Work Text:
“Are you sure this is the best idea right now?” Ranboo asked, voice carrying through the air.
“It’s fine, big man,” Tubbo called back, giving him a thumbs up. “I’m almost done, it’ll only take a few more minutes.”
“Yeah, but… how many more minutes do you have?” Ranboo added, anxiously bouncing foot to foot.
“Enough,” Tubbo answered simply.
Ranboo severely doubted that, but there was never much he could say to sway Tubbo from something he had his mind set on finishing. He knew Tubbo was determined to make this automatic fish farm, but he also really wished he would’ve made one on the ground rather than using Phil’s suspended pond. There were already lethal injuries from being knocked off it’s edges, Ranboo wasn’t going to trust Tubbo to build around those same edges and not fall. Not that he didn’t trust Tubbo to take care of himself, that wasn’t it at all, he just—sometimes Tubbo didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings when he was focused on something.
The sun was setting over the horizon, which did not help one bit. Phantoms were due to spawn at any second. Not only that, Tubbo was nearly at the end of his three hours. Tubbo refused to show it, but he could only stay awake for three hours at a time before being overcome by sleep. Ranboo didn’t know the specifics, some kind of curse, but the only way he could stay up longer was with the emerald gem enchanted to let him do so. But Tubbo didn’t have that gem, because Tommy had confiscated it to make things “fair.” Just thinking about it made Ranboo’s blood boil.
How could taking that gem be considered fair? They were going to be trapped there together for a month, thirty whole days, and Tubbo could only stay awake for three hours each of those days. While the rest of them had free reign over themselves and their time, Tubbo was restricted to an eighth of the time they had. When Tubbo was awake, he never stopped moving. He had goals and things he wanted and needed to do, and everyone knew he was on a time limit. If he was a bit more reckless because of it, none of them brought it up. They understood why. There wasn’t much more to say.
“Tubbo,” Ranboo warned, backing up slightly from the suspended pond, keeping an eye and ear out for mobs.
“Ranboo,” Tubbo sang back, apparently unbothered by the situation.
Ranboo swore this was taking years off his life. He loved Tubbo, but he could do without all the stress.
A familiar shriek and the sound of an arrow sticking to a shield caught his attention. Across the field, Tommy had just emerged from his “mud galaxy.” He was held at the wall's entrance, though, pinned down by two skeletons.
A lot of things ran through Ranboo’s mind then. They’d talked about it half-jokingly before, just fighting Tommy to get Tubbo’s gem back. Phil had talked them down from it, insisting that was no way to get past this. Tommy was determined to stick with his decision, no matter how much they tried to reason or deal or plead. Part of Ranboo’s mind was content to just sit and take no action, to let Tommy deal with this problem on his own and see what happened.
Ranboo would be lying if he said he wasn’t ashamed of that part of him. Despite everything, Tommy was still their friend. He could be upset with his decisions, but he couldn’t just stand there and watch him die.
With a healthy dose of disdain, Ranboo cast one last glance up to Tubbo before breaking out in a sprint across the field. The skeletons were focused on Tommy, thankfully, so it allowed him to easily run in and send one flying. He swung his sword through it’s ribcage, scattering it to a pile of bones. Bolstered by the help, Tommy leapt from his cover and ran his axe through the other.
“Holy shit,” Tommy gasped, lowering his shield and running a hand through his hair. “Thanks, big man. Nearly thought I was done for there.”
“No problem,” Ranboo replied, waving a hand dismissively.
Tommy leaned around him to gaze back at Tubbo. “What’re you two doing, anyway?”
Ranboo eyed the emerald gem dangling from Tommy’s neck. He blinked and answered, “Tubbo wanted to make a fish farm, so we’re trying to finish it before—”
The time was almost up. Tubbo only had a few more minutes. It had been a few minutes. Ranboo spun around, his heart climbing into his throat. Tommy shrieked again, and this time Ranboo knew it wasn’t because of mobs.
