APRICITY // technoblade x reader DISCONTINUED

28 - Naptime and News

You yawn and stretch your arms above your head, blinking in the golden sunlight of the early morning. The gala is tonight, and you can already feel the apprehension and excitement combining to thrum in your veins. Your dress hangs on the door of your wardrobe. The fabric spills down from the hanger like liquid frozen in time, and the skirt shimmers in the sunlight streaming in through your window.

Twelve hours.

You slip out of bed, dressing in comfortable, everyday clothes before you meander down to the breakfast table. Niki waves at you from one side of the table, where she's leaned up against Wilbur. He seems half-asleep, but Niki is bright-eyed and awake as she greets you. "Y/n, good morning!"

You lean over to press a kiss to Niki's cheek. You may not be her biological sister, but you'll still treat her like one. "Good morning, Niki." She returns your cheek kiss, then jabs you in the side. "Auck, Niki! What was that for?"

She shrugs, and Wilbur laughs. "I don't know. I just felt that way."

Yeah, she's your sister.

You roll your eyes, leaning over to pluck a small quiche and an orange off of the platter in front of her, placing them on a smaller plate. "Rude. Do you know if anyone else is awake?"

Wilbur shakes his head. "Nah, nobody else is up yet that I know of. Techno probably will be soon, though."

"Makes sense. I'm gonna get coffee and go eat out in the garden."

"Sounds good. We'll send Techno your way if he passes through here," Wil calls as you duck into the kitchen.

"Thanks, Wil!" you call back, You dig through the cabinets until you find an array of mugs. You select a red one, the bold pomegranate shade a sharp contrast to your muted cyan robes and greyish-cobalt pants. Soon enough, your mug is filled to the brim with steaming coffee, and you push the door to the garden open with your elbow.

The garden is picturesque around you as you stroll down the path, wandering until you find a tucked-away table to settle down at. The hedges and rose bushes around you are still spotted with morning dew that refracts prisms of rainbow light onto the cobblestone beneath your feet. You swing your legs and tip your head back, closing your eyes to feel the sun on your face. You don't know how long you sit there, but eventually you feel a gentle hand on your shoulder and a shadow across your face.

You blink your eyes open to see Techno leaning over you, a soft smile on his face.

"Mornin'," he says, like he's not leaning over you.

"Hmmm, good morning," You reply, placing your hand on top of his. "Come to join me for breakfast?"

"Yeah." He steps away, settling down in the chair across from you, and you can see a hot mug of coffee in his hand. He sips from it carefully, then sets it down, folding his hands together. "I have news, actually."

You frown at the serious expression on his face. "What is it?"

"Another two attacks have happened in the last week."

You swear, sitting up from your relaxed position. "Really?"

"Yeah. The news takes time to reach here, apparently, so anything we do will be reactionary." The frustration is evident in his voice. "This time, it was at the Antarctic Library and the Manifold Library. The Manifold Library is a smaller, private one, too, so it's surprising that it was attacked. The grimoires affected were Aspiciebat and Eye of the Tempest, about premonitions and weather control respectively. I can't figure out the connection."

You stare down into your swirling coffee. "If the attacks keep going in a circle... Kinoko Library is next."

Techno runs a hand through his hair, free from its braid today. He looks stressed; you can see him worrying at his bottom lip with his teeth. "I know."

The quiet of the garden no longer seems like peaceful solitude. The empty air presses down around you, suffocating you with worry until you can't handle it anymore. You push back you chair and stand, startling Techno out of his daze. "Come on, we're going inside. This gala might be to meet possible suspects, but I'm going to enjoy it, gods damn it."

A small smile tugs at the corner of Techno's lips. "Alright." He stands, following your lead, and lets you drag him inside. You both down your last bit of coffee before you abandon your cups in the sink, Wilbur and Niki are both gone be now, likely off to get ready for the day.

You place your hands on your hips. "Alright. You're going to relax with me in the library, then we're going to get ready for the gala. Sound good?"

"Absolutely."

"Perfect." You lace your fingers together and tug him towards the library. "Let's go."

He lets you drag him, a smile on his face as you two walk towards the library. The mid-morning sunlight spilling in through the panoramic windows glows golden on the motes of dust floating through the air. You drop his hand as you beeline to a secluded corner, where there's a tucked-away window seat filled with cushions and blankets and a small lamp.

You turn around, ready to say something to Techno, only to find that he's not there. A moment later, though, his familiar form steps around the bookshelf and he walks over to you. "I, ah, wanted to find something," he says, holding out a small, well-worn book. The leather of its cover has been smoothed by age and the countless handlings. "It's one of the stories that Philza used to read to me and Wilbur when we were kids— my favorite, actually."

You sink into the cushions of the window seat, kicking off your boots and curling your legs up beneath you. "Read it to me?"

Techno smiles and copies you, pushing off his boots and unclipping his signature cloak. You pat the seat beside you and he takes your invitation, squishing in until you two are pressed side to side. He hesitates for a split second, biting his lip, then tosses his cloak over both of you like a blanket. You pull it up under your chin and snuggle into his side, and he adjusts his arms so that he's holding the book.

Techno casually wiggles one arm behind you and around your shoulders, adjusting you so that you're tucked into his side, head propped against his chest. It's comfortably warm, and you can feel him speak as he starts reading.

Slowly, the warmth and the gentle rumble of his voice lull you to sleep, and you curl into his side as you fade from consciousness.

You blink awake, disoriented for a moment, but it only takes a moment of becoming aware of your limbs for you to understand. Techno's arm is curled around you protectively and you arm is thrown over him, your head resting on his chest. He's breathing deeply, clearly asleep, and you've practically octopused yourself to his side in your sleep.

Slowly, you extricate yourself and sit up a bit, cheeks burning. It's a little bit forward to latch onto his side like that, and you're glad he's still–

His eyes flutter open. "You're awake now," he observes.

"I, sorry for falling asleep on you," you mumble sheepishly. "I, uh, I didn't–"

"Y/n. You're fine," Techno says, pulling you back down to his side. "It's endearing, really." His words only really make you blush harder. He runs a hand through your hair. "Now that you're awake, though... shall we start getting ready for the gala?"

"Absolutely," you say, sitting up once more. "Absolutely."