fill it with swords and maces and stuff. And I'll use all of them too!"

A child after Techno's own heart. 

Tommy caught sight of Techno in the doorway and put his hands on his hips. "And you can't take any of mine!"

"Only if you don't steal any from my collection," Techno responded. 

That certainly got Tommy's attention. "You have a collection?"

"Of course I do. I haven't use them all as some of them are trophies from enemies I've k- ah, defeated. I could show you two now, if you were interested." 

What was wrong with him? Why would he offer that? He promised Philza that he wouldn't get attached. 

Tubbo and Tommy both shrieked with excitement, hopping up and down around him as the begged to show them. 

He shook his head and let the way down to the armory, past the general weapons and to the room with his collection. 

"You both have to promise you won't touch anything without asking first, and I will be the one to get the weapons down from the wall, alright?"

"Okay!" The two chipped. 

He opened the door, and let them inside, keeping a close eye on them as they gasped and yelled about all of the different kinds of swords and bows the found inside. 

As Techno watched them examine each piece, sometimes reaching out to touch before he chuffed, reminding them he was there and watching, he could practically hear Philza's complains about taking them into such a dangerous room, but he didn't really care. If Techno was going to take care of Tommy, maybe it was his turn to raise a child the way he wanted. Philza already had Wilbur after all. Techno deserved to be the favorite parent this time around. 

.......................................

Tommy and Tubbo hugged each other as Lord Schlatt prepared to leave. The two were mostly fine, though there was a small cut on Tommy's hand where he had fumbled with the sword Techno had let him hold. It wasn't much, but Techno had decided that had been the end of their visit to his collection. He shouldn't have let the child touch anything beside the wooden swords, even if Tommy thought they were 'girly art pieces.'

Techno would have to train that kind of talk out of him soon. 

"I'll see you later," Tommy said with a smile. "I'm staying here, remember? Not going anywhere."

Tubbo grinned and nodded. "Good. And you've got to behave so they don't kick you out, alright?"

"I won't misbehave," Tommy said. "Well, not much anyway. I'll see you tomorrow."

He glared at the rulers of the Antarctic Empire, daring them to challenge him. Neither of them did. 

"Okay. Bye, Tommy!"

"Bye, Tubbo."

"Come on, child," Philza said softly, offering his hand. Techno subtly offered his and was delighted when Tommy chose his hand over Philza's. 

Philza had the audacity to smirk at him. 

"Let's go get something to eat," Techno said, rolling his eyes. "I think the cooks have prepared kebabs for us today. Do you like kebabs, Tommy?"

Tommy grinned.