APRICITY // technoblade x reader DISCONTINUED

20 - Injury and Investigation

Ranboo's clawed fingertips catch on the branch that Techno holds aloft, carving gouges into the wood. It splinters loudly as Techno pulls away.

He drops into a defensive stance, gripping the branch like a sword. "Ranboo, I don't want to hurt you!"

Ranboo still doesn't respond, instead moving to attack Techno again. He drops to all fours and leaps, his thin tail swishing like a viper behind him.

Techno parries every bite or slash, but in his struggle to not hurt Ranboo, he's backed into a corner. Ranboo looms over him, Enderman maw agape and fangs dripping. His normally neat hair is messy and falling into his glowing green eyes, his usual mismatched red nowhere to be seen.

You heft the rock in your hand. You'd really rather not hurt him, but Techno is a mortal going up against a demon, so... "Sorry, Ranboo," you whisper, and let the rock fly.

It slams into Ranboo's head with a dull thud, and he crumples immediately. Techno, ever the quick reactor, drops the branch and catches Ranboo.

You dash over, veins still pumping with fear and adrenaline. "I'm so sorry, I just- I didn't know what to do, and I didn't want to, but.. but that was the only thing I could think of."

Techno nods grimly. "It was a smart thing to do. He'll survive, he's more hearty than he looks. Nice aim, by the way."

"Oh, that? I have a lot of practice throwing Niki apples from two stories below her."

"...Huh."

You crack a small smile at his thoughtful expression, as though he's imagining the scene while he lays Ranboo gently on the floor.

Fluffy strands of white and black are strewn across his forehead, and a chunk of white is stained with indigo blue.

You comb a bit of hair to the side, pushing it away from the gash you'd inflicted, and your fingers come away sticky and warm. "Shit."

"How bad is it?"

You purse your lips and bite the inside of your cheek. "I'm not going to lie, It's bleeding more than I thought it would."

Techno swears and runs a hand through his hair. "I'll send Phil a message."

As you tear off the hem of your nightgown to use as a makeshift bandage, Techno grasps his emerald pendant from beneath the collar of his shirt and his eyes begin to glow purple.

Your deft fingers make quick work of the linen fabric, tearing it into long strips as you listen to Techno speak.

"Phil, it's an emergency. I need you to come to the garden, to the center of the hedge maze. Bring Wilbur, Ranboo's hurt. I'll explain more when you get here."

The glow fades from Techno's eyes and his attention focuses back on you. Wordlessly, you hand him a chunk of fabric, and he copies your motions. After a few more sharp tears, you begin to wrap the bandage around Ranboo's head, applying pressure to the gash.

You can't tell how long passes before you hear the thudding of footsteps and the whoosh of wings. Phil swoops gracefully down from the sky, landing almost silently and dropping to his knees beside Techno in one smooth motion. Wilbur skids around the corner, out of breath and with a small bag in hand.

Wilbur presses his hand over Ranboo's wound, brushing dust from it, and Ranboo makes a small noise of pain.

Your breath catches. You did this, and to someone that you'd just begun to consider a friend. It was all you could have done, right? You didn't have any other options.

You didn't.... right?

"Y/n. Y/n, hand me the roll of bandages from that bag," instructs Wilbur. You blink hard, pulling yourself out of your thoughts, and hurry to comply. "Gauze as well, please."

You open the bag, dig through, and pass Wilbur the supplies. He sets to work immediately, pressing the gauze to Ranboo's head and applying pressure. Next comes the bandages, and you hold the gauze while Wilbur wraps the wound tightly, tying the bandage securely around Ranboo's head. Satisfied that the bleeding is contained for the moment, he glances over to where Techno and Phil are having a hushed conversation.

"Phil, Techno," he calls, and two sets of eyes snap to him immediately. "Let's get him to his room, and then I can do a healing spell on him. I can only do so much, so we'll have to get a cleric in, but I can stabilize him and stop the bleeding. Phil, can you carry him in?"

Wilbur's voice fades into background noise as you watch Ranboo's chest rise and fall. He's just a kid, and even if he is a demon, he can still die. He can still feel pain, and you'd caused him pain. You'd panicked, seeing Techno backed into a corner, and the fear in his eyes had galvanized you into hurting a friend.

"Hey," says a soft voice, and a hand on your shoulder startles you out of your thoughts. You turn to see Techno kneeling beside you, his gaze on Ranboo. "Don't blame yourself. It was a difficult situation, not to mention the pressure of... whatever was happening to Ranboo."

"I know, but still... is there something better that I could have done?"

Techno looks exhausted as he glances away from Ranboo to lock eyes with you. "I... quite honestly, I don't know. I don't think so." He runs a hand through his hair, combing tangles out of the strands. "What matters is that he's okay and you're okay, and we can figure everything else out."

You sigh as you watch Philza scoop up Ranboo like a sleeping child, and you let Techno help you up.

"I guess that can be alright."

"Good."