Chapter Text
Ranboo liked to think he was a pretty laid back guy. Between spending the first few years of his life in an orphanage and when he finally got adopted, ending up as a glorified therapy dog for his adoptive father, Ranboo had learned to roll with the punches.
It wasn't all bad though, sure Phil used Ranboo as a replacement for his actual son but at least he was fed and clothed and in a safe environment. Plus he had Techno looking after him.
Moving to L'manburg with his brother was supposed to be a fresh start for both of them. Away from the memories of a time long past and out into the world for new experiences.
It had worked for a bit. Ranboo had made friends, Techno was halfway to a masters degree. Sure they were behind on rent and had no real stable source of income but it would all work out in the end.
And it did - sort of - just not in the way Ranboo expected.
Ranboo didn't like Nightmare. He didn't like that the superhero constantly put his brother in danger. He didn't like the way he would turn up to their apartment like he owned the place.
However, Ranboo didn't mind Dream.
It had been a surprise that apparently Tubbos mysterious brother, (Tubbo didn't like talking about his family for whatever reason,) was also in Techno's college class. It was a nice coincidence, although Ranboo didn't appreciate the fact he was getting kicked out of his own apartment a lot more often now.
It meant he got to spend more time with his friends outside of school and vigilante work though, which was always a plus. Even if the extent of his vigilantism was just sitting around and waiting for the inevitable signal for trouble. Tommy had a knack for finding a lot of it but now with Purpled on their team they could handle a lot more.
It was almost any normal day. Tubbo had talked to the group about maybe moving on to more higher stakes and the bank robbery had come at the perfect time. Ranboo was sat next to Tubbo as the shorter began setting up his laptop in one of the buildings close by, keypads tapping noisily as he worked to hack into their security cameras and gain a visual.
The earpiece in Ranboos ear relayed perfectly Tommy's idle chatter as he waited for the signal. Purpled occasionally chiming in to bully the former and Ranboo couldn't help from laughing along.
"Ok," Tubbo interrupted as the security feed appeared on his laptop screen. "It appears the villain has a team with him. About ten guys, they're holding the hostages in one of the vaults."
"What do you know about the villain themselves?" Ranboo asked, looking at his phone with a news report running. They were dressed in the average all black clothes, hovering slightly outside the bank doors, looking nonchalant and unbothered despite the amount of guns and cameras pointed at them.
"No clue," Tubbo admitted. "Didn't get to catch their name but they seem pretty new."
"Great, can I go in and stab bitches now?" Tommy asked impatiently.
"Dude we gotta wait. Unless you want to get shot or something," Purpled reprimanded him. Ranboo could hear a soft thump that he assumed was the dragon hybrid hitting Tommy followed by the blond's indignant screech.
"There's a back door but it's pretty heavily guarded. No entrances from the roof. Looks like the only way in is through the front door," Tubbo once again interrupted Tommy and Purpled arguing.
"Maybe we can get the drop on them?" Tommy asked, no doubt directed towards Purpled.
"You could get their attention and I can swoop by, drop a fireball on them," Purpled agreed. "Ran, can you teleport me behind the bank?"
"Sure can," Ranboo said and in the blink of an eye he was standing next to the vigilantes, purple particles sparkling around him. "Hello!"
Purpled levelled him with a look. "No matter how many times you do that I'm still gonna freak out, Jesus Christ."
Ranboo just laughed. "Lets go."
With their "plan" set and in motion, Ranboo could only wait from beside Tubbo as it all went to shit. Pretty par for the course for them if he's being honest. He munched nervously on a cookie to try and regain his energy because pulling someone else through the fabric of reality with him took a lot more energy than just taking himself. Tubbo and him had decided to play fireboy and watergirl to try and distract themselves while they waited for something to happen. The villain had a tight grip on both Tommy and Purpled, holding them as hostages too now so Ranboo couldn't teleport them out of there without running the risk of tearing himself apart or something.
Then Techno had shown up, sacrificing himself for the two vigilantes, getting himself knocked unconscious but subsequently saved by Nightmare…
Again.
Ranboo didn't like Nightmare and he absolutely hated how the superhero made himself comfortable.in their home while they waited for Techno to wake up. The teenager tried to distract himself by texting his friends but they were too busy with other things after their botched rescue attempt leaving Ranboo stuck playing awkward host for a superhero who refused to leave.
But eventually Techno did wake up and Ranboo took the first opportunity he could to get out of that room. Better to not be in the middle of whatever argument they were about to have and instead eavesdrop from outside the door to the living room.
Ranboo watched as Techno dragged Nightmare outside and choked slightly when the superhero removed his mask to kiss Techno.
That was not the most surprising thing however. No. The most surprising thing was the fact that Dream, Tubbos' older brother and nerd who was taking an English master class, was apparently Nightmare, number one superhero in the world.
Ranboo couldn't wait to hear what Tubbo had to say about this.
---
Purpled shoved his hands into the pocket of his trademark purple hoodie, chewing idly on the inside of his cheeks as he walked on the pavement next to Tubbo. The silence between them wasn't awkward but it wasn't exactly comfortable either, it was just silence.
The older teen felt antsy, still high on adrenaline after being held captive then subsequently rescued by his friends older brother. He hadn't even gotten to hit any one before him and Tommy were captured.
