Chapter Text
The cabin was exactly how Techno had left it though the fire had gone out and there was a chill in the air that was slightly stuffy. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Phil lingering on the bridge, in front of his own door, and Techno gave him a wave before stepping inside. He didn’t lock the door behind him; the secret was out and if Punz was to be trusted, they shouldn’t have to worry about unwanted visitors.
Setting the basket down near the hearth, Techno began to pile the logs and arranging the kindling beneath them before using flint and steel to light them. The embers started red and low but Techno fanned them and soon the fire was catching. He watched it for a moment before he shook himself and got to his feet.
“Once it warms up in here, I’ll open a window,” he said. “I was gonna ask if you’re hungry but I already know what the answer is.”
The rabbit stopped tugging at the blankets, leaned up against the side of the basket, and gave a thump of his hind leg. The noise wasn’t as loud as it used to be, the action wasn’t as strong, but he managed.
Techno shook his head. Dream’s stubbornness could be the most annoying thing in the world but it also was the reason Techno had faith that Dream would recover, that things would get better for him eventually. As long as there were people to help him when he needed, as long as he was willing to accept that help.
“Oh, now you’re mad.” Techno chuckled, picking up the basket and moving it a little closer to the fire. “It’s not my fault you’re that predictable, man.”
The rabbit flipped one edge of the blanket up.
“Yeah, yeah,” said Techno as he sat down in his chair. He sighed, a smile crossing his face. The rocking chair had been carved by him, with help from Phil, and it was wider than a typical chair, the arms curve perfectly to fit him. There was nothing more satisfying than sitting in your favorite chair, Techno decided. “It’s good to be home, huh.”
The rabbit froze, looking at Techno, and tilted his head to the side, as if waiting for something, for Techno to say something. Techno snorted. He knew Dream and he had a feeling he knew what he was waiting for.
“Look, don’t tell anyone, but fine. You’re not homeless.”
The rabbit gave a small jump, as best as he could manage in the basket with three feet, and flopped over onto his side, stomach exposed. There was a glint in his green eyes that even as a rabbit Techno could read as a sort of smug satisfaction. Shaking his head, Techno bit back the retort that had bubbled up. He could let Dream win this one.
The rabbit felt the pounding of its heart slow once they were back in the cabin, away from all the other people it hadn’t quite made up its mind about. The smells in the cabin were familiar and the pigman had started a fire and it could feel its aching bones begin to warm up slowly. It could be safe here, sleeping in its basket.
Unless they come back, its other voice thought, they’ve come here before.
It was true but the rabbit didn’t like to think of that.
Carefully, it licked the stump of where its foot had been. The strange liquid that typically meant more pain was coming had healed most of the injury, though the fur was still missing, and the rabbit trusted that no pain would follow. It trusted the pigman.
I don’t want to leave, it thought.
Yeah, well, it’s not fucking our decision, is it, its other voice responded, angry and sad all wrapped up into one.
The rabbit tugged at the blanket. Its jaw still hurt but not enough to override the desire to chew on something, make itself more comfortable. Once the blanket was exactly how it wanted, the rabbit laid back down, resting its head on its front paws.
But the pigman said it’s our home, came the reply, and I believe Techno. He came for me.
The smell of honey and tea and sweet berries filled the cabin and Dream didn’t want to think anymore.
The bowl of sweetened oatmeal that Techno had placed near Dream had gone untouched and the clothes he had placed on the stool were still there. Not that Techno had expected anything but he had hoped for it. He had left the rabbit alone in the room a few times, going into the kitchen to make a new cup of tea or snack on some jerky or dried fruit. He had tried to give him as much room as possible because Techno wanted Dream to change.
He wanted to talk to him, to know that he was alright, and to understand why Dream had been so angry.
There was nothing.
Techno could tell sometimes that Dream was more Dream than he was the bunny by the way he responded to certain things. Or didn’t in some cases. (Looking back with his knowledge, Techno thought he might been too easy on him with the teasing.) But he was Dream a good chunk of time, Techno thought, and that had to mean something.
Yawning, Techno decided that it wasn’t worth staying up any later. It would be good to force anything, he knew that much. He got to his feet and took a look out the window by the door, across the bridge to Phil’s place. There was a light still on and Techno knew that Phil had his own questions. Now that the others were involved, things had gotten more complicated.
“Well, I’m goin’ to bed,” he said, moving to stand next to the basket and looking down at Dream. “I’m guessin’ you’d rather come up with me instead of bein’ down here alone.”
The rabbit put his front paws on the rim of the basket, shaking and wobbling to the side. With a laugh, Techno bent to pick him up and used one hand to climb the ladder, the next floor low enough that Techno could pull himself up with ease. He was careful not to jostle the rabbit and for his part, Dream didn’t struggle though when Techno set him down on pillow, he laid down, still trembling.
“You better get some sleep, man.” Tugging off his overshirt and belt, Techno tossed them in the general direction of his dresser. They missed the open drawer. Under his breath, Techno muttered, “Technoblade never misses.”
One of Dream’s ears turned towards Techno but otherwise he didn’t move as Techno laid down, as still as death.
With a sigh, Techno reached out and stroked his head before he pulled the blanket up, covering Dream. The bed was the sort of comfortable that took years of lying on it just right to get and there was no reason to struggle to find the perfect spot. But Techno scooted closer under the guise of getting comfortable and then looped his arm around Dream, not touching but there.
After a moment, Dream stretched out and leaned against Techno’s arm, still trembling but there.