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Phil invites Techno over for Easter.
Well, not really, it’s just an excuse for Techno to come down to visit. He doesn’t have anything to do this weekend, no family to visit and no religion to practice. Plus, it’s been a couple of years since he’s properly hung out with Phil. There’s been a few meetups—like the time their old book club from university decided to get together, and that one karaoke night he got dragged into attending by another mutual friend of his and Phil’s. Most of the time they settle with calling each other at least once a week and leaving it at that.
Techno’s been meaning to visit Phil for ages now anyway. Phil really embraced the domestic lifestyle, he has a healthy relationship with his girlfriend, has a stable job, and is raising kids on his own. Two boys, a phantom hybrid and avian child, who have been adopted and happily live with Phil.
Techno got the chance to meet Wilbur at his adoption party and talked to him a few times over the phone. But Tommy, Phil’s youngest, has only been with Phil for a little over two years and Techno hasn’t gotten the chance to meet him yet. When the kid’s adoption papers were finalized a month ago he didn’t want to have a party, and he couldn't sit still long enough for Phil to try and introduce them over the phone.
But he’s learned a lot about the kids through his and Phil’s weekly phone calls. It would be hard not to, Phil loves to talk about his family. He’s seen trophies and awards the kids have won, heard Phil brag about Wilbur’s musical talent and Tommy’s sports games, and heard the kids shout in the background when he and Phil are just trying to chat.
And from the sounds of it, Phil’s family of three might become a family of four considering how much he loves to talk about his girlfriend Kristin.
Techno would be lying if he said that he didn’t want to be a part of that.
It’s not like him and Phil meant to grow apart. They just got different jobs hours away, settled down in different cities, and phone calls and twice-a-year meetups had to suffice. It was enough for a while, but as Phil continues to expand his family, Techno can’t help but be a little jealous of what he has.
So here he is, standing on Phil’s front porch after a long train ride and a night spent in a three-star motel, waiting for his friend to open the door.
Instead, he’s greeted by a small avian child.
It’s Tommy, Phil’s shown Techno enough pictures of the golden-haired and blue-eyed child for him to know that. Red feathers stick out from behind his ear and little red wings ruffle on his back as he looks up at Techno. His blue eyes glare judgingly at Techno before widening in surprise.
“Are you the Easter Bunny?” the kid asks in a rush of breath. Techno’s too surprised to answer, expecting his old friend—or even Wilbur—to greet him at the door. Not this rowdy avian child.
He understands how a pink-haired rabbit hybrid like himself might look similar to the Easter Bunny propaganda that can be found in just about every store right now, but that doesn’t mean he was prepared for the question!
“Am I- what?” he stutters. Tommy grins impossibly wide.
“Because you’re pink!” he says, bouncing on his feet, wings ruffling. “And a bunny! And it’s Easter!”
Tommy’s probably young enough to believe in the Easter Bunny. He’s six, Techno thinks, which is pretty young. He would hope that Wilbur or other children from his short time spent in foster care or school didn’t spoil this part of his childhood for him. And he’s just a kid, so Techno doesn’t really mind being mistaken for the Easter Bunny, it’s pretty adorable actually. He was just caught off guard.
Techno opens his mouth to reply but doesn’t get to respond before a familiar elytrian swoops up the child in front of him, a chirping mess.
“Tommy, what did I tell you about answering the door by yourself!” Phil scolds, apologetically glancing at Techno and mouthing the words ‘hi mate’ before turning his attention back to his kid.
“But Dad, it’s the Easter bunny!” Tommy says pointing at Techno. “I didn’t know the Easter Bunny was the friend you said was coming over! He’s pink too!”
Phil blinks, stares at Techno—who gives him a little wave hello in return—before letting out a laugh.
“Mate Techno’s not–” Phil tries to get out before Techno interrupts.
“Yeah kid, I’m the Easter Bunny,” he says. Tommy doesn’t stop grinning, he only wiggles in his father’s arm as he turns to face Techno.
“Aren’t you supposed to be hiding eggs right now?” Tommy asks. “Like chocolate?”
