𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬 (Technoblade x Reader) (Completed)

36

Once you were home the voice only got more incessant. Some days it was silent, some days it drove you to the brink of madness. You were beginning to understand it and the way it spoke in it's weird backwards language and you didn't know if that was a good thing or not. Some days it was so bad that you had to stay holed up in your room with the excuse that you were feeling under the weather, even though you hardly ever got sick.

Whenever you did make those excuses Techno was always understanding and you hated it. You didn't deserve his kindness, especially when you were lying and keeping things from him. He already had enough voices to deal with and who knew what this.... thing would do if you told anyone else it had dug its claws into you. Who was to say it wouldn't try to drive the rest of the people who cared about you to madness. It seemed like it was spreading, getting more powerful but with how it threatened you and begged you for help in the same sentences it was hard to really tell.

Even then Techno would knock on the wall before he climbed up to check up on you, even though you weren't really sick and he'd have a steaming mug of tea or a bowl of soup for you. At one point he'd even offered to read you one of the short stories from a book he knew you often reread and you didn't have the heart to say no so you ended up with your head in his lap, his free hand carding through your hair while he read aloud quietly so he didn't worsen the headache you had from the voice's incessant screeching.

You'd almost fallen asleep to the soothing sound of his voice until he stopped reading and you peered up at him through your lashes, catching him looking at you to see if you were actually asleep and you felt your cheeks heat up. His eyes were soft, full of adoration that you never tired of seeing but it made you feel guilty and you shifted to sit up but he placed a hand on your shoulder to stop you. "You're fine, Darlin'." He promised. "Unless you're uncomfortable."

"M'not uncomfy." You assured. "Just thought you had things to do so I was going to let you get up." You enjoyed his presence, it kept the voice at bay- at least for now and you felt like you could get some actual sleep if he stayed here, awake while you slept.

"Whatever I have to do can wait, princess, get some sleep."

You felt butterflies flutter in your stomach and you buried your face in his stomach to hide your smile. He rarely called you princess and even though it was ironic in a way you still enjoyed it. Techno chuckled and after a few moments you got situated once again. "Can you read until I'm asleep?" You asked. You were afraid if there was silence for too long that the voice would come back again. Deep down you knew it would come back eventually anyway but for now you at least wanted a few moments of peace.

Techno grinned and went ahead with his reading until you eventually fell asleep. Once you were asleep he set the book down beside you, as he brushed your hair back admiring you. You looked so tired lately. You seemed on edge, constantly and he wanted to figure out why but he felt like if he asked he'd only be met with empty promises like he had been. He wasn't stupid. He knew you weren't feeling alright and that you hadn't been for some time but any time he asked you assured him you were fine and if he pressed you'd get defensive and he knew a fight was one of the last things either of you needed.

The voices began to get antsy in his head. Maybe you were growing tired of him. They supplied. He was too much, too violent, too caught up in this anarchy thing, too protective, too clingy. All these things he knew he needed to tone down but couldn't. This moment was nice, this quiet moment where it was the two of you and you seemed happy. He'd missed this, seeing your smile when he called you a pet name or when he complimented you. Those moments were rare now, sparse between the grim, straight faced looks or the looks of fear he was given more often.

He stayed with you until Phil had come upstairs needing his help with the Syndicate room. Techno had tried to make an excuse to stay but he was eventually dragged away, whispering an apology to you before he left you alone. He could only hope you weren't upset with him when he returned.