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“Put me in the prison Sam!” Ranboo yelled, clutching the warden’s shoulder tightly. “I need to be put in the prison!”
Sam merely looked at him, compassion in his eyes. “I’m sorry, no.” He spoke softly, his hand resting gently on the sword resting in its sheath.
“I think you should go back home Ranboo. Go see Micheal.” Sam comaneded, his voice still gentle.
“What if I just-” He stuttered, eyeing the glowing violet portal that hissed in warning. “What if I just put myself in then? I can just put myself in the prison.”
This prompted Sam to pull out his storm, more in warning than anything. Ranboo wasn’t fooled of course, in a second Sam could have him dead on the ground.
“Are you going to kill me?” He asked nervously.
Sam looked Ranboo up and down, before shaking his tongue. “I don’t think I have to.” Rambo sighed and wrapped his arms around himself. “Ranboo, go home. Go see Micheal, get some sleep.”
The Enderman hybrid stuttered, but eventually sighed and nodded. Sam wasn’t going to be convinced.
Still, neither was Ranboo. He needed to figure this out, and he needed to figure this out soon.
He did head home, but not the home Sam was thinking of. Not the colonial house, with a makeshift flag that didn’t quite mark a country. Instead he headed over to his hut in the Antarctic Comune built into a hollowed out hill. He couldn’t hurt anyone there, at least not anyone who wouldn’t hesitate to fight back.
He needed to find out the truth, no matter the consequences. If he didn’t the consequences would get worse. He would get worse. His actions would get worse.
Who would he hurt next time? What would he destroy?
He wasted no time at the brewing stand, pouring gunpowder in the dispenser and letting it burn above the cackling powder.
He plucked it out from the stand as soon as it was finished, something you’re really not supposed to do. The glass burned his hand, but pain was the last thing he was worried about now.
“I know one thing that can give me answers.” He mumbled, holding up the unassuming liquid to the light. It was water, just water. “Is myself.”
Without hesitation he threw the bottle on the ground, letting out a warble of pain as water soaked into his pants and on his legs. It burned, burned worse than fire or lava, than smelting metal or burning coal.
His eyes rolled up in the back of his head as he backed out in pain, his clawed hands digging into the soft leather of his memory book.
When he woke up it was dusk, the honey colored sun reflecting off the golden sand. Somehow, after the water incident, his Enderself managed to find his way to a bone dry desert.
Which was honestly completely understandable.
There were bandages around his legs, presumably where the burns were. His Enderself must have done that.
His legs still stung, but not as much as before. He took out his book and flipped to the most recent page, to find a small message written in Ender.
∷ᒷᒲᒷᒲʖᒷ∷
⊣𝙹ꖎ↸ ⎓𝙹∷ ᒲ╎ᓵ⍑ᔑᒷꖎ
ʖᒷℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ ᔑ∷ᒲ𝙹⚍∷ ⎓𝙹∷ ℸ ̣ ⚍ʖʖ𝙹
⍊╎ᓭ╎ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ 𝙹ᒲᒲ||
Ranboo could read Enderscript when awake, it was just slightly more difficult. It took a little longer for him to read, but he could figure it out. It didn’t take long to translate.
REMEMBER
GOLD FOR MICHAEL
BETTER ARMOUR FOR TUBBO
VISIT TOMMY
Ranboo stared at it in confusion. That was it? That’s all he had to say?
Perhaps his instructions were unclear? He couldn’t exactly communicate directly with his Enderself. Maybe he didn’t know what Ranboo wanted?
Ranboo hobbled back home from the desert, still in a great deal of pain. He needed to try again, he needed to find answers.
His Snowchester home was a lovely sight, but he still felt guilty. Even as his husband came to greet him, their son in his arms. He was putting them all in danger.
“Ranboo! You’ve been away for awhile. Are you feeling ok?” He asked sweetly, taking the tall hybrid by his elbow and leading him inside. Ranboo merely hummed, and Tubbo frowned. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah” He mumbled “Just… Tired.” He admitted, slumping over.
