Chapter Text
When the day is young and the air is fresh,
Blah blah,
Shakespeare Shakespeare.
That’s how Ranboos day started. Reading a poem for a class he wasn’t even in. The crinkled paper had a ‘Tubbo Underscore’ scribbled hastily at the back, who that was, he had no idea. It wasn’t anyone from any of his classes. Maybe he should ask someone? Haha, but social anxiety goes burrrrrrr.
Honestly, Ranboo couldn’t bring himself to worry about it too much, seeing as their wasn’t much he could do. Other than take it to the office, which he did. And it most definitely wasn’t awkward at all. Mmm hmm most definitely not.
Going through his classes was fine. Reading books was fine. Everything was perfectly splendid, he read his books and did his best with his work. All he had to do was not think about how he was in an endless cycle of school and sleep. Because he hadn’t really made anything other than surface level acquaintances who he waved to in the hall.
Despite popular belief not having friends doesn’t mean you automatically get bullied, like a lot of movies make it seem. It just means your very sad. And, despite popular belief, having friends doesn’t mean people aren’t assholes. In the end Ranboo can’t bring himself to make friends in fear of rejection, can’t imagine himself letting people get close enough to pick apart who he is.
So he does his school work, with his school friends who aren’t actually friends. It more of a necessity friend, so you don’t appear lonely if you don’t have any friends in your class. Or, in Ranboos case, any friends at all.
After classes pass he goes home to his sister and her roommate and childhood friend Eret. Honestly Eret was basically another sibling, and they always asked how Ranboo was doing which made him feel warm and happy.
“Ranboo! How was your day my dude!” Eret said as she twisted from the history documentary that was blaring on the TV. Ranboo grinned, “It was the same as any other day, just did school work and stuff,”
“Uh huh, sounds boring,” Eret answered a look of sympathy laced through his gaze, “come watch this history documentary, Wilbur said it was good so I’m sure it’ll be pretty interesting,”
“Okay,” Ranboo said shrugging his backpack off in order to sit crosslegged on the couch.
“Oh, by the way it’s about cannabalism on the Oregon trail,”
“Honestly I’m not even sure what I expected at this point,” Ranboo replied. Honestly, he really didn’t. This Wilbur guy was someone known to Niki and Eret but Ranboo had never met the guy. Or if he did he was too young to remember. Last time the documentary had been about the Black Plague. And the time before that it had been the musical Hamilton.
“The people are stupid be warned,” Eret said flinching at whatever memory she had. “Honestly I’m not that surprised, how else would they have gotten trapped on some mountain in the middle of nowhere,”
And that’s about how the rest of the documentary went. At some point Eret had made buttered popcorn which was to die for. It was nearing the end of the documentary when Niki entered the apartment, in her arms were some pastry’s from the coffee shop she worked at.
“Hello! I brought your guys favorites, we can have them with dinner,” She said slipping out of her jacket before shuffling over to set the bag on the table. After that she looked over at what was on the TV, “Oh, what are you watching?”
“Wilbur suggestion,” Eret said looking onto the screen where a very dark scene was being explained with cardboard cutouts. Niki nodded, “Makes sense,”
“It’s honestly pretty interesting,” Ranboo answered gesturing to the screen, Niki nodded and sat in the middle of the couch where the popcorn had been. Ranboo could see the visible pain that she had when she relized that she had missed eating the godly popcorn.
“I can make more if you want,” Eret offered, extending their hand for the bowl. Niki nearly launched the bowl at him, her eagerness nearly getting the better of her. He really tried, but Ranboo couldn’t stifle the giggles that escaped him at his sisters struggles. Niki shot a sharp glare at him.
“You would’ve done the same thing if it would’ve been you in that situation,” Niki told him once Eret was out of earshot.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ranboo responded feigning innocence and blinking innocently.
“I guess I can have all the popcorn then, once she brings the bowl back,” Niki said shooting a devilish grin at Ranboo who nearly flings himself off the couch.
“I will sell you my soul, you can suck it out of my body with a vacuum or whatever mechanism is used for soul removal, please don’t deprive me of my life fuel,” At this confession Niki snorts and shoulder bumps Ranboo.
“I’m not cruel, of course I’ll share with you,” Niki answered. Ranboo let out a dramatic sigh of relief and covered his heart with his hand, “Thank god, I thought I was going to have to start groveling at your feet,”
“Oh, feel free to still do that, I won’t stop you,” Niki giggled out. By the end of this exchange the documentary had already ended. So after a couple more quick quips with his sister they both decided to go check on the progress of the popcorn.
The buttery smell that invaded his senses made Ranboo perk up, if he had a tail it would surly be swishing. Once entering the kitchen Ranboo followed Niki as they both silently went to Erets side. Somehow sensing them Eret turned from where he had been making sandwiches, “Popcorn on the table,”
After attacking the popcorn bowl and sandwiches like rabid animals Ranboo and Niki turned to look at each other. Turning Ranboo saw where Eret was sitting with a raised eyebrow pointed at the two. Chuckling Ranboo awkwardly dismissed himself after saying goodnight to his siblings.
With all his homework done Ranboo simply sat in his beanbag.