He tore back across the field, sword and shield abandoned at his feet. He imagined this is what it felt like when people said they saw their life flash before their eyes. Seeing Tubbo sway briefly before toppling to the side, not meeting the cobble under his feet but falling into the open air, made Ranboo forget any need for his own safety. All he could think of was Tubbo, Tubbo, Tubbo falling, his time ran out and death waiting with open arms at the bottom.
Arms outstretched, Ranboo leapt, grunting at the sudden weight in his arms. It brought him to his knees, leaving him struggling to catch his breath. His eyes tore open, and he exhaled heavily when he saw Tubbo asleep in his arms. He slumped on the grass, resting Tubbo in his lap. He quickly checked him for injuries, just in case he’d bumped anything during his fall, but there was nothing.
Ranboo’s hands were shaking. They’d had close calls before, but none where Tubbo wasn’t able to save himself. This was the first time he’d truly be out because of his time limit, left to the mercy of gravity and earth. Ranboo pulled Tubbo to his chest in a hug he knew he wouldn’t feel. It had been too close for comfort. He’d been too close to actually losing him. This close, Ranboo could feel Tubbo’s heart beating and hear his shallow breathing in his ear. He could be certain Tubbo was okay.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Tommy mumbled. Ranboo opened his eyes to see Tommy kneel in front of him, hands gripping the grass around him. He hurriedly asked, “Is he okay? Was he hurt?”
Rage curled tight in Ranboo’s stomach. The emerald still glinted in the torchlight around Tommy’s neck. The key to solving this issue was right there, within his reach, but he knew he couldn’t have it. There was only so much Ranboo could take.
“You know, Tommy, I’m trying to be civil about this, really, I am,” Ranboo started, pushing himself to his feet, Tubbo still held close to his chest. “It’s just getting harder and harder to do so when things like this keep happening.”
Tommy sputtered, scrambling to his feet. “Wh-What the fuck are you talking about? Things like what?”
“You do realize you have the thing that lets Tubbo live a normal life around your neck, right?” Ranboo asked, venomous, wanting it to sting. It seemed like he hit his mark, considering Tommy’s scowl and how he reached a hand up to grip the emerald bouncing against his chest. He pushed harder and snapped, “How do you feel about that decision now, huh? Now that it’s actively put Tubbo’s life in danger?”
“You know if he had it he’d already be leagues farther than the rest of us,” Tommy argued with him, a similar heat creeping into his words. “It’s not my fault if he ignores the limits.”
“He wouldn’t have limits if you just let him have his life back!” Ranboo exclaimed, squeezing Tubbo just a bit tighter. “How is this fair?! Three hours he gets with us everyday. Three. You just expect it to be okay?! We’re stuck together like this for thirty days, Tommy. Doing this is like taking an entire month away from Tubbo’s life, and you’re just… okay with that?”
Tommy didn’t break. He stood straighter and let his hand fall from where it clutched Tubbo’s emerald. He glanced up the few inches he needed to to meet Ranboo’s eyes.
“It wouldn’t be fair,” he stated with an air of finality that made goosebumps flare on Ranboo’s arms. “Wilbur agrees and so do the others. I’m not giving this up. It gives everyone a fair chance at winning.”
It felt like he’d been burned. Ranboo knew he’d thrown the first punch, but he hadn’t been prepared to receive the second. He’d been too caught up in trying to make Tommy change his mind. It felt like betrayal to know that he wouldn’t.
“I thought you’d understand, out of everyone,” Ranboo spat, turning away. “This isn’t right. It’s putting Tubbo in danger. If fairness costs Tubbo’s safety, I don’t know if I want to play fair.”
“There’s nothing I can do, Ranboo!” Tommy exclaimed, stomping around to shove a finger in his face. “I can’t pick fucking favorites and you know it. Giving Tubbo free reign would give the others no chance. It’s not my responsibility to watch over him every single second, but if you want to make that your problem, go right ahead. I won’t stop you from wasting your time here.”