“Who says I haven’t already?” Techno says. Tommy’s jaw drops and he pounds his little fists on his father’s chest. Phil grunts, but he’s smiling.
“Put me down, put me down!” Tommy demands. “I’m going to go find the eggs! I want chocolate!”
“Mate your brother hasn’t even finished breakfast yet, don’t you want to wait?” Phil asks. Tommy isn’t having any of it.
“I'm going to go find the eggs!” he says, all but throwing himself out of his father’s arm, little wings flaring out as his feet hit the ground. Then he takes off, shouting Wilbur’s name, looking for eggs hidden around the house. Phil lets him go with a sigh before turning to Techno.
“Hi mate,” he says, looking ever like the tired, middle-aged single father he is. Techno doesn’t know how Phil seems to grow even more tired when he hears Wilbur’s phantom-like screeches and Tommy’s laughter coming from deeper inside the house.
“Hey Phil,” he says. “Happy Easter.”
“You didn’t have to do that y’know,” Phil says. “Tommy’s gonna believe you're the Easter Bunny until someone tells him the truth.”
“He’s like what, six? Let him have his fun,” Techno says. “There’s no harm in that. And look at you, best friends with the Easter Bunny.”
Phil laughs and welcomes Techno inside.
Really, there is no harm to be found in Tommy believing that Techno was the Easter Bunny. He follows the rabbit hybrid around all day, asking questions about his magic and Easter Bunny adventures. Techno answers every question as seriously as he possibly can. It’s worth it to see the sparkles in the kid’s eyes.
Wilbur doesn’t believe any of it, but he’s a good few years older than Tommy, being twelve. He gives Techno a knowing look when Tommy introduces him as the Easter Bunny, but says nothing. He does refer to Techno as ‘Uncle Techno’ however, which made Techno’s heart stutter when he first heard him. He couldn’t stop smiling whenever Wilbur called him that.
They spend most of their morning watching Tommy run around the house like the wild, chaotic child he is. When Phil revealed that their backyard was covered with colorful plastic eggs they barely had the time to shove a basket into the child’s arms before he took off. Wilbur was having a good time too, running around the backyard alongside Tommy and going invisible to steal eggs right out of his brother’s basket. He’s caught almost every time and laughs when the avian screams at him as they chase each other around the yard.
Techno adores every moment of it, getting to sit beside his best friend as they laugh, watching the kids have their fun.
They have carrot cake for dessert later. Techno is very pleased when Phil promises to send him home with a few slices, because even his own recipes can’t top Phil’s carrot cake perfection. And even though both the boys are hyped up on sugar after eating the candy they found in their eggs, they have a slice too. Wilbur likes it. Tommy scrunches his nose and asks if Phil has strawberry cake instead.
It’s a good day. Techno continues to make up stories when Tommy asks about his Easter Bunny adventures, always having a response for the most obscure questions. As they spend time in the backyard Techno allows himself to show off as he launches himself and Tommy into the air. Tommy had just wanted to see how high Techno could go into the air and was ecstatic when Techno offered to jump with him atop his shoulders. Phil nearly has a heart attack when he hears Tommy’s screeches, but it’s followed by laughter and “again again!” when Tommy climbs back to sit on Techno’s shoulders.
Wilbur shows him the song he’s learning to play and smiles sheepishly when Techno praises him. Techno grins when he gets into a conversation with Wilbur about history and geography, letting the kid ramble about his interests as he pleases. And he teases Phil over the pictures of his girlfriend in his camera roll when they pull out his phone to take pictures, leaving Phil a stuttering mess. It’s all in good fun, and Phil promises that he’ll introduce Kristin to Techno eventually.
It’s a good day, and Techno can’t help but feel a part of Phil's family. Especially when Phil wraps his wings around him as they hug. And when Wilbur refers to him as Uncle Techno and wants to spend time with him. And when Tommy follows him around rambling on and on about his nonsense and asking for more rides atop his shoulders. Techno doesn’t think he ever stops smiling.
Phil invites Techno to come over next month. Wilbur wants him to come back and bring his geography books with him. Tommy wants him to bring him chocolate.
Techno agrees. This is the family that he was looking for.