[SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS CHAPTER:

Phil is on his way to Techno's house, but he sees Dream lurking around. Y/N is attacked by Dream and ends up losing the fight. Dream wants to do very not nice things to them, but Phil attacks Dream and distracts him long enough for Y/N to get away. They go back to Techno's house, and Techno has to comfort Y/N after what happened with Dream. Phil also shows up and tells Techno what happened. Phil's wing is so damaged he cannot fly anymore. Techno tells Y/N that they may stay as long as they have to, and he will protect them from Dream.]

Anyway onto this chapter!

(tw: swearing)

(Technoblade's POV)

Technoblade hoped Y/N would be okay by herself. Phil said he wasn't able to come "babysit" her, and Technoblade needed to go to the nearest village to trade for supplies. 

Y/N was still really on edge, so she hadn't wanted to come with him. He was still slightly anxious, as she was at the cabin by herself.

Technoblade neared the village, the iron golem at the entrance giving him a wary look, before letting him pass into the village. He dismounted Carl, and tied him to a fence post so he couldn't wander away.

Technoblade didn't like the village on the Overworld as much as he liked the ones in the Nether, but there were some things he just couldn't get from his Piglin brethren. As well as he could speak almost Villager fluently, unlike his Piglin, which was a little worse due to him almost never using it.

 He moseyed around the village, and traded with a few of the villagers. He had villagers in his basement (which may or may not have been legal), but Technoblade liked to get out sometimes. He hadn't noticed how lonely he had gotten living by himself in the Tundra. Once Y/N had turned up in his life, and Phil started visiting more often, Technoblade realized he liked seeing other people. He was used to just one-sided conversations between Steve and himself, or with Edward. Now he had people to talk to, real people, and he really enjoyed it. 

He had gone outside of his house to do things much more than he ever had. He really liked Y/N living with him, if he was being honest. Not that he would ever admit it.

One villager was selling a golden chain necklace with a charm on it. Being of Piglin ancestry, the gold caught his eye immediately. He leaned forward to take a closer look. The charm was of a small golden flower, with a small emerald set in the middle. Techno looked up at the villager selling it. "What do you want for it?" Technoblade asked. "A few emeralds." The villager responded. Technoblade huffed. A few emeralds for a dinky golden chain with a speck of emerald in it? What a rip off.

Y/N might like that... give it to Y/N... stupid villager trades...E... aw it's pretty!...

Give it to Y/N? Technoblade took out a few emeralds he had at a back slung around his shoulder. "This enough?" He asked, and the villager nodded. Technoblade gave the villager the emeralds, and carefully took the necklace, pocketing it somewhere safe. "Pleasure doing business with you." He nodded to the villager, who nodded back. 

Technoblade turned to go find a few more things to buy, when a flash of purple and green caught his eye. 

He froze. 

Dream was standing a few stalls away, partially obscured, and was talking to a villager. 

KILL HIM... KILL HIM... HE'LL PAY FOR WHAT HE DID TO Y/N... BLOOD

Calm down, chat. Technoblade reasoned. If he were to attack Dream unprovoked, Dream would know that something was up. He may even guess that Y/N was living with Technoblade, and then he would know where to find her. He was angry, but he wasn't stupid.

If Technoblade could help it, Dream would never get his disgusting hands on Y/N again.

Technoblade started to leave, turning to go back to Carl, trying to make it seem as if he were in no particular rush.

"Techno!" Dreams voice rang out through the marketplace. Techno froze, wincing.

"Dream?" He tried to sound surprised as he turned around to see the renewed bounty hunter. Dream made his way over to Technoblade, much to Techno's annoyance, and chuckled warmly. 

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes..." Dream laughed, and Techno laughed as well.

"It's good to see you, Dream, what can I do you for?" Not good to see you at all you stupid idiotic son of a bi-

"Well you see, I'm looking for someone..." Techno's blood ran cold, fearing the worst.

Dream continued, "Y/N. Heard of her?" 

"Can't say I have. What's she look like?" Keep it cool, Techno. Don't let him find out...

"Eh, shorter than me... h/c hair... e/c eyes... Was last seen over in the Tundra." Dream looked at Technoblade suspiciously. "Say, Techno. Don't you live in the Tundra?" Dream queried. Techno laughed, "Why, looking for a place to stay, homeless man?" He joked, and Dream chuckled sarcasticly, "Ha ha... I'm not homeless..." He sighed, "Really though, Techno. Y/N is a renowned criminal. She was supposed to be executed but she escaped..." 

