Mɪᴄʜᴀᴇʟ

MORE MICHAEL

Michael didn't want to go back.

Snowchester was a constant reminder of his stolen childhood. Every time he saw it on a map he wanted to cry, throw something, sometimes even rip his flesh off just from the memory.

The memory of sitting everyday in continued boredom until he thought death might be more interesting. The memory of parents who loved him like a pet instead of a son. The memory of parents who probably didn't even notice he was gone until he was already stumbling around alone in a forest 4000 blocks from them.

Snowchester made him so unnecessarily mad it hurt.

But now he also had the chance to be freer than he ever has been. He had the chance to travel. To see all those wonderful places he'd always wanted to visit. To be part of the stories Techno and Phil told at dinner.

Fuck, sometimes decisions were so hard to make. He wished some big celestial being would descend from the ceiling so he didn't have to choose. Nothing happened.

Michael weighed the pros and cons of staying. Con: he would miss out on yet another one of Phil and Technos trips. Pro: He wouldn't have to risk running into his parents.

Cause that's all it was right? Just a risk. It wasn't necessarily guaranteed Michael'd run into them, just a possibility.

And if he did, what were the chances they'd recognise him? It had been over 5 years since he'd seen them last, and he'd be wearing his eyepatch most of the time anyway.

It would be an adventure. He'd get to learn all the skills that the main characters had in his book. He'd get to sleep under the stars. He'd get to meet merchants and buy foreign wears.

Michael would go.

And nothing would stop him from having the time of his life

...

"Are you completely, 100%, sure you wanna do this." Techno asked before they headed out, pulling on his pack strings. "I don't want to get out there and then have you complaining about wanting to come back because you're homesick, or nothin'"

"I'm sure!" Michael replied. "Besides, how could I get homesick when I have you and Phil with me. Home is where the heart is, and all that."

Techno pulled a face. "God, you're so sappy today."

Michael giggled and just shook his head, bouncing on his feet. Nerves and adrenaline were brewing a dangerous potion in the back of his mind, and he felt like if he didn't start moving now, he'd explode.

He had one of Techno's old cloaks slung around his shoulders, faded red and lined with arctic fox fur that had yellowed with age. His eyepatch was tightly secured over his empty eyesocket and

"Leave him alone Techno, I think it's sweet." Phil said.

"It's gag-worthy, that's what it is." Techno replied.

"Can we go yet?" Michael asked.

Techno rolled his eyes. "Try and have some patience. We're not going to die if we don't leave right now."

Micheal nodded fervently, trying to tone down the excited bobbing. He still could barely believe he'd been allowed to travel with them. It felt like he was living a dream. He'd be able to visit all the places in his books and interact with all the local customs in other areas.

Finally, after Phil had once again checked Michael's pack and cloak weren't about to fall off his back and he hadn't forgotten anything, they were off. The town watched as they passed through the main street, waving them out. The villagers were used to seeing Phil and Techno pass through on their mysterious adventures, not at all complaining when they brought back packs full of emerald and diamond to trade in their markets.

Seeing Michael travelling with his adoptive family, they got even more excited, some coming up to him to wish him well on his first journey and give him pointers on how to trade with other villages. He smiled and thanked them all, no matter how useless he thought their advice was.

Eventually they reached the edge of the town, where Emily was waiting. She was holding a small bag in her hand.

"Hi Emily!" Michael waved. "Come to give me a special goodbye?"

Emily laughed. "You wish. I'm only here to give some brave travellers some leftover tomatoes before they leave. Have you happened to see anyone of such?"

Michael huffed. "I think there might be a few standing right in front of you."

"Really? Where?"

Technoblade stepped in, rolling his eyes. "You two can flirt some other time. We gotta get going Michael."

"Bye Emily. I'll bring you back some premium Esempi tomatoes or something." Michael said, waving.

Emily laughed and pranced forward, pushing her bag of tomatoes into Michael's hand. She kissed him on the cheek. "You'd better! Bye Michael!" She called, already running away. Michael could only stare after her and be grateful that the colour of his skin hid his blush.

Technoblade whistled. Phil laughed and slapped Michael on the back. "Good one mate. Now, let's get going."

Michael nodded, letting Phil guide him away from the village and towards a new adventure.

~~~

GUYS I AM SO SORRY I LEGITIMATELY THOUGHT I'D ALREADY UPLOADED THIS IT'S BEEN SITTING IN MY DRAFTS FOR AGES AND I ONLY JUST SAW IT!

THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT <3