Chapter Text
"Dadza?" Techno frowned, sticking his head through the doorway of the principal's office. It wasn't very often he got formally called down, it had been even less often since the Hero Commission had decided to reveal their top hero's identities for "their safety". He had stayed calm and stoic as he'd walked out of the class, where his classmates had gone wild at the thought of him going on a mission, and down the hall but he couldn't deny that he was a little anxious.
Luckily it appeared that there was no reason to panic because he quickly caught sight of the familiar blonde, greasy and sticking in wild directions now that he didn't have a hat covering it up. His father turned toward him with a bright smile and gestured him in. "Techno!"
"Bruh, don't scare me like that. I thought you were calling me in for another mission." He allowed his shoulders to relax, ignoring the snort of amusement Wilbur sent from his position sprawled across the couch up against a nearby wall, eyes glinting mischievously behind his glasses as he watched the interaction. Philza's face fell slightly. "Oh sorry. It's nothing concerning. We just-"
"What's up party people!?" Tommy screeched, barreling through the door. Techno swerved to the side just in time to see Tommy's surprised face as he tripped on the carpet and face planted onto the couch, and therefore Wilbur as well, who yelled a profanity he didn't care to repeat.
"You were saying?" He shrugged as he turned to gaze back at Philza's frazzled look, a small smirk spreading across his lips. The blonde raised an eyebrow in his direction as a reply before smoothing down his hair to the best of his abilities with a heavy sigh.
"Right. Dream left school premises again."
"Again?" Wilbur rolled his eyes from his squashed position underneath Tommy, who had trapped him by sitting on his chest. There was still a triumphant gleam in his blue eyes as he turned to frown at Philza.
"So? Big D can take care of himself."
Phil dragged his face across his hand before glaring accusingly at Tommy. "You knew about this?"
"Uhhh..." The youngest Minecraft boy paled. "No?"
He shook his head, his black wings flashing into view as his emotions briefly took over before they were hidden again, invisible to the world's eye. But he was normally pretty chill with Techno or Wilbur or Tommy or anybody they correlated to sneaking off campus. So why is he agitated now?
Worry
Worried
Worried Phil
He's such a dad
Dadza
Worried Dadza
L
L
Be nice to Dadza
He's trying his best
L
Obviously the voices weren't going to be any help in this situation so he shut off that part of his mind, wishing for more than the first time that the voices he communicated with would be helpful. At least they were subdue right now. He wasn't going to complain about that. "What's wrong?" He finally asked, remembering he was supposed to be taking part in this conversation.
"According to his transcript, Dream turns 19 today. He isn't an obvious hybrid so I'm worried that if his powers kick in late, it may hurt him." Phil bit his bottom lip, blue eyes flashing up to meet Techno's red ones. He steeled his muscles to prevent himself from flinching at the suggestion.
Four years ago he'd met another superhero who was an early bloomer like him. Daydream. They'd had opposing personalities and Techno had hated every fiber of his very being. And yet they were a good match. Daydream was the only person who could ever spar with him for longer than two minutes and hold his own. But Techno was the one who had to check on him. His power, though strong and unparalleled to anything he'd ever seen, was self destructive. He agreed that the Commission was hiding something, that there was something corrupted. But unlike Techno, he'd decided to look into it. Then he'd been sent out on a mission he wasn't prepared for. Nobody was supposed to follow up on it, it was too risky. But he'd been given orders so he'd gone. Techno had waited by the door of their shared dorms for him to return... he never had. That had been two years ago.
"Dream won't be like that." He found himself saying without any real conviction.
"He doesn't have any hybrid traits." Wilbur nodded, shooting his twin a sympathetic glance that Techno had to pretend he didn't see. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"I know." Philza's voice strained. "But if he's not-"
"Don't worry Dadza!" Tommy chirped. "Big D is awesome. Besides, he won't be out long. Not with the lightning storm coming in. He said he was just gonna grab a few things and come back."
"Right." Philza didn't bother hiding his doubt but Techno found himself agreeing with Tommy. Not that he'd ever say that aloud but Dream wasn't stupid. It didn't matter if you were human or hybrid, lightning storms were dangerous and required you inside for your own safety. At least then, if he manifested a power, he'd be in a place where people could help. And even then, that was a big if. He'll be fine. He always is.
However, irony has a way of screwing up your day. And it just happened to take that moment to do so in the form of crackling static from one of the many monitors Phil had in his room that kept track of the students and campus under his jurisdiction. It was the safety check, a small building right inside the gates of the school before students could cross through. In this world, you never could be to careful after all. And once the recording finally cleared Techno had to stifle a smile as he saw Jack Manifold, the school's head of security reprimanding a very amused looking Dream Wastaken. Dream hadn't even said anything from what Techno was watching but it appeared to be setting Jack off even more. He wasn't sure if he was impressed or concerned for lack of judgement and growing ego of his current rival.
"See?" Tommy crossed his arms over his chest smugly. "I told you he'd be quick."
Through the monitor Techno could hear the storm growing closer, an ominous rumble of thunder, the wind beginning to pick up, and the faint pitter patter of the first drops of rain. It kind of all messed with his hearing and when he finally tuned in again, Jack had shut up, face red with frustration. Dream shot him a sly smile, gaze darting across the room as if looking for an excuse or a way to escape, like always. Until his face fell and Techno found his frown deepen. It wasn't like Dream to back down from a game of tag. "Jack..." His rival started slowly. "Where's Lydia?"
The security guard's posture immediately tensed and his head whipped around frantically in hopes of spotting his daughter. A pit began growing in Techno's stomach as a sharp intake came from Wilbur and Tommy's direction. He couldn't tell which brother it had been but right now it didn't matter. He glanced anxiously over at Philza, who's eyes were strained on the screen. After a moment his dad looked back and shook his head, eyes sparking with worry.
"When did you last see her?" Dream grabbed Jack's shoulders, forcing him to stop his frantic circle and look at him.
"15 minutes ago. She mentioned going out for lunch and I told her we could after my shift was over." He replied, panic spreading into his tone. "If she headed out early to meet me there then-"
"She's outside." Dream abruptly let go of the older man, glancing over his shoulder toward the gate that controlled access to the school. "Prime Jack, she's Enderian isn't she?"
The ravenette nodded mutely, horror dawning in his gaze as he began processing the sound of the rain beginning to start.
"Oh no." Wilbur breathed from his right. Techno hadn't heard him get up but he was grateful for the warmth his presence brought, feeling the pit in his stomach clench tightly. Philza's wings had made another appearance, hugging him and his brothers closer toward he man himself, all four pairs of eyes glued to the screen.
"We have to go get her then!" Dream determined.
"Dream, no. It's a lightning storm out there. You'll be dead instantly. Lydia's smart. I'm sure she's taken shelter and-"
"She's not immune to water. Lydia's amazing but she's a child." The blonde snapped back, green eyes flashing. "She's scared."
"I'll ask Phil to send out a search party then." Jack wrung his hands guiltily, turning his pleading gaze toward the camera. Techno glanced away at the begging face he was making on the screen, feeling like a dagger had pierced his own soul.
"That'll be too late." Dream flashed him another smile before darting forward. Jack whirled back toward the young adult, looking shocked as he ran out of the building and toward the gate, hood up to block out what wind and rain he could avoid. The security guard rushed forward and hit a button on a panel on a table, sending the gate falling down at an impressive speed. But nobody had ever outrun Dream. Not even Techno when he was cheating with his own super powers. So of course the blonde reached the gate just fast enough to slide underneath and stand up with a flourish on the other side.
"I'll be back soon!" He waved with a toothy grin before vanishing in to the oncoming storm.