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Ranboo would watch nightly as Tubbo stayed up, sitting in their son's room, as if worried something would break and try to hurt him. And nightly, Ranboo would reassure and help bring Tubbo to bed. Some nights, Tubbo wouldn’t budge, so they’d both crawl into Michael’s bed and stay there for the night.
Tonight was no different, Ranboo slowly walked into his son’s room. Seeing Tubbo, on the floor, at the side of their son's bed. Tubbo's hand was on the side of Michael’s face, rubbing his cheek gently.
“Bee,” Ranboo whispered, leaning down on their knees behind Tubbo. “He’s fine, Bee. Come back to sleep.”
“Do you ever worry about him?” Tubbo asked, never taking his eyes off of Michael. “What‘ll happen when he grows older? Do you think he’ll want to leave us?”
“No, Bee. I don’t think he will. He might want to see where he’s from. Maybe try and understand how we ‘found’ him. But I don’t think he’ll ever leave us,” Ranboo reassured, they placed a hand on Tubbo’s shoulder, careful not to give him too much physical contact.
“You were adopted, right Boo?” Tubbo asked, looking up at the half Enderman. They nodded slowly.
“Philza took me in, yes,” Ranboo responded.
“Have you ever wanted to return home?” Tubbo asked, removing his hand from Michael’s cheek to turn fully to Ranboo.
“I don’t remember any other home, Bee. But, if you’re asking if I want to see where I’m from. Yeah, I wonder about it sometimes. But I’d never leave you guys for it,” Ranboo whispered, raising a hand slowly to Tubbo’s cheek, in case the other moved his hand down, Tubbo didn’t.
The ram-hybrid leaves into Ranboo’s touch. Holding the hand against his cheek, only trying to move away when he felt a tear roll down his cheek and threaten to burn Ranboo. Ranboo didn’t bother to move his hand, ignoring the sting.
“I don’t remember my family either, ya know? Not before Tommy and Philza and all them,” Tubbo whispered. “I've got no clue where I’m from.”
“We’re just a big family of having bad memory’s huh?” Ranboo asked, and Tubbo chuckled, sniffing gently with a nod. “Bee, we’re giving him the life we don’t remember. Hopefully, he will, and won’t inherit our terrible childhood memories, or lack thereof,” They said gently, and Tubbo rubbed the back of Ranboo’s hand as he looked at Michael.
“Get some sleep, Tubbo. You can’t give him the best if you’re not your best,” Ranboo said, the same thing he says every night. And every night, Tubbo looked up at him, smiling gently, leaning over to kiss Michael’s forehead before he raised his arms to be carried.
And every night, Ranboo would kiss Michael's forehead as well before he picked Tubbo up, and carried Tubbo back into bed.
~~~~~~~
Recently, Tommy had been having issues taking care of himself. Okay, it wasn’t recent at all, but it was recently when it was brought to Ranboo and Tubbo’s attention. So with a lot of persuading, Tommy finally moved in. Ranboo promised that they wouldn’t push him…too hard. And Tommy promised he’d try.
Something to know about Ranboo, and Endermans in general, they’re territorial. Protective. So when Ranboo heard walking that he didn’t recognize in the middle of the night, he woke up easily and got out of bed silently.
A crash in the kitchen set him off, but he glanced at Tubbo first, just to make sure he didn’t wake up. When they were sure Tubbo wasn’t awake, Ranboo slipped out.
They silently moved to Michael’s room, their son asleep unbothered. Ranboo relaxed just a bit, before slipping to Tommy’s room, just across the hall from Michael’s. Tommy was not in his room, which set off alarm bells in their mind.
Ranboo started to fluidly walk to the kitchen, the origin of the crash, keeping themself on high alert. Until he heard the familiar cursing of a familiar blond. He let his shoulders relax as he walked into the kitchen, seeing Tommy trying to make…something.
Ranboo cleared his throat gently. Tommy jumped and flipped around, butcher knife in hand. Ranboo didn’t even look threatened.
“Are you serious! I almost fucking stabbed you!” Tommy whispered aggressively, setting the knife down with more force than needed.
“Yeah, not worried about that since I thought you were an intruder and was about to go full Enderman. What are you doing in the kitchen in the middle of the night?” Ranboo asked, leaning their head against the frame of the doorway.
“I was trying to make myself something to eat. I couldn’t sleep because my stomach won’t shut up,” Tommy grumbled. “But then I remember I don’t know how to fuckin cook. So I was hoping you guys had leftovers. Surprise surprise! You fucking don’t!” Tommy snapped.
“Yeah, Michael’s a piglin. He usually eats the leftovers, kid can never get enough. Would you like me to make you something?” Ranboo asked, running a hand through his hair.
“Nah, don’t want to bother you. Just go back to bed, I’ll fucking figure something out,” Tommy brushed it.
“Tommy, go sit down,” Ranboo mumbled, moving into the kitchen. He avoided touching Tommy, but still made his point known. Tommy must’ve not felt like arguing, because he moved out of Tommy’s way. But, he still felt like a brat because he sat on the counter, granted, Ranboo didn’t need that counter space, but still.
