Chapter Text
The suffocatingly hot air of the nether slipped through Philzas wings as he flew towards the nearest fortress. The lava glowed cruelly below him and he swooped around a platform filled with red trees, the ground red and fuzzy, almost like moss. Piglins roamed the world around him, looking for gold and trades. A few spotted him, and Phil had to drop a few feet in the air to avoid the arrows that whizzed past him.
“Fuckin hell.” Phil said, exasperated, as he soared away from the red biome. He beat his wings as he flew over a Warped Forest, his dark wings sturdy as ever. His eyes looked over the area, checking for familiar landmarks to guide him to the forest. He spotted some cobblestone placed in a messy line, and smiled as he remembered how Tommy had placed behind himself the first time he'd gone to the nether. Hed been worried that they'd get lost and wouldn't be home in time for dinner. Tommy had clung to Tubbo the entire time, but had tried to put up a tough front, refusing to admit how shaky his tiny hands were as he placed down each block. Phil could practically hear Tommy boasting about how cobble was the best block, about how he was the smartest cause now they wouldn't get lost. Philza let himself relive that memory, trusting his instincts to get him to the fortress safely. His eyes still scanned the forest making sure there was no immediate danger, but there was none.
There was, however, a small black and white figure curled up against a warped tree trunk, their body semi-sheltered by the dipping cyan foliage. From afar they looked strangely like an Enderman, but even Philza, with his crow like eyesight, was confused. He cautiously glided down towards the figure. As he landed softly in the ground near the creature, he noticed that they had a warped Nylium block clutched to their chest like a child would hold onto a stuffed animal for comfort. Phil slowly crouched down a few feet away from the creature, who Philza could now identify as at least part Enderman, but was way too small to be an adult. Half of the enderboys body was pitch black, the other half light gray and white . The kids' eyes were closed, but there were green particles emitting from the Enderman side of the boy. The kid's arms were awkwardly long, as if his arms had grown before the rest of his body. The kid was also shaking slightly, and Phil could see where tears had scorched the skin on his face. Phil looked around, perhaps searching for an Enderman nearby that could claim this child, but it was increasingly obvious to Phil that his kid was alone, despite the Enderman walking around the area. Phil took a deep breath as he slowly reached out a hand to tap the kid on the shoulder.
"Hey, Mate? Ya good there kid?" Phil said cautiously, but trying to keep his voice warm and friendly. The kid shifted around, and clutched the block closer to his chest as he slowly opened his vivid green and red eyes. He let out a sleepy crackle as he tried to wake up, but as soon as he realized where he was he stood up suddenly, vibrating in fear. Once he noticed Phil the crackling only got louder as he rambled in Enderspeak, and green particles filled the air rapidly. He scrambled away from the winged man and clutched the block in his hands closer to him, he back hitting a warped tree trunk. Phil tried not to jump at the sudden movement and let out a breath slowly as he looked away from the kids glowing green and red eyes. He slowly moved his hands to the ground as he stayed sitting on the ground and relaxed his body.
"It's ok mate, I'm not gonna hurt you, I just wanted to make sure you were ok there." Phil kept his voice soft and friendly, and made sure not to make direct eye contact with the little kid. "I can help you if you want, but I can also leave." Ranboo kept rambling in enderspeak anxiously, but he stopped vibrating as aggressively, and his clutch on the warped Nylium block loosened slightly. The Particles around them slowly started to dissipate, Phil smiled slightly, trying to show the enderboy that it was ok.
"Mh sorry," Ranboo whispered, surprising Phil, who thought Ranboo couldn't understand him, much less speak English. This raised even more questions, but Phil tried to ignore them for the time being. "Didn wanna scare you."
Phil softened even more at the words.
"It's ok mate, I didn't want to scare you either." Phil paused for a second, then continued. "My name’s Philza, or just Phil." Ranboo looked up at Phil carefully, searching his face for any signs of hostility. There were none, he was looking slightly to the side to avoid eye contact, and his expression was caring.
“‘M Ranboo.” Ranboo was still whispering, his voice slightly scratchy, like his voice was meant for Enderspeak, not English, but Phil could understand him with minimal effort.
“Ok Ranboo, is there anyone who can take care of you, or are you on your own?” Phil was concerned, and wanted to get straight to the point. Ranboo immediately shrunk in on himself, his mind flashing memories of green and purple flickering eyes, big, black wings beating at empty air, and cold obsidian pressing into his back.
“Momma-” Ranboo took a shuddery breath. “S-she took Momma away.” Tears spilled out of the young boy's eyes and burned at his skin as Phil watched in thinly veiled horror. Ranboo screeched in enderspeak for a second, and Phil tensed slightly.
“Oh, mate.” Phil looked in the direction of the fortress one last time, and then turned back to the Ranboo, who was emitting green particles and silently crying. “How would you feel about staying with me and my boys for a little while? You'll be safe here, I promise.” Ranboo sniffled for a second, then looked up at Philza again.
“M’kay, I wanna be safe.” Phils heart broke at the words, but he didn't show it. Instead he held out a hand for Ranboo to take as they started the journey back to the portal. Ranboo shakily took the older man's hand, his comfort block still clutched in his other hand.