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The course of an empire is a simple one—it is founded, and life after life is given to governing it until it falls. Truly, that is all it takes. Time wills greatness to falter and evils to be thwarted as easily as people breathe.
There one moment. Gone the next. In. Out.
But the hearts and minds that give those kingdoms a certain spark? The ones that instill it with their own soul and blood to keep it going long after they’re gone? Those matter. Maybe not now, but someday.
Everyone amounts to something, after all. Even if it’s as simple as giving inspiration to another, that doesn’t mean it’s insignificant.
And today is anything but insignificant.
Today is a step forward—a leap, even—and Techno can’t wait to bound forth into whatever fates time holds.
“I’m gonna be sick,” Tommy says, pacing around the courtyard.
“There’s a bucket over by the barracks,” Techno remarks, tending to his sword. He won’t deny the beginnings of a smirk on his face, but there is nobody paying enough attention to witness it.
“I’m serious,” Tommy groans, halting before him and crossing his arms, “I didn’t—I didn’t think it would come so soon!”
“When you’re scared, that’s how things tend to be,” Techno says, “But there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I could be assassinated.”
“I’ll be right beside you. Try again.”
Tommy grumbles, plopping on the bench beside Techno. Nervous energy radiates from him in waves. His fingers drum against his knees, the nails bitten short. Techno wipes his sword off with a rag and sets it aside.
In truth, Tommy will always be his little brother. He will always be the spitting image of a youthful, indecisive teenager, witty and charming but weighed down by responsibility. The years never cease, and he gets older with each one.
Techno can’t keep up.
“What’s this about then?” He asks instead.
“Is it… too late to see if we can just… take back Dad’s proclamation?” Tommy asks, grinning through closed teeth. It’s more like a grimace.
“Uh… considerin’ the entire empire has heard it and it’s, I dunno, the day you’re gettin’ crowned, I would say it’s a bit late, yeah.”
Tommy just groans, slumping to the side and leaning against Techno’s shoulder. He doesn’t say much else. Techno can hear his mind working double time, a headache forming in his own head from the mere idea of the turmoil.
It’s a big responsibility. And as much as Tommy’s grown, he’s still a kid.
But it’s a beautiful day with a blue sky, a slight breeze to combat the sun’s rays, and not much could ruin it. Rustling leaves echo throughout the air. The sunlight filters through the spaces within the tree itself.
On any other day, in another life, Techno could take a nap right here, on the bench by the tree, him and his youngest brother.
“I don’t want to be a shit king,” Tommy mutters, an out of place fragility in his voice, “I already… you know I’m not cut out for this. I panic. Nobody listens to me.”
“That’s their fault,” Techno says, “You’re plenty smart. And qualified. And you care about the Empire more than anyone. If people can’t see that, well, then you can just kick ‘em out.”
Tommy huffs a laugh. “I can’t dispose of everyone who disagrees with me. Though it’d be a little funny.”
“Nobody said anythin’ about disposing,” Techno chuckles, “But if they don’t respect you, to hell with ‘em. No point in a king surrounding himself with people who undermine him. Nothing’ll get done.”
“Nothing will get done if I’m in charge anyway.”
“And why’s that?”
“I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Techno looks down at him with bewilderment. He doesn’t notice, though, still looking down at the ground. “Tommy, you’ve quite literally been taught your whole life for this.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does,” Techno says, “I wouldn’t want some random person to sit on that throne. Even if I wasn’t your brother, I’d choose you over anyone else.”
“I just don’t want to fuck things up. Don’t want to be another Ander the second.”
Techno shifts, prompting Tommy to lift his head and look over at him. As soon as the blonde does, Techno scrunches his face. “Who?”
“You don’t—” Tommy sputters, but quickly shakes his head, “Don’t worry about it. Just a shit guy who almost lost the entire Empire.”
“But he didn’t.”
“No, only half of it.”
“And what a great half he left us,” Techno says.
“No, this is the full Empire,” Tommy corrects him, “Dad reconquered the last lost territories. And then when he was done, he took more. United everyone under a happy, prosperous banner.”