“Really?” Ranboo asked.
“The living room and dining room are too far,” Tommy claimed, shrugging with a smirk. He was just lucky Ranboo didn’t feel like arguing either.
Ranboo started making some eggs,(after he figured out how Tommy liked them, he’d perfected it to the point where Tommy wouldn’t refuse them) and he could see Tommy smile from the corner of his eye when he moved to put the eggs back in the fridge.
They were silent, the only sound being the stove flame, sizzle of the eggs, and the scrap of the pan against the grates of the stove. Tommy hopped down, opening the fridge to grab a bottle of juice before hopping up on the counter.
It wasn’t long until Ranboo finished the eggs, putting them on a plate, and handing them over to Tommy. Who accepted them with the happiest expression they rarely sees. Maybe Tommy was just exhausted. Ranboo didn’t question as he started to clean the mess.
“Why do you do it?” Tommy asked randomly, though a mouthful of food.
“Do what?” Ranboo asked, waiting for an answer as Tommy finished his bite.
“Care for me? Care for any of us? You could leave, you know you can. You wouldn’t have to deal with any of this,” Tommy mumbled.
“You’re right, I could. If I wanted to,” Ranboo said, glancing at Tommy, who made momentary eye contact before Ranboo looked away. “But, I don’t want to. I’d much rather stay here.”
“For Tubbo? And of course Michael? I mean, they’re your family,” Tommy said.
“You too,” Ranboo said, turning the water on to wash the dishes. Tommy immediately hopped off the counter and moved Ranboo away.
“The hell are you doing!” Tommy snapped and Ranboo jumped a bit.
“The dishes?” Ranboo said, “It’s one pan. I’m not gonna let it sit out,” they chuckled.
“Are you fucking stupid? You’ll burn!” Tommy said, pushing Ranboo back and turning the water off again.
“Tomm-“ Ranboo started.
“No, go stand over there. I’ll finish the eggs and do the dishes myself,” Tommy said, glaring at Ranboo to try him, Ranboo raised his hands in defense and backed up. “Where in that dull fucking brain of yours, did you think that it was okay to do that?” Tommy asked as he took another bite of his eggs, standing in front of the sink now.
“Well someone has to do them when Tubbo’s out,” Ranboo said, shrugging. Tommy glared at them, setting the half-full plate down again.
“Let me see your hands,” Tommy demanded.
“Tom-“
“Now.”
Ranboo held their hands out, and Tommy took a gentle hold of them. Tommy inspecting his hand, rubbing his thumb over scars that never properly healed.
“No more of this, you fucking understand?” Tommy said, looking up at Tommy.
“There will be days when you guys are out and I’m here,” Ranboo said, and Tommy squeezed their hands.
“You want to take care of me? Fine, I’ll let you make me some fucking midnight eggs all you want. Hell, I’ll even wake you up for them. No. More. Of. This,” Tommy said. “No more purposefully hurting yourself because you can’t handle looking at a dish or two. Wait for one of us to come home.”
“Alright, Alright. No more dishes,” Ranboo said, nodding in agreement.
“Good, thank you,” Tommy said, finally releasing him. Ranboo smiled a bit as the other returned to eating, finishing soon. Tommy did as promised, cleaning the dishes and putting them away.
“Thank you for the eggs, by the way. Sorry to…wake you up. Goodnight,” Tommy said, gently patting Ranboo’s shoulder before leaving the kitchen. Ranboo made sure everything was in place before heading back to bed.
Tubbo had woken up when Ranboo slipped back in, “Everything alright? Are Michael and Tommy okay? Are you okay?” Tubbo's immediate response was worry as Ranboo sat down.
“Everyone is fine. Tommy was just hungry, so I made him some eggs. He’s also banned me from the dishes,” Ranboo chuckled as he laid down under the blankets.
“I’ve been trying to do that for months, yet Tommy says it once and you listen to him?” Tubbo questioned accusingly, calming down as he pulled Ranboo towards him.
“Tommy…kind of threatened me? I mean…not really, more of a quid pro quo,” Ranboo chuckled.
“Yeah? What was that?” Tubbo yawned.
“He’d accept our help more…calmly if I’d stop washing the dishes,” Ranboo said. “I think his health is more important than my need to clean.”
“Yeah, and I think your hands are also more important than your need to clean,” Tubbo mumbled, and Ranboo chuckled.
“Yeah yeah, go back to sleep, Bee. I’m making pancakes in the morning,” Ranboo promised.
“And I’m doing the dishes,” Tubbo mumbled, exhausted.
“I’ll do everything else, you can do the dishes.”
“Why must you be like this?” Tubbo grumbled.
“Because I’m a housewife, now sleep,” Ranboo joked.
“I’m going to remember that, and relentlessly mock you for it.”
“You already do.”
~~~~~
Ranboo had been right, of course. There were days that Tubbo and Tommy weren’t home. Ranboo was to watch Michael when they couldn’t find a babysitter. So, Ranboo had their hands full.
