Chapter Text
Purpled walked through the rain, no destination in mind. He had deposited his items in his cave and changed out of his suit. He didn’t want to be reminded about this night. He just finished grieving over his lost UFO(or so he thought). Quackity just blew up the only thing on this server that people remembered him by.
“That’s it. It’s gone.”
Purpled gritted his teeth and clenched his fist as he walked. No one was out right now; it was the middle of the night.
“Your legacy. That’s all you had in this goddamn server was that UFO. Purpled, your legacy is gone. And I’ve taken it from you.”
He took a deep breath, pulling up his hood and stuffing his hands in his hoodie pocket.
“That’s all you had. That was the last piece of evidence that you were ever here.”
Purpled stumbled a bit and quickly realized where he was. He was at L’manhole, the remaining pit of L’manburg. Purpled then figured he was upset over nothing. He didn’t even think of that UFO as a home. Even when he was living in it, it was a house and nothing more. Tubbo, Tommy, and the others lost a home. It was stupid. He was stupid. He remembered Hypixel. That place was more of a home than this server ever was and will be, even if it was illegal.
Completely missing some warning signs, Purpled walked along the glass, noting an almost-bottomless pit below him. Red vines were sprouting in it. They had utterly torn the L’manburg flag to shreds, but whatever, it was for the symbolic, he guessed.
Purpled didn’t have a home. He never did, probably never will.
He stopped in the middle, sitting down cross-legged. He sat like that for a few minutes before finally letting himself break. He was crying silently at first before a choked sob ripped its way out of his throat, and before he knew it, he was outright sobbing.
He pulled his knees up to his chest and ducked his head down.
He was alone. And he always would be.
He didn’t hear the glass cracking until it was too late.
Technoblade wanted this to be a regular night. Whatever ‘regular’ was on this server. He was just going to the L’manhole with Phil and Ranboo to meme on it. He wasn’t expecting to take another kid home with him.
Ranboo was walking a few feet ahead of them, humming to himself.
“You sure he’d be okay with this?” Phil whispered.
“Hm? Oh yeah. He’ll be fine; he knows what we’re doing. Besides, the kid never thought of the place as a home before, right?” Techno walked alongside him.
“If you say so. It just feels like we’re rubbing salt in the wound, y’know?”
“Nah.. trust me, kid’ll be fine.”
They continued walking in almost silence, Ranboo was still humming. When they got up to L’manhole, Techno was a little more than confused. The last thing he expected to see was Purpled, curled into himself, shoulders racking with sobs.
“What happened to him?” Techno asked himself.
“Don’t know.” Phil mumbled from beside him.
Ranboo narrowed his eyes a bit so he could see a bit better. “Techno, who is that?”
The question kinda threw Techno off a bit. “Ranboo, you don’t know him?”
Ranboo thought for a moment, before shaking his head. “No... I don’t think I do. Maybe I’ve seen him and just forgot? I don’t know.”
“Well,” Techno started, maybe hearing a name would jog Ranboo’s memory. “That’s Purpled. We worked together with Quackity to stop the Red Banquet. He was there for the Pogtopia war; he was on Manburg’s side before he swapped. I think he killed one of my withers that day.”
“Oh yeah,” Phil walked forward to the glass. “I saw him a few times there.” He mentioned. “Was he at Doomsday?”
“I don’t think so. Actually, I haven’t seen him since the war.” Techno realized. “Outside of the Banquet, obviously. Wonder how he’s been doing.”
“I mean,” Ranboo deadpanned, turning to Techno. He crossed his arms, but it was all sarcasm, “Clearly not well.” He tilted his head in Purpled’s direction, who was still crying.
Phil cursed, and Techno’s attention was immediately moved to him.
“Phil?”
The avian pulled out an ender pearl. “The glass is gonna shatter!” He began running towards the teen in purple.
[A.N: I am not a physicist, I do not know if this would actually happen, but I’ve learned the hard way that if you stand in the middle of something thin, it will break under you.]
“Phil!” Techno reached a hand out and was about to start running after him, but he turned to Ranboo instead, who was about to start running himself. “You,” He pointed at him, “stay here.” he ordered, flicking his wrist and pointing down. Techno turned his head back to the glass.
“There is no surviving that fall.” That was the last thing he said before running after his friend. He didn’t look back to see if Ranboo obeyed, he just ran.
(Ranboo looked at the signs in front of the glass. They warned people not to stand or walk on the glass, because it was too thin to support someone’s weight. It was only a few layers of sheet glass.)
Purpled didn’t realize what was happening at first, but he heard something. He lifted his head up and looked around him. He didn’t see anything, but then he looked down.
Oh,
Oh shit.
Everything happened quickly after that. The glass had broken underneath him, and before he knew it, he was free-falling. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a scream as he fell. Flailing his arms up as an attempt to grab something, anything to save him, but it was in vain. There was nothing for him to hold. There wasn’t anything for him to catch in the first place, but that didn’t matter.
Neither did he. Because in all honesty, who actually cared about him? The only people he had before were Punz, Ponk, and Dream, but they were all batshit crazy now. Purpled wouldn’t believe for a second that they still cared about him. Especially Dream.