Tubbo nodded sympathetically. “Were you Enderwalking again? That always makes you pretty tired. Why don’t you get to bed, get some sleep? I’ll tuck Micheal in.” Micheal let out a happy but tired shrill as Ranboo nodded, too tired to disagree.
The next morning, before the sun had even fully risen, Ranboo was scribbling a note in his notebook. He’s pretty sure his other self could read English, so he didn’t try to translate his message.
WHO ARE YOU?
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
There. That should have been enough.
He checked in with Micheal, made sure Tubbo was ok, before heading back to his chemistry lab. Phil was outside, and gave him the side eye as he stormed across the cold landscape, clearly not dressed for the weather, but he didn’t say anything. He’d most definitely seen weirder.
Ranboo still had two more bottles left. Clearly his Enderself didn’t bother cleaning them up.
Bracing himself once more he lifted the water bottle up and tossed it on the grown. He let out a gurgle of pain at the sudden and harsh burning. His vision went white and he only had a few seconds to wonder why it wasn’t working as quickly as it did the first time, before finally blacking out.
He was wandering on the Prime Path when he finally woke up. He was tired and aching, utterly exhausted. A quick check on his communicator showed that a full day had passed. There were fresh bandages on his legs. He didn’t change them, so his Enderself must have.
He stumbled home, zoning out, until he heard Sam call him.
“Ranboo! Ranboo!” The creeper hybrid called from the mouth of Pandora’s Vault. He wasn’t entirely sure why he was being called, but he stumbled over anyway.
Sam towered over him, concern in his black eyes. “Shouldn’t you be home? Those injuries were pretty bad.”
Ranboo stared at him blankly. “What?”
Sam tilted his head in confusion “The ones I helped you bandage? The burns and cuts? You told me you dropped a water glass, remember? At least I think that's what you said. We were kinda playing charades.”
“I-um.. I don’t” Ranboo stuttered. Why would his Enderself get help? Didn’t he know they had to keep it a secret?
“Oh, is your memory acting up again?” Sam asked sympathetically. Ranboo nodded, not really wanting to explain. “Do you want me to escort you home.”
“Um no thank you” Rnaboo stuttered.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, positive.” He rushed away quickly before Sam could ask any more questions, ignoring the pain in his legs as he stumbled through the snow. It was late, and a quick check to his bedroom showed that Tubbo was fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb his husband he made his way to the kitchen, before opening his memory book, hoping for answers.
╎ ᔑᒲ ||𝙹⚍
╎ ∴ᔑリℸ ̣ ||𝙹⚍ ᓭᔑ⎓ᒷ
╎ ∴ᔑリℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⚍ʖʖ𝙹 ᓭᔑ⎓ᒷ
╎ ∴ᔑリℸ ̣ ᒲ╎ᓵ⍑ᒷᔑꖎ ᓭᔑ⎓ᒷ
His eyes scanned the page, desperately trying to translate.
I AM YOU
I WANT YOU SAFE
I WANT TUBBO SAFE
I WANT MICHEAL SAFE
What? What did that mean? There was no way his Enderself was just… Him. Why would he blow up the community house? Why would he steal Tommy’s disc? He quickly grabbed a pen and scribbled a quick message.
LIAR.
He blew gently on the ink, before resting his head on the table. He was exhausted, but he needed some way to communicate, and to get accurate answers. Still, maybe he could close his eyes for an hour or so. Who knows how long he’s been awake for? Certainly not him.
He woke to his husband gently shaking his shoulder. Tubbo’s eyes were filled with concern, as he held Micheal on his hip. “You alright?” He asked, nervously glancing at his memory book, which was wide open. Ranboo slammed it close.
“Yeah! I’m fine! Don’t worry, I just need some sleep.” Ranboo replied frantically.
Tubbo arched his brows, clearly not believing a word he said. “Well then, I think you should get to bed then. The counter doesn’t seem like an adequate place to get proper rest. It won’t be good for your back.” Micheal oinked, seemingly in agreement.
Ranboo wanted to argue, but he was pretty tired. He stumbled away from the counter, before plopping himself on the couch and laying down. Tubbo gave him a side eye, but decided that the couch was better than the counter and let it slide when he saw Ranboo finally getting some sleep.