His wings twitched restlessly from wherever they went when Purpled pulled them under his skin. It was cool in theory, being part dragon but the reality was there were alot more downsides. It hurt to keep his wings and horns hidden for long periods of time, sometimes he couldn't control the glowing eyes or fire breath. Not to mention all the bullshit dragon instincts to hoard and protect or sleep up high or getting distracted by shiny things.
Purpled hoped they would arrive at Tubbos house soon so he could pull his wings out again.
His prayers were answered when Tubbo suddenly pulled into a fancy looking apartment complex - or fancier to what he was used to at least. The apartment itself was pretty barren but mostly modern looking, located on the fifth floor of the building.
Purpled knew this wasn't Tubbos house, there was no sign of life anywhere, no pictures on the wall besides standard hotel art and even Tubbo seemed confused by the layout of the apartment. He didn't mention this though, as long as the apartment wasn't owned by anyone that would walk through the front door suddenly, Purpled was fine with crashing on the comfy ass couch for a few hours.
Tubbo instantly sets up on the coffee table in the living room, laptop in front of him and spread around him are some of his inventions. It's truly amazing what Tubbo does, he's a prodigy engineer, coder and mechanic, Purpled dabbled in robotics enough to truly appreciate Tubbos designs, most of all the hundreds of ro-bees that act as cameras, surveillance drones and even have poison in their stingers to knock people out.
It's still quiet between them, though Tubbo has put Coconut Mall on repeat while he works and Purpled can only sit still for too long before he has to do something, so he settles for snooping around the house.
Again, it's pretty barren. A two bedroom apartment (and that doesn't add up because supposedly Tubbo has an older brother and a dad that he lives with) the kitchen is empty and so are all the bedrooms so at least Purpled knows no one will be turning up and calling the cops on them anytime soon, because no one lives here.
He's about to abandon his snooping and tell Tubbo he's gonna go home but as he opens the closet in one of the bedrooms, there's a very shiny looking safe on the back wall. Not just any safe though, a Schlatt. Co safe.
Idly, Purpled remembers asking Tubbo about where he got the materials to make all his inventions. He'd admitted to stealing things from Schlatt. Co, it was weird and risky sure, but if anyone could do it and get away scot free, it would be Tubbo.
Now he wonders if there's something much deeper about his link to the company. Managing to steal from them, now breaking into one of their safe houses… not to mention the mysterious family he all but refuses to talk about.
But it's probably just a coincidence.
Purpled shakes his head to rid himself of his ridiculous thoughts and shirts the closet door, turning around and coming face to face with a wide eyed Tubbo.
They stare at each other for a minute, Purpled very awkwardly while Tubbo seems to be in a state of shock. Both of them are pulled from their staring competition however when Tubbos phone dings loudly, he looks at his screen, eyes quickly scanning over the message he'd received a few times as he seems to pale.
"Um, we need to talk."
---
By the time Ranboo arrives at what is definitely not Tubbos house, Purpled is even more confused than before. He's starting to think that theory he'd been so quick to brush off before might have some weight to it.
He's only proven right when Tubbo actually begins to explain. Both Purpled and Ranboo are sitting next to each other on the couch while Tubbo stands in front of them, seemingly hyping himself up for the big reveal.
"My full name is Tubbo Underscore Schlatt, my dad is Jonathan Schlatt, CEO of Schlatt. Co and my brother Dream is secretly Nightmare."
It's the last revelation that throws Purpled off. He's met Dream a few times when he'd been staying at Techno's house with the rest of his acquaintances, he seemed pretty chill, though the tension between him and techno was sickening. Nightmare he'd met even less, the closest he'd ever seen the superhero being when he had to save Techno.
Wow that only happened this afternoon. Time sure was weird.
It's not like the new information really affects him though, Purpled finds himself more worried for Ranboo who's almost directly involved in the mess with Techno and Nightmare. Sure enough when Purpled looks at the black and white haired teen, he seems to be experiencing all five stages of grief at once.
"Your brothers a dick," Ranboo announces.
Tubbo just laughs. "I know."
There's a beat and all the tension Tubbo had been holding seems to vanish, his shoulders slip forward and the smile on his face is relieved. "It doesn't bother you guys?" He asks.
Purpled shrugs. "Not really no, but now I know you're rich I'm not buying you dr pepper at lunch anymore."
Tubbo gasps dramatically. "No! Purpled please."
There's more playful teasing and laughter before Ranboo, ever the voice of reason speaks up.
"Shouldn't we also tell Tommy though?"
Just like that Tubbo goes still again. He's moved over to the couch at some point, one of his knees resting on top of Purpled legs and the blond notices the way his hands clench.
"We can't."
"Why though?" Purpled asks. "Isn't he your best bud?"
"He'd burst a blood vessel! Have you met him? He hates Nightmare and Dream."
"I have met him yeah, that's why I know he's gonna be even more pissed you told me 'n boo before you told him."
Tubbo just gives a deadpan look. "I hate that you're right."
"So you're going to tell him?" Ranboo asks, throwing his legs over Purpleds lap as well and briefly he wonders how he got so comfortable with these people he's used to such casual acts of intimacy.
"Absolutely not."
Ranboo and Purpled look at each other, sharing the same exasperated expression before turning to look at Tubbo again who has somehow grabbed his laptop and is happily typing away on it again, no doubt ignoring the other teens existence.
Well then, this isn't going to end well.