notes: requested by zerkawmi on tumblr!! if you want to hear me ramble about my aus, wips, or hcs, visit aetheras on tumblr! my requests are open so you can also request a story of your own :)

in cooler news, my friends and I have started an official dreamnoblade fan week!! if you want more information, go to dnbweek on tumblr!! prompts have been released!

also I will be using latin in this fic to substitute as piglin because I am NOT creating an entirely new language

Technoblade was a right bastard.

At least, he was in Dream's opinion, which happened to always be correct.

The prince was arrogant, which was already more than enough for Dream to dislike him, but he could also back up that arrogance, which was even worse.

Dream hated losing, and the only person he ever seemed to lose to was Technoblade.

And so what, maybe Dream was a sore loser, but Techno was also just a dick. Constantly making snide comments, only to Dream of course, and always rubbing his skills in Dream's face.

All in all, asshole behavior.

What really got on his nerves, though, was when Technoblade spoke to him in that fancy little language of his.

Piglin, he'd heard his mother refer to it as.

Dream knew the story of Technoblade's life. Half piglin, found abandoned in the Nether by the King, who then raised him as his own son. Very wholesome.

What this meant, though, was that Techno had access to this own little secret language that no one else knew. A secret language that he constantly used to insult Dream during sparring.

And its not like his Mom, or General Puffy, could scold Techno for that mid-session, she didn't even know what he was saying.

Well, Dream didn't either, but he was sure it wasn't anything nice. Techno always had that stupid little smirk on his face when he said anything.

Speaking of the boy, "Dream!" Techno shouted his name, raising a hand in greeting.

"Your highness," Dream said back, barely managing to keep the scowl off his face.

"You ready to lose again, carissime?"

"I'll beat you today, Techno. I swear to the gods."

Techno nudged Dream's shoulder with his own, "Sure. And pigs fly."

He walked away, Dream struggling to catch up on his shorter legs. Curse Technoblade for having his growth spurt before Dream could have his. Honestly, being fifteen and five seven was embarrassing. Especially as the son of one of the most feared generals in the land.

"I'll kick your hybrid ass so high into the sky I'll make you fly," he growled, half jogging to keep pace, "And don't call me "Sure thing, carissime."

//

Unfortunately, Dream didn't win a single round that day, though he got close.

In years prior, Dream at least got to beat some of the other students in spars to fuel his bruised ego, but lately, it was just him in Techno in lessons. Their skill had advanced too far above the others and they needed special attention, at least according to his mother, their instructor.

Dream didn't mind as much as he should have. Despite how annoying the Prince was, he was surprisingly fun to fight.

Alas, Techno was eventually called away, as he always was, and he was left with his mother.

The broad shouldered woman had a knowing glint in her eye, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she slapped him roughly across the back, "C'mon Daydream, lets head on home. You wanted to sleep early, huh? Since tomorrow I'm bringing you along to sit in on one of my strategy meetings."

Dream straightened, chest puffling slightly at the reminder. Dream doubted that Technoblade got to go to his father's meetings. He had to sit and study in his room all day.

"Yeah, yeah, you can wipe that smug look off your face kiddo. Now hurry up or you're cleaning the stables tomorrow with the servants."

"Hey! Thats not fair you're like a foot taller than me."

"Life isn't fair, Day."

//

A year had passed and, strangely, Dream saw more of Techno than he ever before but, somehow, spoke less to him.

Their usual lessons had been cut short, leaving less time for bickering and more time for ruthless practice.

Puffy was stricter, too, pushing her son and his rival more than ever before.

A new development, though, was Techno joining in during meetings.

It wasn't often that Dream accompanied his mother to meetings with the king, but, when he did, Technoblade was always there on the kings right.

Dream had to admit, he didn't gain much from those meetings. He often spent the duration watching Techno rather than paying attention to the info discussed. His Mom would be disappointed if she knew that, of course. She'd been working vigorously to prepare him for knighthood, hoping one day that he'd take her place as one of the head generals.

"Daydream," his mother said one day, face unusually serious.

"Mother?" Dream asked, eyebrows knitting with concern as he glanced up from the book he'd been reading, "Is something wrong? Did something happen in the West?" Tensions with their neighboring western kingdom had been rising as of late.

"No, not in the West."

Setting the book down completely, he turned to face her, "Somewhere else then?"

"The Nether."

Dream's brows shot up in surprise. That hadn't been what he was expecting, "The Nether?" he repeated.

"Yes. The King has decided to send me there on a diplomatic mission. I'm rather familiar with the culture, you see. I spent some time there during the tears I spent traveling."

"And... you want me to come with you?"

Puffy nodded, "I do. I think it'll be good experience for you. And you've been sparring so much with the Prince you've begun adapting your style solely to fir him. It'll be good for you to spar with others who have different techniques."

"When are we leaving?"

"Two weeks from now. It'll... It'll be a long trip, Day. It could end up being over a year, so I'd say goodbye to your friends before we leave."

But Dream didn't really have any friends. He just had...

//

"Techno!" Dream shouted as he jogged up to Techno. He'd finally had his growth spurt, thankfully, but the Prince still had around three inches on him.

Techno's stride didn't break, but he did turn to look at the blonde at his side, "Dream?" he asked, a curious tilt to his voice. It wasn't often that Dream of all people sought him out.

"I- uh, just wanted to say goodbye."

Techno stopped, turning to face him completely, "You're leavin'? Where are you goin'?"

"Mom is bringing me with her on a diplomatic mission."

Techno pursed his lips, studying the freckled face of his rival. He knew just how long 'diplomatic missions' could last, "You'll be gone a while?" he asked, dreading the answer. He couldn't imagine how dull his life would be without Dream.

Dream winced. Techno had always wonder how he managed to be so expressive, "Maybe up to a year, yeah."

Technoblade hoped he'd manage to keep the disappointment clear from his face. A year was a long time. Despite himself, Techno couldn't help but imagine Dream a year older. Would his hair be longer? Would he be taller? He that hoped Dream wouldn't grow taller, he rather liked when Dream had to tilt his head upward to look him in the eye.

Techno didn't say that out loud, though. Instead, he teased him, "What, so you came here to tell me how much you'd miss me?"

Dream punched him in the arm, "No you asshole. I just wanted to tell you before I up and disappeared next week. Didn't want you to send out a watch party."

Next week. He was leaving soon. Gods.

"Like I care enough about a general's son to send out a watch party," Techno drawled.

Dream huffed, blowing the air out of his face and rolling his eyes. He always did have such pretty eyes, "Whatever. I need to go now, I have important stuff I have to do."

"I'm sure." Techno watched as Dream turned away, heading back to where he came from, "Dream!" he called out before he could stop himself, "Te desiderabo."

Dream scrunched up his nose in annoyance like he always did when Techno said something to him in his native tongue.

"Fuck you, too, or whatever."

Techno smiled fondly at Dream's back. What an idiot.

//

Dream scowled, crossing his arms as he stalked away from Technoblade. He didn't even know why he'd said goodbye, it was obvious Techno didn't care.

Te desiderabo.

What did that even mean?

A wonderful idea suddenly popped into his head.

He was going to the Nether, wasn't he? That's where Techno was from, which meant that, surely, somebody there would know how to speak Piglin?

Dream could go to the Nether, live there for a year, learn Piglin, and then come back home fluent in Techno's native language. Then, right when Techno least expected it, he could fire an insult back at him. In Piglin.

Foolproof.

"Dream!"

And there was George. The servant boy had been stuck to his side since the day prior, pestering to him to finish packing up.

"Coming, coming." Gods, moving was annoying.