𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

---〘⇯〙---

"listen," techno said. "you have a unique advantage." pax tilted their head. "you're small."
"and how is that-"
"listen," techno stressed. "warfare is based on deception. your enemy will underestimate you, believe you to be weak because of your size. play into that belief, and let that arrogance be their downfall."

〘⇯〙

pax was good at putting on an act. they made their voice meek when they talked to sam. sam turned to them after quackity had show the axe and sword. "and why are you here?" pax shifted their weight.
"i think," they began, voice wavering. "i- i don't feel safe, after hearing everything that dream has done. i think that this might be the only way," they finished, voice cracking. sam's posture changed, slouching in on himself.
"ok," he murmured, placing a protective hand on pax's shoulder. even after everything that had changed, he still wanted to protect as many people as he could, and if this was the way to do it-
"i'll let you in." he sucked in a sharp breath. quackity nodded. pax muttered a quiet "thank you" before drifting off, find their way back to ranboo and tubbo's hotel.

〘⇯〙

"but your size is a double edged sword." techno rested an arm on pax head before they pulled away. "i don't think you'd be able to meet someone in a confrontation of strength. so, be quicker. don't hit your enemy where they are strong; find where they are weak and strike fast." techno started to point out weak spots in armor, where the plates met, where the metal thinned. "strike fast; strike like lighting. and don't ever get caught."

〘⇯〙

"aren't you a little rogue?" bad's voice was sickeningly sweet. "in order for the Eggpire to succeed, we need to be united." the name pulled at pax like gravity, but the warmth in their veins smothered the pull.
"i'm leaving," pax replied. bad growled, pulling out his sword, the metal singing.
"no. you're coming with me. the Egg wants to talk." the whispers that had been fading stirred themselves into a frenzy.
pax turned to find a sword at their throat.
bad was almost fully decked out in netherite, with more experience and allies than pax.
this wouldn't go well if they stayed.
pax equipped their pickaxe, the tool materializing beneath their cloak.
they lashed out, hooking the pickaxe over the guard and yanking.
pax pulled out their axe as the sword went flying. they swung their axe, missing the weak point in his armor.
the armor screeched and bad stumbled back.
the tools dematerialized and pax bolted.