The only problem was that despite going to sleep on the couch he very much did not wake up there.
When he finally opened his eyes after a genuinely restful sleep he was in his and Tubbo’s bed.
He shot up in fright, and quickly realized he was alone. “Tubbo?” He called, receiving no answer. “Tubbo?” He yelled even louder, shooting out of bed before stumbling to the ground, the blankets tangled around his feet.
His husband finally stumbled to the room, dressed in matching green pajamas, and rubbing his eyes. “Ranboo? What’s going on? Why are you up so early?”
Ranboo ignored his question as he rushed to his side, checking him over for injuries. “Tubbo you’re not hurt right? I didn’t hurt you?”
Tubbo just stared in utter confusion. “Ranboo, what are you on about?”
The endermen hybrid started to stutter “I-I woke up here, but I fell asleep on the couch. I don’t know how I got here.”
Tubbo smiled at him, before patting him gently on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about that mate. You fell asleep on the couch and about thirty minutes or so later you stood up and stumbled to the bed. You were probably just too tired to remember.”
Ranboo nodded, but more to reassure Tubbo than anything. Tubbo didn’t know that he was losing control, that there was a completely different side of him. How was he to explain that he could be putting both him and Micheal in danger by just being around them?
“Of course.” Ranboo mumbled softly. “I think I’ll get a drink. I’m pretty sure we still have mundane potions left.” Tubbo smiled softly at this, mumbled a few tired words of reassurance, before going back to bed.
Ranboo did go down to the kitchen like he said, but he may have lied. Instead of grabbing a mundane potion he reached for a bottle of lukewarm water. It would be hard for an outsider to tell, but mundane potions were slightly heavier than water.
Before drinking he wrote a quick message in his memory book.
TELL THE TRUTH
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Finally after a moment of hesitation Ranboo downed the glass of water. It felt like lava, burning his tongue and mouth as he gurgled in pain.
Luckily he didn’t have to wait long before blacking out from the pain.
He woke up feeling oddly numb, in a room he didn’t recognize. It was flower patterned on the soft pink walls. Tubbo was right beside him, his warm hand resting on Ranboo’s white one.
He let out a groan, noticing it was hard to speak. Tubbo turned to him instantly, his blue eyes going wide. “Puffy! Puffy! He’s awake!” Tubbo called, and soon the sheep hybrid came rushing in, a calm but worried expression on her face.
“Oh finally, you poor thing.” The sheep hybrid tutted nervously. “Are you in pain? Don’t speak, just nod or shake your head.” Ranboo shook his head, and Puffy let out a sigh of relief. “Ok, that’s good. I wasn’t sure if the healing potion worked.”
“Ranboo I’m so sorry.” Tubbo apologized, his eyes wet with tears. “I should have labeled the water in the kitchen. I didn’t even think to. Oh your poor mouth!” Ranboo only stared in confusion.
“Ranboo, do you remember what happened?” Ranboo shook his head, and Puffy’s lips went tight. “Ok, well, we’re not entirely certain ourselves but we’re quite certain that when you went to get a mundane potion last night you grabbed some water by accident. It’s an easy mistake to make, especially when you’re tired, but…” Puffy trailed off, before continuing. “It could have gone quite badly. Luckily Tubbo was around, he heard your screaming, and managed to get you to drink a regen potion. Then he called me.”
“I’m going to label everything in the kitchen.” Tubbo said, oddly determined.
“Yes, that's probably a good idea.” Puffy told him gently. “But Ranboo should stay here for a day or two. It’ll be hard for him to speak or even eat until his burns have healed.” Puffy gave him a kind smile. “Are you alright with that?”
Ranboo was conflicted. He didn’t really want to be stuck there for two days, under Puffy’s watchful eyes and unable to ask his other self what the Hell was going on, but he knew he didn’t exactly have much of a choice. So he nodded.
Puffy smiled widely. “Excellent! Now you’re going to be on a stick potions regiment. None of the burn cream I have can be used internally, but I do have magma cream that you should be able to eat.
