we can all learn things(just maybe in different ways.)

in which all hope is lost

He was always there. Of course he was. He was cunning and stealthy and though Techno had never seen his eyes he could feel them piercing his skin. A sinking feeling of hopelessness washed over him. They couldn't escape him.

There was no way out of his grasp, no place in the world he wouldn't chase them to. Techno had been in his clutches from the moment Dream had set foot out of the kingdom.

He couldn't possibly outrun him. Even now, he was straddling his horse, his sword strapped at his side and his crossbow loaded and ready. Puffs of wind brushed at his cloak, sending it fluttering behind him. His knuckles were pale and stiff on the hilt of his blade, prepared to lash out in a deadly strike powerful enough to kill almost anything.

Honestly? It was a miracle Techno had even made it this far.

And he wouldn't be making it any farther unless he defeated him. For good.

"What do we do?" Tubbo whispered quietly, his hand falling to the dagger at his waist.

"Stab the shit out of him, that's what we do!" Tommy growled, his sword already pulled from its sheath.

"No." Techno said firmly. Seeing the look of pain and terror on Tommy's face when his stomach had been slashed open had been enough for him to realize that he couldn't let his brother risk himself again. Either of them. Besides, Dream knew that Techno cared about his family. He would just do the exact same thing again, take Tommy or Tubbo or both of them hostage and threaten their lives if Techno didn't cooperate. And this time, Alex, Karl, Bad, and Skeppy wouldn't be there to help them.

"I have to 1v1 him."

"Fuck no, are you insane?" Tommy hissed. "He's too good for just one person to take him down!"

"Tommy, you do realize that I'm not weak, right?"

"I-" Tubbo tried to interrupt but Techno cut him off. "No. I can't risk Tommy or you getting killed, Tubbo. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did." His face fell into a stony, determined expression. "Plus, I'm prepared. I'm not as caught off guard as I was when he attacked me before. And even though he's an awful person, I doubt that even he would violate the terms of a one-on-one duel. As a knight, even if he fights for tyranny, he must have some honor."

Tommy opened his mouth but shut it again when Techno met his eyes. "Stay hidden. Don't come out of hiding, even if it looks like I'm losing. He has to capture me alive, and if he does win, I can escape. Don't get involved, and stay safe, dumbasses." He hissed. "Tubbo, for the love of fuck, please make sure Tommy doesn't do anything stupid."

Tubbo nodded and Tommy hissed indignantly but, seeing the severity of the situation, complied, for once. Maybe almost getting killed and also having his best friend and brother to worry about had finally knocked some sense into his brain.

Techno let the thin line of his mouth press into a smile and drew his axe, making sure his quiver was full of arrows and his shield was strapped tightly to his arm. "I'm gonna go kick this guy's ass. See you in a bit."

"Wait." Tommy caught his arm before he turned around. Techno glanced back, confused, but before he could say anything Tommy wrapped his arms around Techno and pulled him into a hug, burying his forehead into his neck and drawing his wings close to his body. "Please don't die." He rasped quietly.

Techno froze. This was the most vulnerable he had ever seen him in the sixteen years of his life. Gone(for now, at least) was the yelling, screeching, passionate kid who always fought for what he believed in(whether it was freedom or his right to start a drug empire) and in his place was a sixteen-year-old who suffered so much more than he should have for things out of his control, a vulnerable teenager clinging to the older brother who had left him far too many times already and was about to abandon him again.