It feels like little more than a history lesson, but there’s something deeper in his words, the nostalgic sadness in his tone. Like he’s dejected. Resigned to a fate.
“Don’t sound so happy,” Techno drawls, lightly knocking his brother’s shoulder.
“You know what I mean,” Tommy groans, “It’s just… Dad’s tough to follow.”
“Big shoes to fill?”
Tommy nods emphatically. “Everyone loves him. He’s the angel of the Empire. We’re whole ‘cause of him, and nobody’s complained, there’ve been no rebellions or cecessions. And when he was poisoned, everyone was pissed. They wanted war, and—”
“And you’re worried they’re gonna expect too much of you,” Techno surmises.
“Way too much,” Tommy murmurs.
“Phil’s not all that, you know,” Techno smirks, “Even though it seems like everything he does is perfect to you.”
Tommy blinks. It’s slow and full of disbelief, as if the concept is foreign. “What?”
“Conquerin’ all those places, he did get quite a reputation,” Techno agrees, “But you forget that most of the time he got lucky. Like when he stood way too far apart from his guards for a negotiation. He’s lucky it was just two kids kicked outta their home.”
Faintly, Tommy smiles. It’s little, but it’s there, and Techno wagers that maybe, just maybe, his words are beginning to break through the cracks.
“I guess that’s a little stupid on his part.”
“Very,” Techno says, “But that’s the thing—you’re not him. And you’re not gonna make the same mistakes as him or your ancestors. Phil’ll still be around to advise you, Tommy. And you have two brothers who’ll do the same. So really, you’re gonna be the best king yet.”
There’s a small pause, a moment where time seems to slow, and the silence is not daunting. Tommy brightens like a morning sun or flowers in spring. And just like that, a weight is lifted from Techno’s shoulders.
“You really think so?”
“I know so. And have I ever been wrong before?”
Tommy doesn’t even have to think about it. “Thanks, Tech.”
In lieu of a real response, Techno just ruffles the blonde’s hair and fights off the subsequent swatting hands. “Now run along, kid. You got a lot to do today. So do I.”
~ ~ ~
It’s not long before Techno finds his way to Phil’s side. But it’s no surprise to anyone. There are merely certain truths to this world, and one that’s especially prominent is that Techno will always gravitate to Phil.
The blonde is preoccupied today, as one might expect. After stunning the nation and council with his resignation, handing power over out of the blue, his last duty is to ensure the transition is smooth. And Phil is nothing if not one to make sure everything goes as planned.
Techno finds him overseeing the front garden’s accommodations. More chairs than Techno’s ever seen are arranged in the space leading up to the front door, ripe for dignitaries, nobles, and the occasional citizen of the Empire.
As soon as Techno descends the steps, Phil turns to him, beaming. “Hey, Tech. What brings you here? Making sure security’s all set?”
“Guess you could say that,” Techno says, slotting into place at Phil’s side, “Tommy’s having second thoughts. And third thoughts. Might even be in the hundreds at this point.”
Phil freezes for a moment, still as a statue. “He is? Does he want me to call this all off? I cou—”
“No you couldn’t,” Techno cuts him off, “Between border tensions and appearances, it’s not good to seem weak.”
“And going back on it would do just that,” Phil sighs, running a hand through his hair, “I know that. It’s only logical. I just don’t want him to feel unprepared. Or unready.”
“He’s forgetting how ready he is because he’s worried he’s gonna fail,” Techno mutters, “Somehow doom the nation to be wiped off the map.”
Phil lets out a quiet laugh. “That’s ridiculous.”
“I said about as much,” Techno continues, “I think he feels better about it. Just wanted to let you know.”
“And I am always grateful for that,” Phil mentions, “Always. But it shouldn’t be on you to patch up every wound, Techno.”
“Nonsense,” Techno scoffs, nudging Phil’s shoulder, “I like my jobs. All of them. I’m gonna make sure you three are okay if it’s the last thing I do.”