He smiled widely at this. Ranboo did actually like magma cream quite a bit. It was a good replacement for water, and tasted delicious. To him anyway, no one else could really eat it, but that meant more for him.
However after two days of only eating magma he was quite glad when Puffy handed him a golden apple and said he could go back home.
“Now, be careful. Don’t eat anything hot, anything you have to tear into, and avoid liquids for at least a week.” Puffy told him gently.
“Thank you.” Ranboo mumbled weakly. His voice was returning, but it wasn’t all that strong yet. It didn’t hurt to speak anymore, but it still felt odd. Puffy offered to walk him home, but he refused. It gave him an opportunity to think.
What he did two nights ago was stupid. He couldn’t get answers if he died, but it also confirmed one thing. It was getting harder and harder to switch states, at least through pain. Soon any communication he had with his enderside would be cut off, or at least randomized.
Ranboo needed to figure out what was going on and fast.
The next day when he was sure Tubbo wasn’t nearby he laid in a snowbank. He felt fine at first, but soon his flesh started to burn and sizzle. He bit back a whimper, the smell of burning flesh the last thing he remembered before going blank.
He woke up in a soft bed, covered with several soft blue blankets, keeping him warm. He opened his eyes to see a dark room. It took him a second to recognize that he was in Techno’s room, and the windows were covered.
Groggily he sat up and stumbled out of the bed before leaving the room. Surprisingly enough Techno and Phil were waiting right there, both sitting on Techno’s couch in the living room. Neither seemed to notice him.
He paused, looking at them both in confusion. “Hello?”
Phil jumped up and rushed to his side immediately. “Oh Ranboo, mate, you should still be resting.”
This made him even more confused. “Resting?” Phil started inspecting his arms, which were bandaged. Only then did he realize that he was dressed in a soft robe. “Wait, when did I get changed?”
Phil looked at him oddly. “I suppose you don’t remember that do you?” Ranboo shook his head, and the older man sighed. “You’re Enderself came to us, and you were covered in burns.”
“He tried to say something about danger.” Techno grunted, a look of determination in his black eyes. “Ranboo, did someone try to kill you?”
Ranboo stuttered and froze. “What? No! No, no ones trying to kill me.” He didn’t exactly sound believable.
Phil and Techno shared a look, before the blonde spoke up. “Well with how your memory is you may have just forgotten. An assasination attempt is a pretty stressful event.” He joked, but no one was in the mood to laugh.
“No, no one is trying to kill me.” Ranboo reassured them both.
“Then how did you get so burnt?” Techno asked. Ranboo didn’t have an answer for that.
“Look, we’ll just keep our eyes out, ay?” Phil said, defusing the situation.
“I’ll do that.” Ranboo lied. “But I’m not sure how long I’ve been gone. I need to head back home.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be fine.” Phil said quickly, not dropping any names. “You should stay the night, just to make sure nothing happens.”
“We still have your hut there, I’ll give you some blankets.” Techno chimbed in, and Ranboo realized he didn’t have much of a choice and eventually resigned. Philza made sure he had a warm meal before dragging half of his body weight in blankets over to Ranboo’s place.
Once he was convinced he was alone he finally opened his memory book and translated the message.
STOP THIS
YOU ARE HURTING
I AM NOT A DANGER
YOU ARE
What? What did that even mean? How was Ranboo possibly the danger here?
LIAR
TELL THE TRUTH
He quickly scratched into his notebook. His other self had gone to Techno and Philza and despite the language difference had somehow told them there was a danger.
Phil might have also mentioned to Tubbo his suspicions about someone trying to kill Ranboo, because he refused to let him out of his sight for a full two days.
Ranboo loved to spend time with his husband, but it didn’t help with the deep anxiety that had settled in his gut. He was a ticking time bomb that could go off any moment, and he didn’t even know what he would do.
On day three he was finally able to get away from Tubbo long enough to run through a waterfall, the fresh, flowing water making him scream in pain before blacking out.
When he woke up he was in his bedroom, but he wasn’t alone. Tubbo was sitting by his side, holding his hand. He was unconsciously rubbing Ranboo’s knuckles and biting his lip. When Ranboo sat up Tubbo pulled his hand away quickly, before helping him.