“You’re alone” He couldn’t remember if Quackity had said that, or if it was his own head. He had nothing, meant nothing, and did nothing.
No one gave two shits about Purpled, including himself.
“You die along with it, Purpled!”
In a split-second decision, he stopped screaming, closed his eyes, and accepted his fate.
Phil had thrown the pearl before jumping in after Purpled, worry taking over him as the boy had stopped screaming. He dived down so he would move faster. Colliding with the kid, he held him close as he waited for the pearl to land. He extended his wings in order to slow down some.
Techno waited with baited breath as he watched his friend get closer and closer to the ground below. He sighed in relief when he saw him disappear in purple particles.
Phil reappeared several feet away from the hole, holding Purpled bridal style. He staggered at first. The boy was far too light for someone his age. Purpled was unconscious, but his eyes were undoubtedly puffy from crying. There were also cuts beginning to bleed out because of the glass. A few on his hands, some on his ankle, and who knows how many had cut through his clothes. He did a quick 180, trying to figure out where he landed. The rain was still pounding down, the clouds were dark grey, it was clear that there would be a storm coming soon. He spotted Ranboo on the grass a few hundred feet away and quickly ran over to him, Techno following after Phil passed him.
“Phil, what do we do with him?” He asked while they were running.
“We’ll figure it out later. It’s obvious the kid has some issues he needs to work out.”
Techno sent a glare(with no real malice) to Phil. “Are you suggesting-”
Phil cut him off. “Yes. I am. At least until he wakes up and we know he has a home.” He could tell Techno wasn’t fond of the idea, but he didn’t argue more, so that was a win in Phil’s book. “C’mon, let’s go.”
Purpled woke up on something soft. Wait-
Why is he awake?
He immediately sat up, wincing and gasping slightly at some stinging pain pretty much all over him. The blankets that were on him fell down a bit and Purpled looked down at himself. There were bandages wrapped around both his hands and his arms. He wasn’t wearing his hoodie anymore and was in a black t-shirt that was a bit too big for him. He took off the covers and stepped out of the bed. He took a quick look around the room. The bed was white and hanging a few feet above it was a grindstone. Beside him, there were ladders that lead down somewhere. There was an enchantment table on the other end of the room, surrounded by dozen-or-so bookshelves. Purpled noticed that he was also wearing a pair of pajama pants, and they were quite comfortable and fuzzy. He could also feel some bandages wrapped around his left ankle, knee, and his right thigh.
He clearly wasn’t kidnapped, but he wasn’t dead either.
Purpled looked down at the ladder from before, deciding to go down it.
To say he was confused would be an understatement. There in a chair by a fireplace was Technoblade. He was reading a book, but Purpled couldn’t see the title.
He looked over to his left, there was a whole other room, and it was clearly a kitchen area. There was an island in the middle of it, with two stools on either side. In an almost ‘U’ shape were the countertops. On the back wall, there were six shelves, three on one side, three on the other. The furnace was in the center of the ‘U,’ and on both sides were smokers. On the left side of the countertops were about two or three brewing stands. In front of one of said brewing stands was Philza.
Just what the hell happened to him?!
He hopped down off the ladders. The noise caused Philza to look over at him.
“Hey there, mate!” He greeted.
Technoblade looked up from his book, “Hullo.” was all he said before he continued reading.
Purpled just looked from Technoblade to Philza. Back and forth, and then he mumbled a barely audible, “What?”
“Do you need anything, Purpled?” Philza asked. “We wrapped the cuts up the best we could. Your hoodie got a bit ripped, but Ranboo is sewing that back up right now as we speak.”
Purpled shook his head and walked away from the ladder. “No... uh, thank you. I should probably get out of your hair now.” He spoke quickly, not giving Philza enough time to process what he said before making his way towards the door.
“I wouldn’t do that, mate. There’s a blizzard going on right now.”
Purpled bit his lip. He’s yearned to be noticed for months and now that that’s happening he wants to leave?
“I’ll..” He chose his next words carefully. “I’ll be fine.” He wouldn’t, he knew he wouldn’t be, but he didn’t care, this was starting to get a bit overwhelming. He reached for the handle.
“Kid, just listen to the old man for XD’s sake.” Technoblade grunted from where he sat. “It’s dark out, so it’s going to be even colder. You won’t be fine. You’ll freeze to death if you go out there, even in your hoodie.”
That’s kinda the point. Purpled thought to himself, but chose not to say it.
“Purpled, I swear to Prime. Get your hand off the door knob.” That.. that wasn’t Philza or Technoblade. Purpled whipped around and saw Ranboo.
Hold on-
Ranboo?! Why was he here?
He saw his hoodie hung over his arm. Ranboo noticed him noticing this, so he held it out for Purpled to grab. Which he did. Very quickly. He never felt safe without it. He mumbled a small ‘thanks’ before putting it on.
“Why.. why am I here?” He murmured.
“Long story or short story?” Philza asked.
