Misunderstandings

**Link to chapter on Archive of Our Own**

Published April 24, 2021 on non-profit fanworks website Archive of Our Own

***Content Warning for betrayal, broken friendships, blood, being trapped under rubble, implied/referenced torture, and severe injury***

## Author's Summary

*“T-T’ch… Tech, pl’s…” Phil slurs. There’s an awful choking sound, a wet noise as Phil struggles to breathe around his own blood. Technoblade grits his teeth, his heart aching with the pain of a man who has lost everything. His victory, his men, his best friend. As far as he’s concerned, Phil died the moment he brought them here, the moment he led their men to their deaths.*

*“Tech—ghhh—T’ch, ‘m sorry…”*

*“No, shut up—shut up—you don’t get to say that. You don’t get to call me that.”*

*Phil sobs softly, and it just makes the flame in Technoblade’s chest burn all the brighter. How dare he feel sorry for what he’s done, how dare he try to apologize when their men lie broken and bleeding and dead around them. How dare he try and make things right when he broke his promise—when he became just like everyone else.*

## Featured Characters

Philza

Technoblade

Unnamed soldiers

## Chapter Summary

The sixteenth [16th] chapter of the story but second [2nd] in terms of chronology, *Misunderstandings* takes place a while after *Meetings*, when a camaraderie between Philza and Technoblade had been formed but not quite tested. Due to the history and nature of both characters at this point in time, it was inevitable that they remain away from the battlefields for long, despite Philza’s last words from *Meetings* about doing otherwise. Unbeknownst to Technoblade, Philza had spent an unspecified amount of time doing espionage on the opposing side and had gained access to knowledge about.  recounts Philza and Technoblade’s initial encounter and set on an unspecified battlefield. The chapter is written from Philza’s point of view, set in a time when he is already attempting to shed his reputation as the “Angel of Death”. At this point, he is described to be more suited to leading or advancing alone than following orders, yet he places himself in a follower’s role and plays the part of a complacent soldier in an effort to change who he was and leave his past behind. However, his dislike of doing so is hinted at.

On said unspecified battlefield, Philza comes face-to-face with Technoblade as members of opposing sides after the latter has already left a trail of bodies in his wake. He offers a few quips and asks for his opponent’s name, which Technoblade doesn’t answer. After trading a few blows, both appear to grow excited at the prospect of a harder match than their usual fare, and Philza notes that it’s been a while since he last fought without holding back. They trade blows for a while, seemingly equal in battle even if their strengths lie in different areas, and Philza questions why Technoblade allows himself to be subservient to others, seeing his past self in his present opponent. This enrages Technoblade, who’s strikes grow sloppy, allowing Philza to shatter Technoblade’s mask. He is caught off-guard by the latter’s youth, and Technoblade takes advantage of the moment to deliver a would-be fatal wound to Philza’s abdomen. Philza responds by taking to the air for a well-placed arrow that would take down most men before landing badly and collapsing into the dirt.

To his surprise, Technoblade removes the arrow and gets back up. Philza assumes a protective position and asks for a quick death. However, instead of being finished off like he expects, Technoblade offers his name and states that, “Nobody’s ever asked me that before.” Before Phil manages to speak more, he blacks out from the blood loss.

When he comes to, it’s with Technoblade’s scratchy cloak as a pillow on the hard ground. Technoblade offers him some water and brings attention to Phil’s words from their battle, which Philza correctly takes to mean that Technoblade wants out of his current life. He takes some pins from his pack and picks the locks on Technoblade’s shackles, verbally poking Technoblade for his future plans to the piglin hybrid’s annoyance. Technoblade offers to join Philza’s side due to fighting being a constant in his life, to which Philza states that Technoblade is more than just a weapon. This acknowledgment of humanity is what causes them to “click” and the chapter ends with Philza’s offer to “go on an adventure”.

## Wounds/Injuries/Scars

* Minor burn damage to Philza’s wings due to explosion
* Likely concussion and hearing damage due to explosion (Technoblade, Philza, unnamed characters)
* Philza’s wings pinned by rocks due to explosion
* Miscellaneous characters injured by debris due to explosion
* Philza’s fingers are injured due to Technoblade kicking his hand away
* Philza has various wounds, likely starvation, and dehydration due to torture
	+ Later has a fever from infections of wounds and stress

## Addenda

* Two-parter, the prequel to "Confessions"
* Part of the fourth two-shot in the series