Oh Brother Of Mine

14

"woah," Tommy gasped, "so the Dream Team showed up and actually destroyed the border!?"

Techno nodded as they walked back towards the cabins, "yep."

"Well what about Ranboo!? Is he okay!?" Tommy asked.

"His flare ups have gotten better over the last year,  sure he's fine." Techno sighed.

Tommy scoffed, jogging up to Ranboo's door. He pushed it open only to find it empty.

"Ranboo?" Tommy called, "Ranboo!?"

Wilbur trotted into the cabin, meowing softly. He sniffed around a little, meowing again as he looked up at Tommy.

"Uh, this wasn't supposed to happen..." Techno mumbled.

"What!?" Tommy turned to his brother, "what wasn't supposed to happen!?"

"Well, you see, that friend of yours from L'manburg? He was with the Dream Team." Techno started.

"What?" Tommy's eyes went wide.

Techno rubbed the back of his neck, "yeah, uh, I let him run back to the cabins so he'd be here when you got back, and I'd be like, this big surprise..."

"Techno." Tommy took a deep breath, "TUBBO HAS BEEN TRAVELLING WITH WITCH HUNTERS FOR TWO YEARS. AND YOU LET HIM INTO A WITCHES CABIN."

"In my defense, he was only looking for you." Techno told him.

"Oh my gods..." Tommy huffed, pacing in a circle, "he probably thinks Ranboo kidnapped me or something."

"Actually he thinks you're dead." Techno shrugged.

Tommy froze, staring at Techno.

"The Dream Team was right there!" Techno said, "I didn't want them to know you're alive! They'd hunt you to the end of the earth!"

Tommy shook his head, "I could have dealt with them."

"Tommy, we're talking about the Dream Team." Techno took a step forward, gently grabbing Tommy's arm, "I've almost lost you to witch hunters once. I'm not having any more hunt you down."

Tommy nodded, not looking at his brother, "let's just find Ranboo and Tubbo, they can't have gone far."

"Alright." Techno said quietly, "I'll have Phil search the forests."

Tommy picked up Wilbur, "alright. Wil and I will start searching west."

"West? That's towards the Greater Essempe." Techno crossed his arms.

"Yeah." Tommy said, "If Tubbo is taking Ranboo anywhere, it'll be somewhere where witches have a price on their heads."

"Which is exactly why you shouldn't go." Techno insisted.

"Why!?" Tommy asked, "no one knows I'm a witch!"

"But they know I'm a witch!" Techno shouted, "I won't be able to go with you! I won't be able to protect you!"

"You don't have to protect me at all!" Tommy told him, "I'm capable of taking care of myself!"

"Tommy, I don't want to lose my little brother." Techno said.

"You won't." Tommy sighed, "I'll be careful, I promise. I'll find Ranboo and Tubbo and get them back safely."

Techno pulled Tommy into a tight hug, "I'll have Phil keep an eye on you."

"Okay." Tommy nodded, hugging Techno back, "I'll be back soon."

"Don't die." Techno told him, letting his brother go.

"I won't." Tommy nodded.

Wilbur meowed from Tommy's shoulder. Techno gave the cat a pat.

"Keep him safe Wilbur." Techno told the familiar.

Wilbur meowed, purring softly as he puffed out his chest.

"Where are you going first?" Techno asked, walking into his cabin.

"Probably Las Nevadas." Tommy said, following Techno.

Techno scoffed, "Quackity's city?"

"It's a hotspot, and it has a pool!" Tommy told him.

Wilbur pinned his ears back, flicking his tail in Tommy's face. Techno took the bag off Tommy's shoulder and turned to his desk without a word.

"Anyway," Techno sighed, filling the bag with supplies, "Quackity is a witch, and while he and I don't get along, he doesn't have anything against you. Just be careful around witch hunters. Don't use your magic out in public-"

"Yeah yeah, I know." Tommy grabbed the bag from Techno's hands, "I'll be back, I promise."

Techno let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, "I know."

Tommy smiled, making his way out of the cabin, "I'll see you soon Techno!"

The blonde turned towards the expanse of snow and ice. It was a long journey to Las Nevadas. Maybe he wouldn't even have to get that far. Tommy smiled. Soon he'd have both his friends back.