on temporizing || Dream SMP Timeloop Fic

Chapter 22

106. (credit to shift_0)

Technoblade checked the Vault blueprints for the third time, then dug his pick into the wall. The stone gave way under the netherite, falling apart in neat chunks. He brushed past them without picking them up - his inventory was full enough as it was, and he had no use for them.

He raised his pick for the next swing, only to pause. The voices in his head had quieted to an uneasy murmur.

"Chat?" he asked aloud.

What's that sound? Listen. Listen! Oooo mystery sound? I like mysteries! Listen. This gives me the creeps, hurry up. How much you wanna bet that's Sam coming to fight us? HA WE'LL KICK HIS GREEN BOY ASS. Isn't Dream the green boy? Shhh focus. Listen.

Technoblade strained his ears. Indeed, the noise of grinding rock could be heard, faint but growing steadily louder. Someone else was mining, and they were headed straight for him.

Technoblade drew his sword, thoughts racing. Was it a coincidence? Or had someone found out about their plan?

The wall broke open. Technoblade froze, sword forgotten, as Tommy stumbled into the tunnel. He did a double take when his pick met air, then glanced around. His gaze swept across the walls and landed on Technoblade.

Technoblade stared at Tommy. Tommy stared at Technoblade.

Slowly, the teenager raised his free hand in greeting. ". . . Ayup."

And then he ambled across the tunnel, drilled a few feet into the rock, then stepped in and turned back around. He maintained eye contact as he set down blocks, cutting himself off from the rest of the tunnel and disappearing from view. Technoblade was left staring at the wall.

". . . What just happened?"

107. toddler tales, pt. 7

Sam had been staring at them for the last five minutes.

Tommy aggressively chomped on a spoonful of cereal and glared right back. Dream, sitting next to him, continued to inhale his pancakes. Sam blinked, realized he'd been staring, and hastily looked down at his plate.

He had barely touched his breakfast. Puffy kept nudging him, trying to start up a conversation, but her attempts always fell flat. The two children were too busy eating to respond, and Sam just gave stilted, monosyllabic answers.

Tommy dug his spoon into his cereal and took another bite. An odd tingling feeling spread through his legs. He shifted in his seat, swinging his feet in an attempt to wake them up, only to accidentally kick Dream in the ankle. The other child choked on his pancakes, prompting a look of alarm from the two adults. Dream managed to pacify them between coughs, then washed the pancakes down with his apple juice. When he'd reasonably recovered, he kicked Tommy in the leg. Tommy tried to retaliate, but Dream shifted so he was out of reach. Scowling, Tommy took another bite of his cereal.

His body burned.

He yelped, falling out of his chair. Sam and Puffy shot to their feet, alarm clear on their faces. Tommy tried to tell them he was fine, but it came out as a strangled scream.

It hurt. He could hear something snapping, accompanied with starbursts of pain that made his vision white out for a moment. He threw his head back, cracking it against the floor in a desperate attempt to knock himself out.

All at once, the pain disappeared, leaving Tommy shuddering on the floor. He groaned, wincing as his raw throat protested. Everything ached.

"Tommy?" Oh hey, it was Dream. "A-are you okay?"