"Renowned criminal, eh? What did she do?" Techno questioned.

"She killed people's pets." Dream said simply.

"That's it?" Techno asked, "I'm sure everyone has killed another's pet, but normally they're not sentenced to death for it." He reasoned, trying to keep the conversation away from where Y/N's current location was.

"Yeah but she killed everyone's pets. Every single pet. She took away items people found really important. She's a thief and a murderer. She helped Wilbur blow up L'Manberg, she griefed people's homes. It wasn't just the pets." Dream muttered darkly, "She manipulated everyone into thinking she was a good person, and when we finally called her on it, she thought she could just continue with her charade. She was wrong. We could have exiled her, but she would have come back. We needed her dead, after everything she had done. She took away so many people's happiness... and for what? For shits and giggles, that's what! Selfishness! Manipulative assholes like her need to be dealt with." Techno really thought Dream would stop monologuing, but he continued,  "I loved her, Technoblade," Techno went cold, "I thought she loved me back... but it was all a lie... just a sick game she played with me..." Dream put a hand to his mask in mock distress, "She's hurt so many people. She needs to face the consequences."

"Wow. Well then, I'll let you know if I see her." Technoblade said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. "Anyway, Dream. I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got some stuff to do... you know how it is." Technoblade started creeping towards Carl, hoping Dream would let him go. "Phil was working with her..." Dream said, probably hoping a reaction out of Techno, "See? She even fooled your father into becoming evil like her... she's manipulated that poor old man." 

Techno wished he could have the satisfaction of stabbing a sword through this pompous asshole's face.

"But don't worry, Phil has been dealt with accordingly." Dream said, shrugging as if it were no big deal.

"You-you killed Philza?" Technoblade said in disbelief. 

"What? No! Of course not, no. What do you, that we're monsters? No we're just trying to bring him back to the good side. Nothing major. We're civilized people, Technoblade, I hope you realize." 

Okay good, so Phil is okay... Techno inched closer to where he left Carl.

"You haven't hurt him or anything?" Technoblade said suspiciously, not entirely trusting Dream. 

"No! No no no, no we would never hurt Phil. And we haven't. Phil has gone completely unharmed. I mean other than what he did to himself. His wing... he'll never fly again... how sad." Dream's face was probably curled in a sneer of fake pity, from the tone in his voice.

Techno wished he could punch the mask off of Dream's stupid smug face, and the voices agreed with him.

Dream looked at Technoblade for a minute, probably noticing his anger.

"Techno I swear... Y/N is a threat to our country and to our people. She needs to be put to justice."

"Well, like I said, things to do." Technoblade managed to force out in a less-than-pleasant voice, and turned and walked briskly over to Carl. Dream seemed to sense Technoblade's hostility, and ambled over to stand beside Carl as Technoblade mounted him.

"You know, maybe I should come over to visit sometime in the near future..." Dream murmured. Technoblade laughed, "Yeah, maybe..." He turned to head off, but Dream grabbed Carl's reins.

"Watch yourself, Technoblade. I know you're hiding something."

And with that, Dream let go of Carl, and disappeared into the fray of the village. 

He's onto me... Technoblade thought with a disappointed note, as he headed back to his cabin.

He knows where Y/N is, doesn't he? I have to protect her from him.

Technoblade swore he would protect Y/N at all costs, or die trying.  

(Y/N's POV)

"What do you mean he knows where I am??" You couldn't stop the fear from creeping into your voice, but you didn't care. You were very scared.

"It's no reason to panic! It's okay, I've got a plan." Techno said, beckoning you to follow him. You did.

"Here." He said, pointing to what looked like a... box? Cupboard? Some sort of... end table?

"How... might I ask.. is that supposed to save me from Dream??" You cried, unable to hide your desperateness.

Technoblade had come back to the village saying that he had seen Dream, and that Dream was looking for you.

"You hide it it! I'll give you a potion of invisibility! Then you can go in the box and hide!" Technoblade smiled, looking very proud of himself.

You sighed. "Yes, I suppose that could work." There was no way that would work.

