A tale of Humans and Hybrids

Chapter 11

He had no idea for how long they laid in Phil's nest, just holding the bird and assuring him that Wilbur didn't mean what he said, that it slipped out and that he'll apologize later. And if he doesn't he will break his jaw, no matter if it would make them think he's actually out to kill them all. The poor hybrid was still shaking, but the crying had stopped now.

The fact that none of the other hybrids came to check on Phil made him question their loyalty and friendship to each other. Just because Phil protected him, a human. Not to mention that some of the hybrids had started to accept him! Niki and Charlie both had said (through Phil) that they tolerate him and that he does seem like a nice person. Granted, Niki can't exactly come up to check on Phil, but she could have defended him! All of them could have!

Techno is not asking them to defend him or accept him, but to not blame Phil for their anger towards him. It makes him furious. They take their friend for granted and now dare to insult him like that, thinking there was nothing wrong with it!

Movement from the shaking creature in his arms pulled him back to focus. Phil lifted his head and rubbed his eyes, which were red and probably sore from the crying. "Better?" A small nod was the only answer as his friend collapsed back into the pillows of his nest. "Do you want some water? Or a tea? I can make you some." "Tea... please..."

The human nodded and wrapped a blanket around Phil before walking to the downstairs kitchen area. It took him a second to find the tea leaves, but he got it eventually and set up some water to boil. While he was doing that, a small knock on the door caught his attention.

He made sure the water won't burn anything before walking over to the door to push it aside. It revealed the younger winged hybrid, Tommy, who nervously shifted from one foot to the other. He flinched when the human stared down at him, chirping softly.

"You have to speak in a way I understand you, kid." Tommy stared up at him with big eyes before he cleared his throat and talked in Enderspeak. "I... wanted to see if Phil is okay... you guys didn't come back out of the house." "Of course we didn't. Why would he want to come back out after that argument? And none of you even tried to help him."

Small white wings wrapped around the teen's shoulders as he looked down. "I'm sorry... I was too scared of Wil..." Techno sighed and stepped aside. "Don't make me regret letting you in." Tommy nodded and walked into the house, feather-ears perking up as he heard the kettle whistle. "I'm making tea for Phil. Do you want some too?" "Sure... thank you." The smaller hybrid still looked nervous, as if he was scared that Techno will attack him any second.

The human prepared three mugs with tea before he walked back up to the sleeping area, motioning for Tommy to follow. Said hybrid did and climbed up the stairs after him, ears pining down when seeing the older bird curled up in his nest. Good, at least he knows he did something wrong.

"Phil... someone's here for you. And I got your tea." Tired blue eyes opened to look at Techno before he lifted his arm to point at a small table next to the bed. The human nodded and placed all three mugs there. Tommy slowly walked closer to the nest, wings pinned to his sides. "Phil?"

He lifted his head and looked over at Tommy, chirping softly before laying it back down. Prime, he looks exhausted. Techno didn't know what he said to Tommy, or if he said anything at all, but it made the younger hybrid move and slowly climb into the nest. Phil lifted his wing that he was using as a blanket and allowed the teen to crawl underneath it, hugging the older one tightly. The black wing settled down on top of them again as they start to quietly chirp at each other.

The whole scene made Techno smile as he quietly settled down in his small nest bed, letting the two have their moment. It made him wonder if his suspicions about Tommy being his son was true. He never asked Phil, forgetting about it most of the time, but now he was actually curious. The teen looks so much like the older hybrid, even with the smaller and different colored wings.

The two birds talked for a while before Phil forced himself to sit up. Tommy immediately tried to support him when he noticed how the older was swaying a bit. Techno took this as his signal to hand the tea mugs to the two while also taking his own. Phil mumbled a 'thank you' before taking a sip, humming a bit. "You need more practice in making tea..." "I tried my best okay? Give me some credit." "Thank you. I appreciate it. Even with how bad it tastes." "I'm never making you tea again."

Phil just laughed and shook his head, while Tommy yelped when the tea burned his tongue. "You're such a child..." "I'm not a child! I'm a man! A huge big man!" "Sure you are... tell me that again when your wings are as big as Phil's." "I'm trying okay?! I'm training!" "Leave him be Techno. It's not his fault."

Despite the teen still grumbling and arguing, it was a peaceful atmosphere. Techno was glad that his friend was in a better mood already, but still not okay with how Tommy was the only one who came and checked on him.

"Oh yeah. Before I forget again. Is Tommy like your actual kid? He looks a lot like you." Phil smiled and ruffled through the blonde hair of the younger, who immediately started protesting and shoving his hand away. "Not biologically... he's an Avian, while I'm an Elytrian. But I did raise him ever since he was a little hatchling. Is biological parents... didn't make it." "Oh..."

He gave a worried look to the teen, but he didn't seem like he was affected by it. "Don't worry. I don't even remember them, so bringing them up doesn't really do anything." "If you say so."

"Anyways, Tommy was a couple months old when I found him on a small trip outside of the sanctuary. They tried to use him to lure other avians or hybrids into traps by placing him in a basket into bushes or at the edges of clearings-" "But of course Phil was way smarter than those stupid hunters! He ripped those bastards apart before they could even get close to me! He took me home and now I live here and he teaches me how to fly!"

Tommy grinned and puffed his feathers proudly. The human grinned and looked back at Phil, who had a bit of pink on his face. "I'm not that great..." "Yes you are! You saved me, Wil, Ranboo, Tubbo- you're the one who brought us in here when we were all kids or teenagers! You're the reason most of us survived our childhood to this point!" The pink on his cheeks deepened as he wrapped his wings around his shoulders, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Awww are you embarrassed because your kid thinks you're a hero?" "You shut your mouth before I sew it shut."

Yes, looks like his friend is back to normal.