I'm a Healer, But...

16

Tommy is spiraling, and Techno isn't doing anything about it.He's not sure what he can do, really. Tommy has been following him around for days now, ever since Techno pulled Phil away from him and gave him some space. He and Fundy had some quiet time in the kitchen- far away enough to not listen in if Tommy was crying, close enough that he knew they were there- and eventually he had joined them.Still wearing the Wither crown.It suits him, oddly enough, the dark flowers standing out against his golden hair. However, looking good aesthetically doesn't make the crown any less dangerous, and Tommy follows him closely enough that he's bumped into Techno twice. Even if Tommy immediately rips off his gloves and heals him, it doesn't make the few seconds of Withering any less painful."Do you really need that thing?" he asks on the dawn of the third day, Tommy healing him after he got underfoot while Techno made breakfast. "Phil hasn't touched you in days. Wilbur isn't speakin'. They're givin' you the space you need, so all that's doin' is hurtin' me. ""Sorry," Tommy grumbles, but he doesn't take the crown off.He also doesn't eat breakfast. He hasn't eaten in days.He's been dropping sunflowers and poppies into the trash by the fistful. At first, Techno thought Tommy was getting hurt to create the poppies, before he realized that Tommy hasn't slept in days, either, the bags under his eyes getting darker before disappearing even though he hasn't left Techno's side.It makes him wonder. If Tommy just healed himself constantly, would he be functionally immortal, the same as them? Not aging, able to go who knows how long without food or sleep... It's interesting.But it's not healthy, and it's freaking out Phil. The house's vibe is off.Wilbur hasn't spoken a word since Tommy's freakout. Phil is just pacing around, dragging Wilbur or Fundy back to the nest whenever he finds them alone. Fundy is flipping between grieving his ex and trying to comfort Wilbur. And Techno has to babysit the cause of all their problems.But it ends now. "I'm goin' out today," he tells Tommy while he eats breakfast, Tommy not touching his own portion.Tommy's eyes shoot up to look at him. "What? Where?""Ace is back from vacation, and he needs somethin' from me. I can't exactly bring you along-""I'm coming," Tommy says, almost a snarl. "I'm not staying here."Techno sighs. He was hoping telling him early would give Tommy time to prepare himself, but now he's wishing he put it off to the last minute. "Theseus. We agreed durin' that talk about your employment that you wouldn't be goin' out-""Yeah, well, shit's changed."It sure has. "No one's gonna bother you just because I'm not here. I haven't had to stop anyone from-"" Because you've been here! You being around made them leave me alone!" Tommy reaches out, about to grab Techno by the sleeve, before stopping himself. He finally remembered the flower crown before touching him. "If you're gone then there's nothing stopping them from fucking- doing whatever-"He sighs again. "They won't do anything.""Yeah, because I'm going with you, Blade ."He feels oddly discomforted in how Tommy says his name. At first it was good that Tommy didn't use his real one, sticking to his supervillain alias, but now it's just... strange. Phil has always been 'Phil', Tommy's been switching between calling Wilbur by name or 'the Siren' since his freak out, but Techno is still just the Blade. Even now that he seems to be Tommy's favorite."No, you're not coming with me." Techno says it with finality, not going to argue any further. Tommy growls, but lets it drop for now.And then he disappears. He leaves Techno alone for over an hour, the longest they've been separated in days. It's even more uncomfortable after he's grown so used to him- Techno keeps craning his neck to make sure he's not about to bump into Tommy and get Withered, but he's just no longer there.Then Tommy is back, with no explanation and in too bad of a mood for Techno to ask for one. It only gets worse when Techno gets ready to actually go out, but he isn't caving. He doesn't need a healer to help Ace, and he definitely doesn't need a distraction."It shouldn't be more than a few hours. If you get uncomfortable, just..." Techno frowns as he puts on his mask. "You can hide in my room. Don't touch any of the weapons. Or books. Try not to touch anythin', actually.""Whatever. Fuck off."That's the best send off he's going to get, probably, and Tommy retreats further into the house as Techno leaves, driving himself to Las Nevadas.He hates it here. Not only does it overwhelm all his senses- the lights, the food, the music and machines blaring- but there's so much gold. Horribly misused gold. If it weren't for Wilbur wanting to stay on friendly terms, he'd burn the whole city down and take the gold with him.But Wilbur likes Ace, for whatever reason, so he lets it go. For now. In a few decades, when Ace has passed, he's taking this place for all it's worth.Techno makes his way to Ace's office. He gets no trouble, of course- people know better than to stop the Blade when he's on a mission. He lets himself in-And pauses in the doorway. Quackity looks exhausted. Not just like he's been working hard, but like he's been drained of all energy, and at any moment he'll collapse. Techno may hate his nation, but he doesn't hate him. "...I'm guessin' the vacation didn't do you much good.""It didn't," Quackity tries to laugh, but it trails off almost immediately. "Look, I... I can't help on this one.""Yeah, no, I guessed. You look like you're going to pass out.""No, it's not-" He rubs his face tiredly. "I promised someone I wouldn't get involved with this guy. But we need information... and honestly, I'm guessing you do, too."Techno narrows his eyes at him. "What is that supposed to mean?""It's... the person I need help with? It's 404.""