Technoblade beamed at your praise. You smiled slightly, letting yourself bask in the aura he gave off. You felt really good around him. It was nice break from being afraid for your life and saftey.

"Look, I know you're scared. I can understand why." Technoblade reached forward, resting his hand on your shoulder and looking into your eyes. "But I promise I will not let him hurt you again."

You smiled sadly. 

If only...

Dream was one of the best bounty hunters, known well for his fighting skill. He was ruthless in battle, and had gone undefeated for as long as you could remember. You appreciated Techno's gesture, however.

"Thank you." You smiled at him. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but instead turned and headed off towards his nether wart farm that Phil had built him. Phil had made it way too big, but it had never been modified to be smaller. You assumed he was gathering materials to make potions.

You were left alone with your thoughts.

What if Dream found you? 

What would he do to you?

Would Technoblade be able to protect you? Would you be able to protect yourself?

What would happen to Technoblade if he was found harboring a criminal?

Would you ever be safe again?

You remembered all the good times you had before all of this...

"Haha! I totally trolled you and Bad." Skeppy said, grinning like a loon. You laughed, "Yeah you sure got us." 

"Us? No one said anything about an us..." A black demon wearing a red-trimmed clock huffed, glaring at Skeppy. "I can't believe it, Geppy! That was so mean!" Badboyhalo said and crossed his arms angrily across his chest, shooting daggers at the diamond covered humanoid with his pale, milky white eyes. 

Skeppy just laughed, "You know you love me..."  At this, Bad's cheeks grew pink, a slight blush forming on them. "Yeah yeah..." He muttered, looking away. You joined in on Skeppy's laughing.

...

"C'mon Y/N. Have some blue." Ghostbur's soft voice said as the ghostly figured handed you blue due. 

"Thank you, Ghostbur." You smiled at him, taking the "blue".

"Do you want to come over to Philza's house later to see Friend? Normally I'd take Friend everywhere with me, but Phil said that Friend was sick, and should stay inside." Ghostbur said remorsefully, probably thinking fondly of his blue sheep, "Friend".

"I'd love to, Ghostbur."

...

"Ahaha!" You always laughed at Tommy's jokes, even if they were a little brash and not even that funny. It was worth it to see his face light up, proud of himself for making you laugh.

"Yeah well, you can imagine what I told him..." Tommy smiled at you, and you smiled back, still laughing softly.

"Hey Y/N!" Tubbo's voice called from outside Tommy's house. 

"Tubbo!"

"You wanna come look at the bees nest I found?"

"I'd l-"

"No way! She said she was going to hang out with me all afternoon, didn't you Y/N?" Tommy interrupted you. You laughed.

"You can't keep Y/N all to yourself..." Tubbo pouted, peeking his head through the doorway.

"Watch me." Tommy smiled smugly, as Tubbo slowly pulled out a stone sword. 

"Kidding! Obviously! She can definitely go see bees with you, Tubbo!" Tommy said hurridly, noticing Tubbo's sword.

It was charming that Tubbo would be willing to attack Tommy to get to spend time with you.

...

"Hey, Y/N..." Dream's familiar voice called out. You turned to look at him. 

"I was uh... I was thinking..." He nervously looked away and swirled dirt around on the ground with his toe, "Would you... uh... would you like to... do something?" He looked up at you before quickly looking away again. It was cute how much he was struggling to ask you out, and your stomach felt full of butterflies. "With... me? Just you and me, doing something, maybe. Sometime. If you would like to...?" 

"Of course Dream, I'd love to go on a date with you." You smiled at him, laughing softly.

"Really? That's wonderful! I.. Thank you!"

...

"You're going on a date with Dream??" 

"Yes I am, George. Why, you jealous?" You chuckled as George's face grew a shade of red in embarrassment. 

"No." He said quickly. You laughed. 

All of your friends were wonderful.

"Hey... uh.. how are you feeling?" Technoblade's monotone voice snapped you out of your thoughts.

"Fine. Why?" You asked, genuinely confused.

"Oh, just wondering... you know, the whole Dream thing..." He mumbled awkwardly.

"I'm still pretty scared." You admitted, and Technoblade nodded, "But you know, I have something Dream doesn't."

Technoblade blinked at you, "And that is...?" He questioned.

You smiled. 

"I've got you."