“Ranboo you’re awake! Oh thank God!” Tubbo let out a sigh of relief. Before Ranboo could ask what he meant Tubbo started to shout. “PHIL HE’S AWAKE!”
Philza came rushing into the room, holding a potion. “Good, I was going to have to call someone out of world if he didn’t wake up soon.” His hair was messy and there were dark circles under his eyes, but he smiled politely at the two boys. “Glad you’re awake. I have some potions for you to drink.”
Ranboo’s hands were shaking as he took the potion. He felt like he was throbbing, his entire body was weak. It took a lot of effort not to spill the potion as he drank, the glistening liquid making him feel even more numb.
Tubbo looked at him, his expression serious. “Ranboo, do you remember who pushed you?”
Ranboo stuttered. “Pushed? No no no, I wasn’t pushed! I… Fell. Yeah, I tripped, I think.”
Tubbo and Phil had similar expressions of disbelief. “You tripped? Are you certain?” Phil asked.
Ranboo started to stutter. Tubbo quickly spoke up. “You might not remember it if you were pushed Boo, you started crying for help. I rushed over and helped you get out, but you were pretty badly injured.” Tubbo looked almost guilty.
“Don’t worry, I’m ok.” Ranboo reassured softly.
Tubbo frowned. “But you almost weren’t Ranboo, you could have gotten seriously hurt.” He sniffled slightly. Ranboo rubbed his back weakly with shaking hands.
“It’s ok Tubbo.” It wasn’t ok, but not for the reason Tubbo thinks. He was the one in danger, not Ranboo.
Word of the ‘assasination attempt’ must have gotten around. While Ranboo recovered from his injuries he got a lot of visitors. Some dropped off gifts, though he insisted they were unnecessary, and all promised to keep an eye out. He always made them extend the promise to Tubbo and Micheal, just in case the worst came to worst.
He didn’t tell anyone that meant him.
After a few days he was able to get his hands on his memory book and translate the message inside.
LETS DEAL
I STAY AWAY
FROM MICHEAL
FROM TUBBO
YOU STAY AWAY
FROM WATER
If Ranboo had eyelids he would have blinked in confusion. It couldn’t be that easy, could it? His other self would just leave him alone? Why would he do that? It didn’t make any sense, but if it was all Ranboo had he would take it.
But not without leaving another message, a warning, behind.
FINE
BUT IF YOU DON’T
I WILL END US BOTH
He wasn’t bluffing. He just hoped his other self believed him.
It seemed to work, at least at first. For two weeks all was quiet, he didn’t black out, and while his memory hadn’t improved it hadn't gotten worse either.
Ironically Ranboo forgot that it wasn’t just pain that drew forth his other self; stress did the job just as well.
It wasn’t even anything life threatening or even that bad. If anything it was good. Tubbo wanted to throw Micheal a birthday party. He was turning two soon, and Tubbo wanted to celebrate. Ranboo thought it was a good idea as well, and wanted to help.
Only he’d never actually thrown a birthday party before. He hadn’t gone to one either. Every party he was invited to ended disastrously. It didn’t take long for him to start to panic, to start to spiral, and eventually black out.
He woke up, cradling his son. Micheal was sleeping peacefully, snorting quietly. It took him a second to realize what was going on, but the second he did he froze.
He had blacked out again. His other self had taken over. His other self had taken over, and was holding his son.
He quickly looked over Micheal for injuries. The zombie piglin seemed surprised at being awoke so suddenly, but snorted happily when Ranboo pulled him into a hug after assuring himself his son was ok. “You’re ok, don’t worry Micheal, you’re ok.” He mumbled, reassuring himself. Micheal was ok, but what about Tubbo? Did he hurt Tubbo? “Let’s go find your dada, ok?” Micheal snorted happily, unaware of how heavily Ranboo’s heart was beating in his chest.
It took thirty minutes to find Tubbo, Ranboo panicking the entire time. When he finally found him the brunette realized something was wrong almost immediately. “Boo what happened?” He asked, taking Micheal out of his shaking arms.
“I-I have to go.” He mumbled, a distant look in his eyes.