“Tubbo’s my friend. Our friend. I thought you cared about him a bit more than this,” Ranboo grumbled.
He didn’t stay to watch Tommy’s expression crumble. Phantoms were starting to cry out overhead, and Ranboo wasn’t keen on staying and becoming their dinner. Right then, he couldn’t bring any part of himself to regret what he said. Tubbo could have died, but Tommy still wouldn’t go back on his decision. If he felt anything different, he should’ve said so.
Ranboo hurried below ground, knowing their base would be safer than anywhere above ground. He hugged Tubbo closer to his chest as they descended the steps. He was still out cold.
He sighed, mumbling, “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
At the bottom, the only sounds Ranboo could hear were the gentle flow of water and the chirps of axolotls. He veered off from the main room, taking one of the many branching tunnels to a small bedroom they’d made. There were three beds in the cavern, but only two of them really looked used.
It scared Ranboo, knowing how long Tubbo slept. For twenty-one hours a day, Tubbo would sleep. Nothing could rouse him. As soon as he’d hit his three hour limit, no matter where he was or what he was doing, he would pass out. If he got more and more tired as his time ran out, he never showed it. He worked until he physically couldn’t, then he’d fall into Ranboo’s waiting arms.
And Ranboo would have to wait those twenty-one hours to talk to him again.
It hurt, pulling back those sheets and laying Tubbo down on the bed. Three hours ago, Ranboo had rushed down to the cave to see if he was awake yet and found him up and rummaging through chests, already looking to get started on his next project. Now, he was back, fully asleep and unable to wake until tomorrow evening. With a heavy sigh, Ranboo collapsed on the ground beside the bed. His heart was done racing and the adrenaline was rushing out of him. He tilted his head back, staring up at the dark stone ceiling as if it could give him answers to questions he didn’t know if he should be asking.
“I hope you’re not mad at me,” Ranboo mumbled, wrapping his hands around his ankles. “It’s just… frustrating knowing you could be out there with us but Tommy won’t let you. I don’t want to-to make an enemy of him, he’s still our friend, but… it doesn’t stop me from wanting to try and get that emerald off his neck.”
He knew he wouldn’t be getting an answer. The person he wanted to say this to was asleep. He wouldn’t be hearing a single thing Ranboo said. He didn’t have the time of day to listen. He only had time to act.
“It’s fun. Catching the axolotls with Phil, fishing with Sneeg, making that stupid wheat farm,” Ranboo chuckled hopelessly, the hurt in his heart transforming to pressure behind his eyes, “it’s fun, even if you’re not there to see it all.”
He tried to breathe, tried to keep his emotions under control, but the next breath he took was strangled by a sob escaping his throat. He hid his eyes behind his arms, feeling tears soak into his sleeves. It wasn’t fair. Why should they be living so happily when Tubbo couldn’t? Why did they deserve to feel the sun on their skin while Tubbo was confined to a bed deep underground?
“I miss you,” he croaked. “I wish you could see it. I wish you were still here with me.”
The cave had no response. His words fell on deaf ears and echoed off the hard rock walls. Did Tommy not feel the same loneliness he did? Was he not crushed by the knowledge that Tubbo had to live the majority of the next month in the dark? Ranboo could barely stand it. He had to drag himself out of bed every morning knowing he would be leaving Tubbo behind. He faced each full day and spent most of the time waiting for his best friend to wake up, wake up, please just wake up.
Tubbo’s consciousness was tied to an emerald. Tommy refused to let that emerald go. For the sake of fairness, Tommy cursed Tubbo to sleep the next month away. Ranboo didn’t know when a game became more important than Tubbo’s life.
On shaking legs, Ranboo slowly got to his feet. Gently, carefully, though he knew he wouldn’t be disturbing him, Ranboo settled himself at Tubbo’s side. He pulled him to his chest, burying his nose in his hair. He ignored the tears dripping down his cheeks, because he knew they’d come back to him soon enough.
“See you tomorrow,” he whispered.
Tomorrow was his only wish that would come true.