Finding Them

        "That does sound an awful lot like the children's story," Wilbur spoke up. Tommy knew he was done for, they weren't stupid. They weren't stupid at all. That's what you get for messing with travelers. He knew the people in the village were easy to trick, but these people were a wild card. Welp, plan B. Honesty... to a point.

"Well," Tommy started timidly, his cheeks flushing, "I can't exactly read." Techno narrowed his eyes at the boy.

"Just in general, or this specific scroll?" Phil asked. Honesty.

"Both," Tommy replied. Phil nodded understandingly.

"Well, you know your way around town, the people who live here, right?" Phil asked. Tommy nodded excessively; plan B could work.

"Maybe you could still help us find out brother. Would you mind?" Tommy tried to hide a grin.

"Depends, what's in it for me?"

"How does teaching you to read sound?" Tommy grimaced a bit, "and twenty dollars after we find him." That was enough to buy the red scooter for Tubbo.

"Deal."

And so, they worked out that Tommy would go with them through town, or just anywhere they were willing to look. When they weren't searching the three would take turns teaching him how to read and write.

The first day when they went out Tommy told them the names of half the people in town, or at least what he knew them by. After looking they decided Techno would be the first to teach Tommy.

"Alright there Bert, you get to go with Techno then. See you tomorrow mate." Phil and Wilbur waved to him as they walked away. Then, without warning, Techno set off in the opposite direction. His strides were brisk and long. Tommy had to jog to catch up.

"Hey! What's the deal, walking off like that?!" Tommy yelled angrily. Techno didn't respond and just kept walking, so Tommy kept following. Finally, they reached a small sandy area next to a river.

"I figured we could write in the sand here," Techno began, "but first I think we have some things to discuss."

"What do you mean?" Tommy asked.

"Well how about we start with the mud and dirt in your hair."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Techno got up from the rock he was sitting on, before taking a flask, filling it with river water and dumping it over Tommy's head.

"Why would you do that!? Now I'm all wet!" Tommy yelled angrily. Techno scrubbed the mixture out of Tommy's hair, letting a bit of the blond color shine through.

"You're the kid that ran into us the other day, aren't you?" Tommy's eyes were trained on the ground, a sheepish expression adorned his face.

"And your name isn't Bert either, is it Tommy?" He was in deep shit now.

"No, it isn't...." Tommy knew what was coming, He had tried to trick these men, they had caught him, and now he paid the price. Surely, he wouldn't be able to stay in the village after this. His entire reputation was ruined, not that he had one in the first place.

"Well, I'll let Phil handle the rest later, we have a lesson to start." This took Tommy by surprise.

"What?" he asked dumbfoundedly.

"Kid, close your mouth you're going to catch flies," Techno reprimanded, "I said, we have a lesson to start." Techno grabbed a stick and started writing in the sand.

"But Mr. Blade-" Tommy was cut off by a dry chuckle.

"Mr. Blade?" Techno asked, "that's not even my last name." He only continued to laugh. Tommy blushed for what felt like the fiftieth time that week.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize, just call me Techno, Technoblade, The Blade, The Blood God. I go by many aliases." Techno's hand rested on Tommy's shoulder, a more serious expression adorning his features, "don't apologize for your poor attempt to trick us either. Others have done far worse trying to survive in this world, trust me."

Then their lesson began. Twenty minutes later Tommy felt like bashing his head against a wall repeatedly.

"Why does through, thought, and tough all have different sounds!? This makes no sense!" Techno furrowed his eyebrows at the frustrated boy, how was this kid ever going to read? (Techno came to the conclusion that he just wasn't.)

"Alright kid, why don't we start heading back."

"Yeah, I should probably go home, worried parents and all that." Techno may have known part of his lie, but not all of it.

"Nope, you're coming with me to hash this out with Phil. Besides we both know that's bullshit; and quite frankly I'm scared to ask where you live." Techno grabbed Tommy by the collar, practically dragging him back to the inn. Tommy let him do so up until they reached the doorway.

"Come on Tommy, if I need to use force I will not hesitate."

"If this isn't using force then what is?!"

"Tommy just-"

"Who's Tommy?"