Chapter Text
“Ranboo?”
“Ranboo”
“Ranboo!”
Gray eyes opened and blinked at the urgent whisper. Once. Twice.
He met the blue gaze of his friend and blinked again.
“You back with me, big man?” his friend asked in a hushed tone.
Ranboo blinked a couple times more and brushed his dirty blond hair out of his eyes with a hand, nodding. “S-Sorry,” he quietly apologized.
The other boy smiled, softly patting him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, you can’t control when it happens,” the blond reassured.
Lips pursed, Ranboo sighed and nodded. “I know...”
“Now come on, we have to get back to the house,” the blond said as he rose to his feet, offering him his hand.
Ranboo hesitated before taking his hand and standing, easily gaining almost half a foot in height over the blue eyed blond.
His friend turned to hurry off when the taller teen quietly spoke up, “Tommy-“
Immediately, Tommy paused to look up at Ranboo. “What is it?”
Suddenly, Ranboo backtracked on what he was going to say, fidgeting with his backpack strap. But since he knew how persistent Tommy could be, he decided to say it anyway. “Do... Do you think anyone will find out just... how bad... they are?”
Understanding flashed in Tommy’s eyes and a bit of sympathy showed in his soft smile. “Don’t worry, we’ve made it clear we are a package deal and I won’t let anyone find out,” he reassured, keeping his voice low.
Ranboo smiled slightly, nodding. “R-Right... Th... Thanks Tommy...”
Smile growing brighter, Tommy pat Ranboo on the back before grabbing his hand, leading him down the warm sidewalk.
The taller teen willingly went with him, grateful for the gentle squeeze that Tommy gave him whenever he slowed slightly. It kept him grounded, and it made it easier for him to recover from episodes like the surprise one he had on their way home from school.
Suddenly, Tommy cursed quietly then looked back at him, saying, “We gotta hurry if we want dinner.”
Ranboo nodded his head. “Okay,” was all he had to say in response.
Tommy faced forward and the two teens began running down the sidewalk, a decently common sight in their city, even during the summer.
After enough running that made them breathe heavier, they reached the steps that led up to a large brick building. They knew it as the group home. It was where they stayed when no one was willing to foster them. Sure, it was the place they lived at for the majority of their foster lives, but they never saw it as their actual home. It was just a temporary place, just like everywhere else they lived.
Without even speaking, the two teens hurried up the steps and entered as quietly as they could. They speedily hurried to the cold stairwell and climbed the stairs with so little noise that only many years of experience in the foster system could give.
Still breathing heavily, the two blonds reached the fourth floor and dashed down the hallway as quietly as they could.
When Tommy suddenly stopped in front of a door, Ranboo would’ve fallen over if it weren’t for the shorter teen stabilizing him.
Murmuring a quiet thanks, Ranboo followed Tommy into their room and pulled his tattered blue backpack off his shoulders. He set the bag on his bed and waited by the door for Tommy to put down his faded red backpack.
With a quiet but exasperated sigh, Tommy hurried over and they left the room, remembering to shut the door.
They dashed down the halls back to the chilly stairwell, still very much out of breath. But they couldn’t stop, not if they wanted dinner.
Still as quiet as mice, the two tall teens reached the first floor and entered a room that resembled a cafeteria. Except the kids here weren’t all students, and the cafeteria wasn’t exactly inside a school.
Soon, the two were sitting side by side at their usual table, eating bland meals and drinking room temperature water.
Finally, Ranboo had the chance to breathe.
Tommy took a bite of his food, thoughtfully gazing up at the ceiling. Ranboo paused mid-scooping-his-food-onto-his-fork to glance confusedly at his friend.
“You good?” he whispered to his friend.
Without moving his gaze, the shorter blond slowly nodded, still acting like he was deep in thought.
Ranboo gave him a bewildered look, but decided to move on and just scoop some food into his mouth.
Without warning, Tommy snapped his fingers with a massive grin on his face. Instantly, Ranboo looked down at his friend with noticeable concern in his gray gaze and a raised eyebrow.
Not explaining a thing, Tommy flashed a grin at Ranboo before continuing to eat.
But Ranboo wasn’t going to let it up that easily. “What was that?” he asked in a hushed tone.
All he got was a mischievous grin and a “You’ll see.” Ranboo had to admit, that one combination was enough for him to fear. Not for his life, obviously, just for his sanity. When Tommy had a prank idea, Ranboo was usually the one to apologize for him and help clean up. And of course, certain things are really good at happening to him at really bad times.