“Look, maybe you should lay down. You don’t look well.” Tubbo looked in concern, placing a gentle hand on Ranboo’s shoulder. The enderhybrid jerked away.
“No!” He yelled. Tubbo blinked. “I have to go.” He ran out the door quickly, not giving Tubbo a chance to catch up.
He didn’t stop running until he physically couldn’t collapse in front of the obsidian prison. He panted as he desperately flipped through his memory book. Maybe there was an explanation?
Nothing, there was nothing.
Did his other self just take over because he could? Was he trying to send a message? Either way he lied. He said he’d leave Micheal alone, that he’d leave Tubbo alone.
He may have lied, but Ranboo did not. Glancing at the large, frozen ocean surrounding him he came to a decision. He would keep his promise. He would not put his family in danger anymore.
He was consciously aware that he was walking towards the ocean, but it felt like he was watching someone else. Perhaps it was the shock, but he barely felt his own legs walk forward. If he was thinking a bit more clearly then he would realize it was the shock. However if he was thinking more clearly then he wouldn’t be walking towards the ocean.
It wasn’t as cold as the snow in Snowchester, but still utterly frigid as he fell into the deep blue. It wasn’t shallow, the water covered every inch of his skin, burning him.
Instinctively he opened his mouth to scream, letting the water flow into his lungs. It was burning him, scorching him. If he could swim he would have rushed to the surface, the pain utterly unbearable.
The light that shone to the bottom of the ocean was broken by a hulking figure. Ranboo was too delirious with pain to recognize the figure, even as it reached down to grab Ranboo, pulling him up with unbelievable force.
He gasped when he broke the surface, ignoring his burning throat, before being tossed to the dry shore.
Ranboo sputtered and coughed, not even recognize that there was someone else beside him until they grabbed his jaw and forced a glass bottle to his lips. Ranboo tried to pull away, but the hand held firm. Another hand covered his nose, forcing him to swallow.
He started to panic, before realizing the potion was a regeneration potion, and the hands holding him belonged to Sam.
Finally, after forcing Ranboo to drink the entire thing, Sam loosened his grip.
“What the fuck Ranboo?” He yelled, losing his usually perfect composure. Ranboo wanted to stand, but couldn’t. He was far too weak.
Talking hurt, but he had to make him understand. “I can’t be here.” He whispered quietly in a hoarse voice, hoping Sam could hear him regardless. “I’m putting them in danger. I lose control, I black out. I can’t be around them. I can’t put them in danger.”
Sam tugged at his hair, trying to stay calm. He cussed under his breath. Ranboo glanced back at the ocean, wondering if he could make a run for it. Sam saw this and wrapped one of his hands around the enderhybrid’s forearm tightly. Wordlessly he pulled him forward, away from the water.
“Where are we going?” Ranboo asked softly, his voice scratchy.
“The prison” Sam responded curtly, not stopping or even looking back. Ranboo nodded, ignoring the smell of burning flesh. He couldn’t hurt anyone in the prison. His family would be safe.
Sam didn’t bother stopping to fill out any papers, something he was usually rather strict about. He pulled Ranboo into a room that resembled more of a hospital room than a cell, and shoved him on the white bed in the center. He showed a cloth hospital gown in his hands. “Change, and stay here.” He commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Ranboo changed as quickly as he could, slowed slightly by the burns covering his body. The gown hung low, covering everything it needed to with ease, but still letting Ranboo see all the burns. The sight of it made him feel sick, but he was fine.
Sam rushed back in, holding a potion. “I need you to drink this.” He handed it to Ranboo, a determined look in his eyes. Ranboo didn’t recognize the potion, but he wasn’t good with alchemy so he drank it anyway.
As soon as he finished his limbs went weak, unnaturally so. Sam grabbed him before he could fall to the ground, his vision blurring as he only got weaker.
The warden picked him up and laid him gently on the bed. Ranboo realized he’d been drugged and tried to run, tried to flee, but Sam held him down by the shoulders, whispering soft apologies that Ranboo could barely comprehend, before blacking out for good.
