Lessons

Stab me in the heart, not the back (it's how I like my pain)

TW: PTSD
Please let me know if I missed any

Techno was at a loss for words. Everyone was so nice, like they wanted something out of him. Even some of the nicest foster homes had people who weren't nice. But these people were unacceptably nice. Like, Puffy nice, like nothing could make them not be nice to him. But that's impossible, there was always a cap to how much people care.

Besides Puffy, she was the exception.

"Techno! Come on." Wilbur said, rocking on his feet.

"Where are we going?"

"Downstairs for breakfast!"

Breakfast-

Timed, no wasting it.

Techno scrambled off of his bed, quickly fixing up the corners and smoothing out where he just was. Then he quickly changed and tied his hair back into a ponytail. Hopefully he looked presentable.

Fix your hair boy, you look stupid.

Straighten your shirt, you have to look nice.

Every family had their pet peeves, and Techno didn't want to find out this one's the hard way.

Must look presentable

Can't have long hair

Don't make eye contact

Don't speak unless spoken to

Don't speak at all

Don't protest

Don't cry

No long speeches

Don't disrupt the house

Don't go into the bedroom

Don't go into the office

Don't be late

Don't be a noticeable presence

Don't disagree

Don't defend yourself

Don't be a nucince

Don't exist

What was he doing? Techno stared at himself in the mirror.

Right, breakfast and presentability

The teen ran his hand under water and smoothed out his hair. He'd make it look batter later, but he can't miss breakfast. He didn't know if this was a very time surrounded family.

He hurried down the stairs quickly, but quietly, fixing his face before stepping out into the main room.

"Morning Techno." Phil said from the kitchen as Techno approached him.

"Sorry 'bout how I look, I was-" Techno hesitated, he didn't want to press the blame on Wilbur. "I lost track of time, can I do anything?"

Phil smiled. "Sit." He gestured to a small table with a half wall seperating it from the kitchen..

Techno gingerly sat down, Phil wasn't upset that he didn't look good, and he didn't seem bothered when Techno said he lost track of time.

But he told you to sit, he's going to berate you, drop the kind facade, this was all a trick. He's going to yell at you, tell you all the things you did wrong the first day, teach a new lesson.

The boy curled his hands into themselves, his nails digging into his skin. He shoved all of that into a small obedient box, and relaxed his hands, folding them in his lap.

How should he fix this? An apology doesn't seem effective, and he didn't know what the blond liked.

What he did not expect, was Phil sliding a plate of pancakes over, and asking him what he wanted on top.

"There's blueberry, strawberry, mango, raspberry, and blackberry jam, chocolate, maple syrup, and butter."

Techno debated accepting or not. Logically Phil shouldn't get mad at him taking an offer, but if there is anything Techno learned, it's that people don't use logic.

"I'm fine, thank you." He said in a practiced fashion.

Phil shrugged, and placed all the options in front of Techno, on a turn table. The strawberry blond made no move to grab any of them, or his pancakes.

At some point Phil glanced over with a sad smile. "Go ahead and eat. Tommy won't be down for another 10 minutes, and Wil will probably end up snagging a pancake or two from the stack at some point."

Techno tentively reached out, and grabbed the top pancake, waiting for Phil to smack his hand, or even mutter how he should be using a fork and knife. But he didn't.

The pancake was warm in his hands, and smooth. He gently ripped off a small piece, and put it in his mouth, if this was the last moment before they stabbed him in the back, he wouldn't be extraordinarily upset, this was a pretty good moment.

After he finished his pancake, he thanked Phil, and walked back to his room. He didn't know where he was allowed quite yet, so he mostly stayed in his room.

● ● ●

Phil sighed as he stared at where Techno was sitting. He figured that after a few days to acclimate to his environment, and kindness, that he'd bounce back even just a bit. But he didn't, his scars ran deep. It was like a deep wound that was infected before it was scabbed over.

Wilbur had grown very fond of his twin brother. The brunette being extremely good at reading others was a bonus, since Techno was far from expressive. Wilbur says he does emote, but it is really watered down.

● ● ●

A bell chimed from somewhere in his room, and he poked his head out into the hall.

Wilbur opened his door too. "Sorry, that's the bell, it's used to get us downstairs so Mother and Father don't have to yell across the house."

"What do they want?"

"We're going shopping."

"Shopping?"

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Ack! The school is getting to me, this chapter was supposed to be shopping, but if it was, it would take another few days to write so yeah.

Next chapter will be extensive shopping.

Have a great day/night my friends!