With a wild toddler, trying to keep a clean house, and trying to keep his patience, yeah...Ranboo wasn’t having the best time. So, while all of this was going down, Micahel decided it was the perfect time to make an absolute mess with his food. Meaning Ranboo needed to bathe him. Luckily, since Michael is a zombie piglin, he can’t touch water like Ranboo.
Which meant lava bath.
Of course, after that, however, Micahel finally passed out, and Ranboo needed to clean everything . So, they got to work. He started to clean, ignoring the sting on his hands every time he touched water. Ranboo’s quick and efficient, but of course, he wasn’t fast enough. Because Tubbo and Tommy got home in the middle of his cleaning.
“Ranboo!” Tubbo called, and they jumped, Ranboo glancing in the living room, at Michael, who was sleeping on the couch.
“Bee, Mikey asleep. Please don’t shout,” Ranboo said, stopping the water for the dishes. Ranboo looked stressed as hell, and both British boys could tell that when they glanced at Ranboo.
“Ranboo, the fuck did I tell you about the dishes?” Tommy said, pulling Ranboo back.
“I was just going to let them soak. Besides, I’ve been cleaning for the past…” Ranboo glanced at the clock, “3 hours? Wow,” They mumbled.
“3 hours!?” Tubbo said, and Ranboo sighed.
“Michael found your candy stash, Bee,” Ranboo said, and Tubbo gave him an apologetic look. “I’ve had to deal...with a toddler...bouncing off the walls. There were bound to be messes I couldn’t deal with until he crashed. So yeah, three hours.”
“Boo, you should’ve called,” Tubbo said, and Ranboo shrugged.
“I can handle it-”
“Ranboo, you’re exhausted. You go take a nap and the two of us will finish up down here,” Tommy groaned, trying to push Ranboo out of the kitchen.
“I’m fine,” Ranboo started to argue.
“If I have to knock your ass out with a frying pan, I will,” Tubbo threatened, and Ranboo chuckled.
“Guys, please. I couldn’t sleep now even if I wanted to. I’ll just go to bed early,” they said, moving away from Tommy slowly.
“Fine, but you’re definitely going to bed early,” Tommy grumbled. Ranboo glanced at Tubbo, who shrugged, and Ranboo sighed with a nod.
~~~
Ranboo did not go to bed early. Because, as per their nightly routine, Tubbo was in Michael’s room. But this time, Tubbo was sitting against the wall this time, and when Ranboo walked in, Tubbo looked up at him.
“You were supposed to go to bed early,” Tubbo whispered.
“Too cold to sleep,” Ranboo responded, sitting down next to Tubbo. “You know I have a hard time sleeping alone.”
“It’s because you’re clingy,” Tubbo giggled.
“Mhm, and you made me this way,” Ranboo accused, getting a yawn in response. Ranboo smiled, looking over at their sleeping son.
There were quiet footsteps, and they both looked up as Tommy walked in.
“The fuck are you two doing?” Tommy whispered.
“You hadn’t noticed? This happens every night, Tommy,” Ranboo said gently, and Tubbo hid his face in Ranboo shoulder. “Tubbo visits Michael nightly, only to make sure he’s safe. He’ll only come back to bed if I coax him back,” Ranboo chuckled.
“I just worry,” Tubbo whispered.
“I know, Bee. We know,” Ranboo reassured.
Tommy sighed, sitting down next to Ranboo, closing the door gently. “Understandable, he’s still just a child.”
“A child who can grow up and leave us, or get hurt here,” Tubbo mumbled.
“A child who we’re still raising, and everyone knows better than to touch him,” Ranboo said, looking down at Tubbo. “You know me, Bee.”
“I know, I know. But I worry about you too. I worry about both of you. About all of you,” Tubbo whispered, and Tommy glanced at him.
“You don’t think we worry about you too, Tubbo? Because we do, we really do,” Ranboo said.
“You’re just as bad as us, you know?” Tommy said, “Just as fucked up as we are.”
“But, we’re working through it,” Ranboo said, looking at Tommy, who looked up at him. “We’re forcing each other too. Like how I’m forcing Tubbo to sleep, you both are forcing me not to do dishes and get myself unnecessarily hurt, and how we’re helping you keep yourself healthy overall. We’re helping each other.”
“We’d be fucked without each other,” Tubbo whispered, cuddling up to Ranboo, curling his legs up and clutching Ranboo’s biceps.
“We’re fucked with each other,” Tommy responded, looking at Michael’s bed as he pulled his legs up to his chest and leaned against Ranboo.
“But hey, we’re still together,” Ranboo chuckled, leaning their head back against the wall, looking forward.
“And nothing will change that?” Tubbo whispered.
“Nothing,” Ranboo said at the same time as Tommy said, “Absolutely fuckin nothing.”
Tubbo grabbed onto Ranboo’s water-burned, scarred, hand. The small claws, which honestly wouldn’t hurt anyone unless he needed them to, were warm in Tubbo’s hand, and Ranboo ran their thumb against the back of his hand. Tommy grabbed his other hand, and Ranboo had the same reaction, rubbing both of their hands gently.
And that’s where they stayed, all night, together. A bitch of back pain and sore muscles in the morning, but it was worth it. Because, in the end, they had each other and really...what more do you need?