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The one thing Tommy never expected when he was on an early morning walk, in an effort to clear his mind of the nightmares, was to find a tall figure standing eerily still on the beach just off the Prime Path, the figure gazing blankly out into the horizon.
The sun had barely breached the horizon but even still, the sky exploded into various shades of reds and oranges which set the server into a surprising peace.
Cautiously Tommy approached the enderman, really regretting not bringing a weapon of some kind. “Ranboo?” He called out his voice littered with confusion and hesitation.
The enderman hybrid didn't move a single muscle, which unnerved Tommy more.
“Ranboo? It's me, Big T!” He called again, only a few feet from him, his shoes crunching in the sand, while Ranboo’s toes were sunk into the sand. “You’re freaking me out here, Memory Boy.”
The only movement Ranboo made was a tail flick, his gaze remained on the sunrise.
Eventually, Tommy reached Ranboo and grabbed ahold of the enderman’s arm only for the enderman to jerk, and before Tommy could react, he was on the ground, with a screeching purple-eyed enderman over top of him. Tommy yelped as he stared up at the fanged toothed mouth that was far too close to his face.
“Ranboo! The hell big man!” Tommy yelped, attempting to push Ranboo off, but the enderman was surprisingly stronger then he expected. However, dread pulsed in his stomach as soon as he looked into Ranboo’s eyes and felt his entire body go numb. Tommy tried everything to get his body to move, to get Ranboo off, but he was frozen in place
That's when a familiar voice in the distance caught his attention, and not even a minute later he heard rapid thuds of feet against the wooden path and a startled “Ranboo!” escape Tubbo’s lips.
Ranboo seemed to not even pick up on Tubbo’s appearance, his focus solely being on Tommy. Tommy watched fruitlessly as Tubbo ran up to them, hooked his arm around Ranboo’s waist, which startled a screech out of him, and with the momentum, he gained from running, he took Ranboo to the ground. Ranboo screeched again and attempted to claw at whatever made him hit the ground but the instant Ranboo’s purple eyes landed on Tubbo’s face, the enderman froze completely.
“⏁⎍⏚⏚⍜? ⊑⎍⌇⏚⏃⋏⎅?” Ranboo croaked, in what Tommy could only assume was enderman. Tommy groaned quietly, pushing himself to sit up and watched the ordeal.
Tubbo sat peacefully at Ranboo’s side, his small bee-like wings fluttering anxiously behind him, creating a small buzzing noise. “Ranboo, Listen, I know you're in there somewhere. It's me, Tubbo.” Tubbo said, gently bringing a hand to Ranboo’s cheek and stroking it, which caused a quiet purr-like sound to escape the enderman, his tail wrapping tightly around his leg. “You need to wake up, you're safe.”
“⌇⏃⎎⟒?” Ranboo croaked again, Tubbo watched as Ranboo’s eyes slowly started fading back to their normal heterochromia
“Yes, Big Guy, you're safe.” Tubbo smiled softly, grasping Ranboo’s large hand in his free one, and proceeded to gently stroke his knuckles. “ You’re doing so well.”
Soon, Ranboo squeezed his eyes shut, and a full-body shudder rushed through his body. He groaned softly before his eyes slowly slid open and he quietly took in his surroundings before he blinked owlishly, not sure where he was or how he got there.
“Big guy? You there?” Tubbo asked gently, rubbing Ranboo’s knuckles.
The sound of Tubbo’s voice immediately gained Ranboo’s attention and he whipped his head towards him, groaning softly as the world tilted and his head protested.
“Easy…” Tubbo said, carding his other hand through Ranboo’s hair and gently bumping against his small horns, which Tubbo always thought were adorable.
“T-Tubbo?” Ranboo stammered, his throat feeling raw. “D-Did… Did I enderwalk again?”
“Unfortunately, Big Guy. But you’re alright.” Tubbo said, “Just relax, Come here.” Tubbo adjusted them and opened his arms, letting Ranboo curl up against him, feeling Ranboo’s arms wrap around him, and soon Ranboo started drifting off to sleep against Tubbo. From anyone else's perspective, It definitely would have looked strange with the two’s immediate height difference, but to the two of them, it was perfect.
While Ranboo settled, Tommy sat down beside Tubbo who was stroking the enderman’s hair and gazing down at him lovingly.
“What in the hell was that?” Tommy asked.
“Ranboo has this habit of doing this ... thing which we call 'Enderwalking'. It’s sorta like a phase of sleepwalking or a really bad dissociation. He really doesn't have much awareness of his surroundings and may last for different periods of time." Tubbo explains, looking down at his husband with great concern. "We're not sure what causes it, whether it's just him sleeping or mass amounts of stress. He's not normally hostile, might have just gotten startled and reacted accordingly, but it seems to be getting worse...He also appears to have the ability to paralyze someone by looking them in eyes, and he always acts a bit… stiff? Mechanical… sort of… when he’s like that."
“Yeah… I felt the paralyzation ability..” Tommy muttered, shuttering.
“He didn't mean it!” Tubbo said, frantic. “I think you just scared him and he didn't recognize your voice well enough. Only Techno, Phil, and I have been able to really get through to him in this state.” Tubbo said sadly.
“Is this a regular thing that happens?” Tommy asked.
“Sort of…? We don’t really know what sets it off, it just happens sometimes.” Tubbo explained. “We were sleeping, Next thing I know he’s gone.”
Tommy stared at him critically before his eyes fell on the silver band on his finger, which matched the one on Ranboo’s finger. “I guess you weren't kidding when you said you were married.” Tommy said, making Tubbo flush.
“U-Uh… yeah...” Tubbo said, red-faced.
Tommy was quiet for a while before a soft smile broke out on his face. “Congrats, Tubbo.” He said with a smile, gazing out at the sunrise. “I’m proud of you.”
Tubbo practically beamed and would have jumped for joy had he not had a bundle of enderman splayed across his stomach and legs. “Thanks Tommy!” Tubbo chirped.
Tommy let out a soft chuckle as he pushed himself to stand, “Get him home and go to bed, You both need it.”
“Will do Tommy, Will do!” Tubbo beamed and with that Tommy turned and took his leave.