Purpled blinked. What? “Uh, short, I guess?”
Philza took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. “Saw you sittin’ in the middle of the glass above L’manhole. Glass broke out from under you and I dove in n’ pearled you back out. You were unconscious at that point.”
That’s when Purpled remembered the events from.. However many nights ago.
Quackity blowing up his UFO, offering him a position in his country, telling him he was alone- that he didn’t matter, mourning his destroyed build, scared of being forgotten, going to L’manhole, glass shattering, and falling, falling, FALLING-
“-oah there Purpled. Kid, breath.” Purpled looked around frantically; now, he was definitely overwhelmed. His eyes began watering, his breaths were coming in short wheezes, and his eyes kept darting around the room. He blinked several times, trying to get his vision to focus- but it wouldn’t.
“I can’t-.. I don’t-..” Purpled gasped out. He was going to die- he was falling all over again- he was falling-
“You can.” He felt whoever was in front of him grab his wrist and he flinched, subconsciously feeling his back hit a wall. The person immediately let go. Purpled felt like he was going to be sick, which really didn’t help his situation. He felt his wrist being grabbed again, but it was gentler. Purpled didn’t flinch this time. “Can you open your palm for me?”
Purpled did and his hand was moved so it was against fabric, but it was moving. “There, okay.. Just follow my breathing, kid.” They sat like that for several minutes. Purpled following this person’s breathing, which was obviously exaggerated to help him.
Once Purpled was calmer, he was sat down on a couch. He was still crying, but it was silent. The only tell was the tears streaming down his face. Philza came into view, holding a bowl. Purpled turned his head up to see him better, and Philza handed him the dish. The food was warm, that much he could tell just by holding the bowl. Inside of it was soup. He was handed a spoon.
“It always helps to eat after a panic attack.” Ranboo commented from next to him. Purpled just glanced over at him, nodding a bit. “You waiting for an invitation? Just eat the food.” Ranboo lightly joked.
Purpled ate slowly, not wanting to eat too much, but it was good. It’s probably better than anything he’s had in literal months.
Around fifteen minutes later, Purpled put the bowl down on the coffee table in front of him. He still wasn’t talking at all, which worried Phil a bit.
“Hey, Purpled?” He called.
The boy in question turned his attention over to him.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Philza smiled, and something about it made Purpled want to open up and talk about it. So he did.
“Uh..” He started out quietly. “I don’t know where to start..”
“The beginning would be great.” Technoblade spoke up from the chair he was in. Purpled jumped a bit, forgetting he was there.
“Right. Okay..” He glanced around nervously. “Quackity..” Purpled jumped again when he heard a book close. He looked over at Technoblade, who had closed it, now paying full attention to what Purpled was saying.
“Techno, would you stop scaring the poor kid?” Philza groaned. Technoblade didn’t respond. Purpled took that as his cue to continue.
“He paid me for helping him with the Red Banquet but then..” He trailed off a bit.
“Go on.” Philza prompted.
Purpled did, he told them everything that happened that night. From Quackity paying him to him ending up on top of L’manhole. He left out some bits here and there, like the fact that he had been fending for himself and Dogchamp in the woods for several months.
“And that about wraps things up.” Purpled finished. He turned his gaze up. Philza had a look of sympathy, Ranboo had his arm around Purpled’s shoulders, and Technoblade... Looked indifferent, if not minorly annoyed.
He started pulling on the sleeves of his hoodie. He blinked a couple of times, starting to feel a bit tired.
“Do you have anywhere else to go?” Ranboo queried.
“Yes.” Purpled replied quickly, maybe a tad too quickly. “I uh, I’ve been staying in the woods for a while.”
“No Purpled. Do you have a home?” Philza asked, a bit more firm.
He bit his lip, because the truth was? He didn’t even have that much. He had a house, sure. But it wasn’t a home, and it would never be a home.
“I have a house, yeah.” He supplied instead, hoping they would move on from this topic.
Philza sighed, clearly wanting to press on the topic more, but he didn’t, which Purpled was thankful for. He turned a look towards him, smiling softly, “Why don’t you go back to bed? You’re probably still tired from earlier.”
Purpled nodded before standing and heading back up the ladder. He laid back down on the bed, pulling up one of the covers.
He fell asleep within minutes.
“He’s seventeen, Techno, you said it yourself.” Phil stated with his arms crossed. “He needs a home and by the looks of it? A family.” They were in the basement. Ranboo had fallen asleep on the couch not long after Purpled went to bed.
“And he can find that with other people, but I am not letting some kid I hardly know stay here.” Techno argued.
“Techno. You let Ranboo stay despite the butcher army incident! Purpled hasn’t done you wrong; you worked with him for Prime’s sake! He had a panic attack when I told him what happened the night we found him! And I don’t think he could harm us or Ranboo if he tried. He isn’t stupid enough to try! Give him a chance Techno, please.”
Techno sighed out of frustration. “You know what? Fine. He can stay with Ranboo, but so help me Phil. If he does anything against us, he’s dead.”
Phil looked satisfied with his answer.
“Thank you, Techno.”