Hidden in the Depths

Chapter 10

 Morning came all too quickly, the reddish sun rising, smiling at them as if unaware of what had happened on her planet during the night. With it came the tiniest waves, which rocked the pod back and forth in a circle ever so gentle, a repetitive motion they all had grown used to over time.

Tubbo, trapped in his arms, never slept. Techno realized that the moment he came back to his senses, blinking his dry eyes against the lights of the pod. The younger still sat between his legs, leaning with his back against Techno's chest, hands laying in the folds of his sleeves. But now at least-

Techno was just fast enough to catch his arms around Tubbo's torso, before he started trying to get up, thrashing wildly around himself in a panic, attempting to at least get closer to the radio. The boy shook in his arms, as he held him tightly, holding him against himself with force. The chest of the younger heaved with each breath, threatening to become an ugly sob.

He let himself get hit a few times. A leg that kicked out and hit him in his thigh or foot, Tubbo's head knocking back and hitting him square into the jaw or again into the nose, making it feel all warm and numb, or if his hand lashed out and a finger caught on some fabric and pulled it just a little too forcefully.

As much as Techno wanted to let the kid go, let him to the panel, send out an answer, he could think logically, while the younger's thoughts were wild with panic. The message was sent out days ago. If they had a working radio or were alive, what if they were dea- if they had a working radio... What?
Techno sighed. Where did that thought go again?

With a functional radio they would've changed the attached message, or sent out a new signal, updating their current status. So it was useless to try and respond. He knew exactly that Tubbo was just yearning to push the "record emergency signal" button, but it would only come with more devastation. Standing around at the radio, waiting, awaiting nothing, and knowing exactly that.
Tubbo was already aware of it, he was a smart kid. Right now he was just shrouded with his first impulse to fight, to help, but he just had to wait before his brain cleared off the adrenaline and the younger too, would calm again.

Why are you so calm?

What?

He brushed his palms against Tubbo's shoulder as a wordless 'good morning', not yet finding his voice to greet him verbally. He received an answer as Tubbo shuddered slightly, flexing his back and sitting up straighter, taking weight off of his chest.

Looking at the younger's face, it was just so evident how Techno was right about his assumptions, with dark bags lining the underside of his blue eyes. Techno gently nudged Tubbo's leg, gaining no reaction. His leg probably fell numb already hours ago, much like how his own limbs were starting to complain. After all, the kid's form was still the same as it had been hours ago when-

Minutes, Minutes if not an hour it took for Tubbo not to lean tense with his back against Techno's chest.
With a shaky exhale the younger twisted himself, halfway pushing his side into Techno's front, moving his calm and weak legs, swinging them over Techno's thigh and rolling into a kind of ball.

He brought a hand up, brushing a thumb from the younger's nose bridge, over his cheek, to his cheekbone. With a plummeting feeling his chest sunk into itself, feeling his finger pad get slick with tears. His hand fell to Tubbo's back, pushing him just slightly closer. Tubbo's hands reached forward, little, abrupt grabbing motions lurching for his arm until coming to rest at his elbow. The fingers grabbed a handful of the folds of his sleeves, clutching at them desperately.

"We can't do anything right now, Tubbo." Instead of a direct answer, he felt the boy's jaw clench where he buried the side of his face at his chest.