Phil looks up at him with those blue eyes full of fondness and admiration, and Techno can’t help but wonder what he did to deserve such a look pointed his way. Like he hung the stars. Like the world sits upon his shoulders and yet he carries it effortlessly, more worried about others than the crushing weight of every landmass and ocean. But Phil just pats his arm.
“I know,” he says, barely above a breath, “And in a couple hours, everything will change, even if that won’t.”
“Change isn’t always bad,” Techno says, sure of every word, “If things hadn’t changed, I would be part of this empire.”
This family.
And Phil seems to know what he means, even when Techno dances around the truth like it’s made of whirling blades. It’s like he has a magic power of some sort, guiding him in the right direction; a supernatural intuition that only he exhibits.
“He’s gonna bring in a new age, Tech,” Phil says wistfully, looking up over the ramparts, far into the horizon, “I just know it. He’s younger, and better in… every regard than I am. Where I sought to end problems with violence and war, he’ll seek peace. He’ll have you to protect him, and me to help run the kingdom, and your brother to deal with other kingdoms, like he’s doing now.”
“He’d be here if he could.”
“I know. And Tommy does too,” Phil says, “But duty calls all of us when we least desire it. It’s the mark of someone truly worthy when they answer despite the dread. And that is precisely why Tommy is going to be a fantastic leader.”
~ ~ ~
By the time Techno is at Tommy’s side, in full armor and sword waiting in its sheath, waiting to walk through the doors, the sun is begging to sleep, hanging low in the sky. And Tommy is standing straight as an arrow, but as tense as a bowstring.
“Wanna breathe a little?” Techno asks.
Tommy has the nerve to roll his eyes. “I’m being kingly,” he says, “Method acting. Fitting the role.”
“There’s… no one way to be a king. You know that right?” Techno says, “You think Phil walks around like that?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Exactly my point. Relax. It’s almost time,” Techno says, setting a hand on each of Tommy’s shoulders and forcing them from his ears, “All you’re doing is walking out there, smiling, talking about how much you love this place, and bowing to let a bigger crown on your head. You’ve been through worse.”
That much is true. It’s not like he’s never ruled before, even as much as the last time had been punctuated with corruption and treachery that Techno would have gotten gray hairs over.
Tommy just nods though. And when the guards open the doors, the sunlight filtering through the widening space, he seems ready. As ready as he could ever be.
They march out together. The crowd cheers for Tommy, and just for him, Techno smiling despite himself. It’s all deserved.
Tommy handles the entire ceremony with grace. More than Techno would have, anyway. Perhaps he feels better knowing Techno and Phil are right there, and he feeds off their presence. Or maybe he truly has just come into his own.
Like Techno always thought he would.
His own person, his own king, his own legacy to be laid.
The future is a bare slate, and Tommy has all the power and mind to carve it into something beautiful. Something that will last.
When the crown is lifted from the pillow and into the hands of the official, a hush descends over the crowd. They watch with bated breath as Tommy takes a knee.
And in a matter of seconds, the crown sits upon his head, nestled in a bed of golden curls, and Tommy stands. The applause is thunderous.
But all Techno can see is a little boy rambling about flowers to his new brothers. A teen who mouths off in the face of danger. Who cracks under pressure but never breaks, always bouncing back. Who feels as strongly as the tides crash against the shores in a storm.
He sees Tommy outlined in the sunlight and the handfuls of confetti cascading from the balcony above. The blonde laughs, and there are tears in Phil’s eyes but a smile to accompany them.
Somewhere along the line, the years slipped from between Techno’s fingers. Now everything is entirely different. But at the same time, it all feels the same. A new normal.
He will not grieve. Today is a joyous day.
So when Tommy turns from the roaring crowd, grinning at Phil and Techno, what are they to do but catch his running form in open arms?
Techno is right, he thinks. Things are the same at their core. Same people, same light, same old palace. And Techno has always known the little brother in his arms. He’s known every version of him, every possibility, right from the day they met.
Everything has been within him. And Techno has seen it. How could he not, when it’s all so bright?
And now, with the future waiting, everyone will get to see it too.