It took a long time for Ranboo to wake up fully. There were flitters of consciousness of course, someone wrapping him in bandages, a needle being up into his arm. The fizzy taste of a potion, a bright light. It was confusing, disorienting, and Ranboo tried to pull away when he did wake up but Sam fiddled with the IV drip and Ranboo quickly fell asleep again.
Finally he did wake up, for real this time. He felt weak and numb, his mind slightly hazy from all the drugs, his body absolutely covered in soft, cotton bandages. They were wrapped all the way up to his neck, only leaving his face clear.
He looked around, noticing he was still in the white room in the prison. Idly he went to sit up, but noticed his hands were tied to the bed, kept at the side.
Sam came into the room and immediately noticed Ranboo was awake. He came rushing over. “Oh thank goodness. You’re awake! Are you in any pain?” He asked frantically.
Ranboo shook his head. “No, I’m not.” His throat felt dry, but it didn’t hurt that much anymore. “Did I hurt someone?”
Sam seemed surprised by his question. “What? No! Why would you think that?” Ranboo merely raised his bound wrists up slightly, and Sam grimaced. His demuner turned serious as he sat on the edge of Ranboo’s bed. “I want to explain something, and I want to make sure you understand. Ranboo, you’re not a danger to everyone but yourself.”
Ranboo stuttered. “What? But I-I lose control! Something else t-takes over, and I don’t know what he does!”
Sam stared for a long time, like he wasn’t certain how to respond. Finally he let out a sigh. “I read your memory book. I read the translations. Ranboo, I don’t know what you’re so scared of, but you’re the only person that’s getting hurt here.” Ranboo looked away. Sam was wrong, but he wasn’t going to be convinced.
A large, gentle hand Ran through Ranboo’s hair. He leaned into the touch. “I know I can’t convince you you’re wrong. I’m not a therapist here, and you’re going to have to talk to Puffy.” Ranboo was slightly insulted, but Puffy would understand, right? She knew the lengths someone would go to protect their family.
“It’s ok.” Ranboo mumbled. Sam’s frown deepened.
“Ranboo you nearly died.” He said matter-of-factly. “You tried to die. You need help.” Sam let out a sigh. “Your husband agrees with me.”
Ranboo sat up in a shock, ignoring the pain. “You told Tubbo!” He yelled in shock and anger.
“That I did.” Sam wasn’t swayed by his anger and rage. “I also told Philza and Technoblade too.”
Ranboo wanted to cry. “Oh my God, they hate me.”
The creeper hybrid’s expression softened. “No, they don’t. They care about you, all of them. They’re worried, and as soon as you recover enough they want to take you home.”
“Wait, take me home?” What did that even mean?
Sam raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t think you were going to stay here, were you?”
Sam kept Ranboo there for three days. He let Ranboo change back into his clothes, but he didn’t let him do much else. Ranboo tried to escape once, but Sam drugged him again and made the restraints even tighter. Ranboo tried to convince him he was fine, that he wasn’t going to hurt himself again, but the warden was not convinced.
“We both know you’re lying.” Was his only response. The worst part was that Sam was right. Ranboo was lying.
On the third day Sam brought Tubbo in, and his heart dropped.
Tubbo didn’t look well. He wasn’t crying, but there were tear tracks on his face, along with dark circles under his eyes.
“Tubbo, are you ok?” Ranboo asked. If he wasn’t tied down he would have ran to give his husband a hug.
Tubbo looked at him with an expression of disbelief. “The fuck did you just say?”
Ranboo got nervous. Tubbo didn’t usually cuss like that. “I asked if you were ok. You don’t… Look all that well.” He practically whispered.
“Boo” Tubbo sniffled, like he was fighting back tears. “Boo, look at yourself. You’re covered in burns! You’ve been hurting yourself for weeks! You’ve been having a mental breakdown for weeks, and I didn’t notice!” Wet tears started dripping down his face. It was hard to notice sometimes, but he looked very young. “Ranboo, you nearly died and I didn’t notice.”
“I didn’t want to put you in danger. I didn’t want to put Micheal in danger either.” Ranboo defended weakly.