...you're tellin' me you've got 404 locked up in one of your rooms." This isn't just an interrogation. This is a gift to Techno. Someone who would know about Tommy, about what Dream could have done to him- someone who can fill those annoying gaps in Techno's knowledge- is perfect. He lets himself grin, and Quackity laughs nervously."Yeah, yeah, I thought you'd like that. But I, uh- I can't interrogate him myself. Really, I shouldn't be doing it at all, but- I need to know how the fuck Dream got his hands on Schlatt's stuff."That makes Techno lose his grin. "Schlatt's stuff."Schlatt is a top tier villain. Or he was, before he was arrested. He got caught because he had a heart attack, of all things, and was barely resuscitated before getting tossed in the Vault. Quackity used that as an opportunity to file for divorce- there was enough evidence of abuse that he was declared not guilty of being complicit in Schlatt's crimes- and while Schlatt's empire crumbled, Quackity built his own. A new city, unbound by the Essempi's laws, where hedonism reigned.But Quackity has been hunting down Schlatt's missing things- a lot of items of power that disappeared during Schlatt's arrest. Techno didn't know what went missing, but he knows Quackity has been tearing apart L'manberg in search of them.Quackity eyes him carefully. "...Tommy didn't tell you, huh?""Didn't tell me what."He puts his hands up non-threateningly. "Relax, relax. When he showed up, he paid me to give him your address. It wasn't just that he was a healer- though I would have set up a meeting for you guys, don't worry- it was because he handed me one of Schlatt's things. He said Dream had his fucking-" Quackity cuts himself off, and takes a deep breath. "Dream had it. Tommy took it, and traded it for your address. Plus a couple hot meals and a place to stay until he could make his way to you."Techno walks towards Quackity's table in long strides, gently resting his hand on the desk- if he wasn't being careful, he thinks he would break it right now. "How much do you know about Dream and Tommy?" It's more of a demand than a question.Quackity grimaces. "I know the kid was a mess when he showed up. Hadn't eaten in who knows how long, puked up everything we gave him at first because his stomach couldn't handle it. He made a... I'm guessing not a joke about how Dream broke his arm for touching it before he stole it. But..." Techno's glare convinces him to keep talking. "I also know Dream's personal healer disappeared about a month before Tommy showed up in Las Nevadas. I don't know much beyond that."Techno didn't even know he had a personal healer. That's... weird, isn't it? Healers are so rare, he can't imagine they have enough healers for every hero to have one of their own. Hell, having Tommy just for their family strikes him as greedy- though Techno doesn't care. He's a greedy person.In the old days, a good healer would sustain a whole village. Tommy's far beyond a 'good' healer. The thought of Dream keeping him all to himself makes Techno add another tick to the 'times Dream will die if we ever resurrect him' tally."Alright. You need to know about Schlatt's stuff.""That's right," Quackity says. "Just, uh... do me one favor?"This already is a favor- but Techno is getting so much out of it, he won't begrudge him this. "Shoot.""Don't kill him. The person I promised- they're, uh, a big 404 fan.""Cringe."That gets a small laugh out of Quackity. "Yeah. But yeah, no, don't kill him. Whatever else is fine, he'll get patched up."Techno nods his head, and lets Charlie- Tommy is right, definitely a slime, but Techno doesn't bring it up or he'll get a lecture about Charlie's many, many bones- lead him to where they've kept 404.He steps inside the interrogation room. 404 looks bored, as usual, despite how he's been tied up with a power suppressing collar on his throat. "Ugh," he groans when he realizes who's come in. "Not you. "Techno is sort of offended. 404 doesn't even sound scared that it's the Blade coming to torture him for information- instead he just sounds bothered, like Techno is his least favorite barista at a coffee shop or something. "Sorry to disappoint. Gogy."404 raises his eyebrows, the only visible sign of his alarm with those dumb goggles covering his eyes. "How did you...?""We can talk about that later. For now," he pulls a knife from his boot. "Let's discuss Clay Taken."404 scoffs. "What's there to tell? Your group killed him already. Remember?" Techno can just barely make out the anger simmering under his nonchalant attitude. He wishes Ace could get over whatever Wilbur did so he could have brought him along. He'll just have to stick to old fashioned torture."Him bein' dead doesn't change what we need to know. We want to know where JSchlatt's things are. And I-" Techno steps closer, his grip tightening on the knife. "-want to know about what he did to Theseus. ""...who?"Techno blinks behind his mask. "Uh. Tommy?" That doesn't get any recognition either. "...Theo?"404 pauses, and then snorts. "Oh, that is- oh gods. You have Theo? I am so sorry.""