Sitting in a room. It was so very him and yet not his at all. A bed, sheets plain, a light brown bedsheet, weighted blanket under that. By the window a laptop sat on a desk with a cheaper mouse attached, Ranboo could proudly admit it was self bought with a summer job he had from a few years ago. A shelf, trinkets from wherever and books about random interests. And there was the bright rug on the floor that was bright which had a flurry of colors and was objectively ugly, on that sat the nice blue beanbag he was sitting on.
It was nice, and it brought a sense of comfort to Ranboo. Sometimes it seemed as though it were the only safe place on the planet where people couldn’t intrude.
As the sun set Ranboo looked out his window, a small knot in his gut made him want to cry. And Ranboo knew what it was, it was the self doubt kicking in, convincing him every interaction made people hate him with a fiery passion. In reality no one cared. It slipped out of his mind and he simply let it, thinking of other things. Like Minecraft and all the neat builds he would never make. He hadn’t touched the game for a while, not having time to think between school and his weekend walks that get longer and longer each time.
When Ranboo goes to sleep that night he never fully falls asleep.
The next day as Ranboos grabbing his backpack Niki catches him by the door as he’s about to leave.
“Hey Ranboo, I thought I should let you know that we’re going to hang out in the park tonight with Wilbur and his younger brother, and you’re welcome to come with us if you want,” She said, giving him the option to decline if he wants to. Niki knows how he gets anxious around other people, and she always gives him an out. But she also worry’s, and Ranboo knows this. He was aware that his siblings are concerned that he’s never brought a friend over, and the only thing he mentions is his schoolwork. But they never bring it up which Ranboo is endlessly grateful for.
“Sure, I guess I’ll go along if you’re going,” Ranboo responds with a mental grimace. He sets it aside, knowing that going along would make his sister happy. And seeing her grin made anything worth it.
Well, almost anything.
After a numbing day at school Ranboo was second guessing himself. The thought of interacting with new people sounded painful. Seeing as he was nearing the entrance to the park Ranboo knew it was too late to back out.
In the entrance to the park was a tall man who had a nice yellow sweater with a nice jacket atop of that.
“Wilbur!” Niki screamed flinging herself into the man nearly knocking him over. Eret went over and joined the hug, though less chaotically than Niki had, “Nice to see you again old friend,”
Looking over Ranboo spotted a fellow teen with blond hair and a scowl pointed towards Wilbur. Looking back over to the three young adults Ranboo sees that the scenes somehow resulted in Niki and Eret in a staring contest with Wilbur. Ranboo was confused on how this worked seeing as Eret had sunglasses on.
“Were you also dragged into this?” A voice said directly next to Ranboos ear which nearly made him jump. Looking over, it was the blond who had somehow made his way from behind Wilbur without making much noise.
“Umm, not really?” Ranboo responded unsure what he should say. The blond rolled his eyes, “That’s cool. That bitch dragged me here insisting on ahem ‘brotherly bonding’ he conveniently forgot to mention other people,”
“cool,”
“So who are those people, and who you,” the teen questioned Ranboo. He was just glad that the blond had glossed over Ranboo’s awkward reply.
“I’m Ranboo, and that’s my sister Niki, and Eret our roommate, they’re basically our sibling at this though,” Ranboo said pointing to each person, and Tommy cut back in asking for the pronouns of each of them, which Ranboo explained quickly.
“So Raaanboo what do you do for fun?”
That was the beginning of an extremely painful conversation with the blond who had introduced himself as Tommy. Somehow it ended up with Ranboo giving the boy a flower in order to keep functioning kneecaps.
“Oh, is this your brother you’ve both been telling me so much about!” Wilbur said voice loud as he turned towards Niki and Eret once again.
“Yeah, his names Ranboo,” Eret answered grinning. Ranboo nearly burst into tears at Eret basically confirming that she referred to Ranboo as his sibling. Lucky for him his eyes never seemed to function correctly.
“Holy fuck! He’s taller than me!” The man said bounding up to Ranboo and measuring himself against him, “how tall are you? Good lord what have they been feeding you?!”
“Popcorn,” Ranboo said, god tier popcorn living rent free in the brain.
“Oh,” Wilbur said a look of confusion etched across his face. He felt a deep pang of pity for the man. Sharing a look with Niki, Ranboo and her silently agreed to never enlighten him in order to keep competition away.
As the evening wore on Ranboo started to find himself farther and farther away from the conversation. Something about how Wilbur seemed to study him and the way Tommy glared made him want to jump out of his own body. Thankfully not long after the rest of the people decided to call it quits and go home.
When Ranboo got home he carefully wrapped his long limbs around Eret and Niki who gave surprised yet pleased expressions. Honestly Ranboo didn’t hug them all that often, finding it slightly awkward to initiate hugs.
“Love you Boo,” Niki said, Eret humming in agreement.
“Love you too, g’night,” Ranboo mumbled softly releasing the two before softly padding to his room to attempt to sleep.
At least Ranboo got a name to a face. But overall it didn’t really change his schedule that much. And he doubted he’ll see Wilbur much. As much as the man was kind he still unnerved him, as strangers usually did.