Tubbo sniffled “You weren’t though.” They were both silent for a long time, before Tubbo finally continued. “Phil and Techno are waiting on the outside. They… They know about us. I figured it would be best for everyone.”
Ranboo nodded. It was Tubbo who wanted to keep things a secret, which Ranboo fully understood and supported. If he wanted to tell people then Ranboo would support that too. “Do they want to come in and see me?”
Tubbo nodded, before going to grab Sam. Ranboo couldn’t hear their conversation, but Tubbo left, and Philza came in to replace him. He didn’t look well either, but he was still holding up quite a bit better than Tubbo.
The blonde smiled kindly at him, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Hey Ranboo, I’m glad you’re awake.”
There was no judgment, no anger, no fear. “Um, thanks. I am too.”
Phil furrowed his brows. “You are?”
Ranboo stuttered “Um, I don’t, no? I don’t know?”
Phil gently gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder, careful not to disturb the bandages. “You seem confused about a lot of things.” Ranboo nodded. “That’s ok, everyone gets a bit confused sometimes.”
Ranboo curled up on himself as much as he could. “I just don’t want to put anyone in danger.”
Phil seemed almost saddened by this. “I know kid, I know.” He sighed. “We’ve made an extension to the house for you and Tubbo to move into, at least for a little bit. There’s a nursery for Micheal too. We can’t make you come with us, but the alternative is staying here, where you can’t hurt yourself, but I don’t think that would help anyone.”
Ranboo shrugged. “I don’t want to put anyone in danger.”
Phil smiled sadly. “Well, why don’t we break things down? Why don’t you agree to live with us for a week, and we can see how you do?”
Ranboo swallowed. “What happens after that week?”
Phil chuckled. “Well, you get another week, then another. Just take things a week, a day, Nether, maybe even an hour at a time.”
Ranboo nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”
Phil beamed. “Good! I’m going to talk to Sam now. Hopefully he’ll let you out of these restraints.” He partially joked, though it was clear that they made him uncomfortable.
He left, and Ranboo waited nervously for a few minutes. Sam came in, dressed in the warden's armour. “I’m going to release you, but if you try to run or hurt yourself I will drug you again.” Ranboo nodded. Sam was not one to bluff.
Despite his compliance the warden refused to look away for even a second. Most of the time he was holding his arm tightly, guiding him through the twisting walls of the vault. Ranboo knew how strict Sam was about protocol so he didn’t protest.
At the mouth of the prison stood Phil, his hand resting on Tubbo’s shoulder, and Techno, holding the lead of a horse. Ranboo’s pretty sure it was Karl.
“Hey kid” he grunted, looking a bit more relaxed than everyone else, but it was clear he was still ready to catch Ranboo if he ran.
“Hey” Ranboo waved back weakly. He headed forward nervously, not sure what else would be said. Tubbo looked like he was barely keeping it together as Phil struggled to comfort him silently.
He let out a yelp when Techno grabbed him by the waist and picked him up with ease, despite his lanky stature. “Up you go.” The piglin mumbled, placing him gently on the horse. As soon as Ranboo got his balance Techno jumped on the horse right behind him. “Comfy?” He asked gruffly. Ranboo nodded, glancing back at Tubbo.
His husband offered a smile, despite how close he was to crying. “I’m going to get Micheal ok? A-and a few of our things.”
Philza squeezed the brunette shoulder a bit tighter. “I’ll go with him. We’ll meet up with you soon enough, don’t worry.”
Ranboo wanted to say something, anything, but he didn’t know what. Did he want to assure Tubbo he was ok, even if it wasn’t strictly true? Did he want to apologize? How would he even do that? What was he even apologizing for?
He wrung his hands as he opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally he spoke. “I’ll see you soon too.”
It said almost nothing, but at the same time said just enough. It was a promise, a promise that Ranboo would stay safe, that he wouldn’t do anything drastic before he saw Tubbo again. It was a promise that they’d have a chance to talk, to explain, to make things right.
As Techno grunted and spurred Karl forward, Ranboo glanced back. Tubbo waved meekly, offering a smile. “I’ll see you soon.” He repeated.
Despite all that had happened, both of them believed it.