...heh?""Oh, I guess you having a healer is a good thing for you and all, but- Theo. You cannot tell me he isn't driving you insane. He's a nuisance. I mean, I don't know why Dream went so crazy trying to get him back after he ran away."Techno hums neutrally, stifling the urge to cut 404's tongue out of his mouth. That would not be helpful for interrogation, he reminds himself. It would be pretty incompatible with the entire concept of interrogation, actually. He'll have to save it for after, then. "Then you don't mind talkin' about him.""Why do you want to know?" 404 shoots back. "I'm sure you have your own way of keeping healers in line. Dream's was... kind of bad, I guess, and it only kind of worked, since he still doesn't shut up unless I put him to sleep, but-"He tilts his head, interested in that line of discussion. "You used your powers on him."404 sighs tiredly, leaning back in his chair despite how it must twist the arms tied behind him. "Dream left me to babysit him during his patrols. Pandas did it for years, but then he got all weird about it and Dream made me take over. It was the only way to get through it without going crazy. Besides, he heals just as well when he's half asleep, so I don't know why he was ever awake."Years. Years? "How long did you have Theseus-?"Suddenly, there's a loud bang on the door. There's some unfortunately familiar swearing before it opens, Tommy limping in slightly as his eyes glow and a cornflower grows in his palm. "Did I hear my name, bitches?" His eyes fall on 404, and his eyes go wide.404 just groans louder. "Okay, fine, I'll tell you whatever you want, get him out of here."Tommy frowns, poorly hiding hurt. "Wow, okay, dickhead. Fuck you.""...Theseus. What are you doin' here- no, actually, how did you get here?" He has the car. Phil can fly fast, but not while carrying someone, and there's no way Tommy would let himself be carried- and that's ignoring that he's still wearing that goddamn crown."I had Charlie drive me.""...Charlie... is here," Techno says slowly.Tommy looks at him like he's stupid. "He's slime, big man. He can be in multiple places at once.""And how did you... get him to drive you."That gets Tommy to grin sharply. "I told you I wasn't staying back. I stole the Siren's phone to call Ace earlier. Charlie got me a few minutes after you left."Techno sighs. Tommy absolutely played him, acting up how upset he was so Techno wouldn't look too closely. And Quackity should have told him that instead of letting it be the world's worst surprise. "You're not stayin' in here.""Watch me," Tommy says, dragging a chair out from the interrogation table, dropping into it when he's a little further away from 404.Techno ignores that, grabbing the back of Tommy's shirt and pulling him back up to his feet, ignoring his yelp. "I said, you're not stayin' in here." Tommy is a healer. He winced and looked away watching the quick decapitation of his 'former jailer', he's not going to be able to handle witnessing a full interrogation."Yes I am! Ace said I can!""No, he didn't." Does Tommy even know what's happening here?Tommy tries to pull himself free of Techno's grasp. "Yeah, he did! He said I can heal 404 when you interrogate him, that you can be more fucked up about it or whatever!"...Ace said 'he'll get patched up'. Techno assumed normal patching up, did he mean-? He and Ace are going to have words after this. And maybe knives as well. "You are not doin' that. You're gonna go wait in another room.""No I'm not!" He swipes at Techno, who drops him, careful to avoid skin to skin contact. He is not about to get Withered in front of his own future victim. "I'm going to help, dickhead!""Theseus, you're a healer. You're not helpin' me torture someone."Tommy growls at him, like a wild animal. "Are you fucking kidding me? I'm the Syndicate's healer, I can do whatever the fuck I want!" 404 lets out a surprised sound, and Tommy whirls around to face him. "And he- George fucking helped Dream! George just fucking knocked me out whenever he wasn't around- I've slept half my fucking life away because he didn't want to put up with me!"Techno steps closer. "Calm down, he's gonna pay for that, but you don't have to be-"Tommy just moves around the table, putting it between them even though it puts him closer to 404. "And he was a fucking dick about it, laughing whenever- whenever Dream treated me like shit- he- he watched Dream break my arm once and just looked the other way like it didn't- didn't matter-""Theo," 404 says, finally showing some actual nerves for the first time. "That was- you went through Dream's book, you knew you weren't allowed to-"Tommy ignores him, raising his voice to talk over him. "You don't get to tell me that I'm going to sit out of this. You don't get to say I can't help because I'm a healer." He raises his hands, grabbing his Wither crown and pulling it off himself "Yeah, I'm a healer," Tommy snarls. "But that means people have to get hurt ."He slams the crown onto 404's head.