Even though he really wanted to know what Tommy had thought of, Ranboo knew not to push it and moved on from it.
It wasn’t long before they finished their food and returned their trays to the racks to be cleaned for future use.
After another breathtaking trip up the stairs, they were soon sitting on their beds and just trying to entertain themselves with what little possessions they had. Or at least, Ranboo was. Tommy, on the other hand, was leaning against the wall with a mischievous grin on his face.
Eventually, Ranboo sighed, put down his book, and began to stare at Tommy.
The blond quickly met his gaze and raised his eyebrow. “What?”
“What are you planning?” Ranboo immediately asked.
Instantly, Tommy began snickering and Ranboo had to wait for him to stop.
“Well, you see,” began Tommy in between his snickers, “you know how Nathan likes messing with us?”
Ranboo slowly raised his eyebrow, hesitating before responding, “Yeah...?”
“Want to sneak into his room and pour mashed potatoes on his bed?”
The thought of Nathan entering his room that night only to find potatoes on his bed made Ranboo splutter and start to laugh. “Seriously??” he said, his voice higher pitched from his laughter. “That’s your prank idea??”
“Come on, it’s a great idea!” Tommy insisted with a grin.
Still shaking with quiet laughter, Ranboo face palmed and leaned against the wall as he tried to calm down. “You have got to be kidding me,” he said, not even trying to hide the amused grin on his face.
“Oh come on, it’ll be hilarious!”
“Yeah, until it gets pinned on you, and I get in trouble by extension!” Ranboo shook his head in amusement, still grinning.
Tommy began to splutter, “I- Pf- Ye-Yeah well-“
Another chuckle escaped Ranboo, amusement sparkling in his tired gray eyes. “You can do it if you want, but I am not helping you this time,” he told the younger teen.
A sigh of exasperation escaped Tommy. “Fine, I guess you can be that way,” he said in annoyance as he rose to his feet, puffing out his chest.
The moment Tommy reached the door, Ranboo asked, “How are you even going to get mashed potatoes and sneak into his room without anyone seeing you?”
Instantly, the blond stopped, his hand already on the doorknob. He went back to his bed, sitting with his elbow resting on his thigh and his chin resting on his fist. He scrunched up his face in thought before putting up one finger. “Good point,” he admitted.
Ranboo rolled his eyes, still grinning in amusement.
But their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door, one that made both blonds look up at it.
The door swung open and their social worker leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed.
“May we help you?” Tommy asked, eyebrow raised.
“Yeah,” answered their social worker, “you can get your stuff and come downstairs, someone’s willing to foster both of you.”
Instantly, Ranboo and Tommy exchanged a worried glance but stood up nonetheless.
“Alright, thanks, Jimmy boy,” Tommy told their social worker as Ranboo began to pack up.
Ranboo hid his amused grin by turning his back as their social worker sighed in exasperation. “You know my name, Thomas, quit calling me Jimmy boy,” he replied in a stern yet lighthearted tone.
Tommy snickered and began to pack up his possessions as well. “If you say so, Jonathan,” he retorted playfully.
The adult rolled his eyes, laughing quietly. “Whatever, just come down soon to meet your new foster parent,” he said, an amused smile on his face.
Their social worker turned and began to walk down the hall, causing Ranboo to call, “Thanks Joey!”
Both of the teens began to snicker as the adult called back, “It’s Joseph!”
Despite the nervousness fluttering in their stomachs, they finished packing up and left their room, remembering to shut the door. A new foster parent wasn’t rare for either of them, but one that was willing to take in two problem teens definitely was. But it had happened before, and both times definitely ended badly.
They were silent as they descended the stairs, and silent when they exited the stairwell on the first floor. And still, they were silent when they reached Johnny’s office.
They could hear talking from inside, so they automatically assumed it was the foster parent talking to Julian.
With exchanged glances and shaky sighs, Ranboo and Tommy entered the office.
Only to see three unfamiliar faces sitting across from Jeremy.
And instantly, all four pairs of eyes turned to rest on them. Wonderful.
“Ah, there you two are,” Jayden said with a polite smile on.
Neither of them spoke as they sat down in the chairs to the side of Jackie, trying to keep their gazes on anything but the unfamiliar faces. But both of them stole quick enough glances to see a blond man with a friendly smile on his face, a tall young adult with curly brown hair, and a not-quite-as-tall young adult with... long pink hair? Alrighty then.
“Ranboo, Thomas, this is Phil Watson, he’ll be your foster father. And these are Wilbur and Techno, they were fosters as well that were adopted by Phil a few years ago,” Josiah told them.
“Hello,” Ranboo politely greeted, still avoiding their gazes.
With a soft nudge from the taller teen, Tommy muttered, “Hi.”
Jacob turned back to the unfamiliar faces, telling them, “So if you’re sure you want to take both of them in, you just have to sign some papers and take them home.”
“Alright,” Phil said with a nod, the friendly smile fading a bit as he focused on the papers he had to read and sign.
Ranboo held onto his backpack strap tightly, staring at the floor. Tommy was in a similar situation, only he was bouncing his leg and tapping his fingers a bit on his backpack strap out of habit.
While Phil was signing papers, the taller brunet son settled his gaze on Ranboo before asking, “How tall are you?”
Slightly startled, Ranboo looked up before answering, “6 foot 6.”
The brunet cursed in frustration while the other son snorted. “Guess Wilbur’s not gonna be the tallest in the house anymore,” the pink haired man drawled with an amused smirk on his face.
Ranboo’s gaze flickered between the sons before Wilbur sighed in annoyance, saying, “One. inch. one. inch.”
A look of amusement and triumph crossed Ranboo’s face but before he could respond, Phil let out a sigh as he put down the pen.
“Alright,” Jameson said with a smile. “Ranboo, Thomas, you’re free to go with Phil now.”
Obediently, Ranboo rose to his feet, Tommy slowly doing the same.
Phil and his sons stood as well, Ranboo quickly noticing that he was, in fact, just barely taller than Wilbur. He felt triumph growing inside of him and he grabbed onto it, relishing in the emotion for as long as he could.
Joshua stood as well, the polite smile still plastered onto his face. “If anything happens, I’ll be over to pick you both up,” he said, though it felt like he was also telling that to their new foster family.
“Okay,” Ranboo said, Tommy staying totally silent and still besides the tapping of his fingers on his thigh.
Still smiling, Jordan exited the office and walked down the hall, prompting Phil and his sons to follow. After exchanging a worry-filled glance, Ranboo and Tommy trailed after the others.
Outside, Jason was already keeping small talk going with Phil, not that Ranboo or Tommy paid attention to their conversation. Neither of them cared enough to listen to their social worker talk to the man that was likely to send them back long before midterms even started.
Before Ranboo realized it, they had reached the parking lot and were standing beside a steel blue SUV.
Jayce waved to them from the sidewalk as Techno hopped into the passenger seat, much to Wilbur’s audible dismay.
Pursing his lips, Ranboo climbed into the SUV just behind Tommy, following him to sit in the very back seats. While they buckled in their seatbelts, Wilbur reluctantly sat in the middle row with a glare at Techno.
As Phil started the SUV up, Ranboo stared out of the window to watch Jasper enter the group home. The group home that he was likely to be returning to pretty soon. Well, that was depending on how quick Phil would discover how much of a handful both Ranboo and Tommy were. Alone, they could potentially have a chance with him, but together, yeah they were doomed.
Ignoring the playful banter that had already started up between Techno and Wilbur, Ranboo glanced over at Tommy and noticed just how tense he looked.
Softly smiling in understanding, Ranboo reached over the bags they had set in the middle seat and gently squeezed his right hand to try and reassure him. The blond met his gaze and weakly smiled at him, slightly squeezing his hand in response.
It was common for them to reassure each other by holding hands; it was a habit they started as tweens that just carried into their teen years.
Ranboo tried to pull his hand away but Tommy held it tight. Holding back a snort, Ranboo whispered to him, “Clingy.”
“Shut up,” Tommy whispered back, a small grin on his face.
A similar grin on his face, Ranboo let him hold his hand as he turned to gaze out the window. They were now on the main road, and were approaching a familiar intersection. The stoplight was green, but turned yellow as they turned onto the other road.
A soft sigh escaped Ranboo as he closed his eyes. Despite how many foster homes he had been in before, the hope that this would be the one persisted. And no matter how tough Tommy acted, Ranboo knew he had the same hope.
They weren’t biologically related, but they had been through so much together that they were as close as brothers. All they wanted was to have a family that cared about them as much as they cared about each other.
They just wanted their forever home.
But their lives had proven that fairytales don’t exist.
(WC: 2593)