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Everything around him felt heavy when he woke up. He stretched his legs out in front of himself, blinking tiredly and trying to take in his surroundings. His fingers were going numb with a slight chill in the air and snow was beginning to collect on his limbs. It fell down in small fluffs that blew softly in the wind.
His shoulder was pressed against the base of a tree and his neck was bent in an odd direction to compensate for it. He laid there for a while, staring up at the sky and blinking as snow fell against his face and left small dot-like sizzles against his skin. His chest felt weighed down and each breath came with a small wheeze. Not like the clenching gasping feeling when he was panicking, it was a pressure like there was something heavy on him.
His mind moved with a sluggish haze that thoughts seemed impossible to go through. He blinked again, everything was so bright. That must have meant that it was daytime right?
Where was he? When he moved his arm from his side to brush against the ground his limbs were heavy and weighed down. A loud clank resounded through where he was laying and he flinched. Snow brushed against his hand. He was wearing gloves? The water didn’t soak in and burn as it melted so that must have meant that he was wearing gloves.
Slowly coming into the body that he had woken up into he took stock of what was going on. His head was still stuffed half full of cotton and there was a heavy haze that clouded his thoughts from processing normally. He was laying on a fresh blanket of snow, more coming down in small flakes. There were trees surrounding him on all sides and the cold air nipped at his skin and sent shivers down his spine.
He struggled to sit up, his limbs heavy. Leaning against the tree that he had woken up by, he looked down, netherite armor gleaming in the light. The snow that fluttered down on it melted against the metal and slid down it in small droplets. That was why it was heavy. Why the snow didn’t sting or ache as he had been sleeping in it.
His body felt wrong, everything felt wrong. It was too heavy. The armor was too heavy. When he lifted his arm it moved almost as sluggishly as his brain felt. He turned it so that his wrist was facing upward and winced at the sound the metal made when he moved.
Off. Was the first thing that his brain supplied. The only helpful thought that he happened to agree with and understand.
He fumbled with the straps, long fingers seeming to have gone numb in the few minutes that he had spent contemplating what was going on. He didn’t know how to get the armor off, the straps connected in weird places and he didn’t know how things were supposed to connect. His tail had begun twitching back and forth from where it was lying limply in the snow.
The armor needed to come off. It was wrong, it felt wrong. It was too heavy, too tight.
And he didn’t know how to get it off.
Looking around, a small distressed chirp escaping his lips he tried to see anything that could be of use. Anything that could possibly jog his memory of where he was or if there was anyone nearby that could help. He had woken up here, in the middle of a snowy forest while it was snowing.
Snow means water and water burns him so maybe it was a good idea that the armor was on, and perhaps it should stay on until he found someplace dry.
Heavy, bad.
That is very good logic, he figured.
Ranboo would know how to get the armor off, it’s his armor. Ranboo was asleep. Or maybe he was awake too and sitting in the back of his mind like what usually happened. When he lets instincts take over to take the time to calm down. Why was he here again? Did something happen?
Slowly, and with using the tree as support, he managed to push himself up to his feet. He stumbled, his tail swishing back and forth, trying to keep him balanced. The armor made him seem off-kilter. The protection that is meant to serve only made him feel weak and trapped.
This place was familiar and he noticed footprints in the snow. The prints seemed to match the underside of his boots but he hadn’t been able to get a good enough look. He was too much at risk of toppling over again to take the time to examine the patterns on the bottom of his boot.
But by the logic that these were his footprints, that meant that he could follow them and probably come to someplace that he could recognize. That seemed like a good plan, and then maybe find someone that can help.
The armor needed to come off, that was the first priority. Or well… the first priority was finding someplace that was familiar so he could get his bearings and then get the armor off. Or find someone that could help. He chittered and warbled as he trudged through the snow, shivering and shaking like a leaf in the wind. His armor served no warmth, it only weighed heavily on his already exhausted limbs.
Staring at the ground and following the winding footsteps exactly the way that they had been tracked in the snow. He had managed to bring himself out of the woods, his head only a little dizzy from tracing the pacing footsteps around a tree. In front of him were houses that he recognized, large spruce cabins and pathways that were illuminated by flickering lanterns.
He recognized this place as home, the name in a tongue that he couldn’t pronounce. Home meant that he would find someone to help.
Continuing to follow his footprints in the snow he was led to a large mansion, smoke billowing from one of the chimneys and the large door shut tightly.
It felt familiar and a warmth bloomed in his chest at the sight of the doorway. But a part of him wasn’t sure if he was allowed inside, if he was allowed into this part of their lives. Did Ranboo want him here? He wouldn’t have passed out in the middle of the woods if he had.
With the blind hope that maybe someone would be home, someone to help. He knocked loudly on the door, the sound making an echo that caused him to step back in fear, covering his ears with his hands to block out the sound that he had made. It took him a second to blink back into the present, his tail lashing back and forth behind him.
There was silence for a moment and he thought that maybe he should leave, or go inside. Then, he heard footsteps, his ears twitching towards the sound. The door opened.
In the doorway, completely dwarfed by his own shadow was a small hybrid. Curling horns wrapped around fluffy ears that twitched as he looked around. Hooves tapped against the ground and he made a noise of confusion, speaking in the language that he only understood half of.
“Ranboo? Why’d you knock?”
He supposed that he and Ranboo could share a name for now. Only until he found one that he felt suitable. Ranboo never gave him the opportunity to find one out for himself.
The hybrid was staring at him in confusion and it took him a second for his thoughts to collect and the memories of all the other times he’s wandered around to click into place. He chirped happily, stepping closer to Tubbo who still had the door handle clutched tightly in his hand. Tubbo also took a step back.
“Ranboo?”
Ranboo tilted his head to the side, chirping, and chittering. His tail swished back and forth, taking on a more calm rhythm.
He spoke slowly, trying to explain but the words slipped out in slurred ender that he wasn’t even sure that he could understand himself. Tubbo was still staring at him, avoiding eye contact but the blatant gaze made goosebumps prickle against his skin.
Tubbo said a few words that Ranboo didn’t understand, then said a few more that he did understand.
“Are you okay?”
Ranboo leaned down some, chittering. He spoke again, Tubbo continued to stare confused. His ear twitched which caused Ranboo’s attention to turn to that. His own ear twitched in response.
“You’re worrying me, Boo,” Tubbo put a hand on Ranboo’s arm and Ranboo chirped, leaning his head down. Immediately, Tubbo pulled his hand away, furrowing his eyebrows. Tubbo muttered an apology and Ranboo frowned and shook his head.
“What…?”
Ranboo stepped into the house, albeit a bit hesitant but he was shaking and he didn’t want to stand on the front porch any longer. Tubbo shut the door behind him, his hooves clicking on the floor.
“Is something wrong? Did—” Tubbo asked another few questions, his words leaving his mouth in worried tones but Ranboo found that he couldn’t understand the words so he didn’t pay much attention. Occasionally he picked up a word or two from what Tubbo was saying to him, but other than that he was left clueless.
“Ranboo?” Tubbo put a hand in front of Ranboo’s face and he blinked. He looked down at Tubbo, tilting his head to the side.
Ranboo warbled, remembering the list of priorities that he had. He had found someplace that was familiar (and also warm, he found that the mansion was very, very warm compared to the outside) so the next thing was that he needed help with getting his armor off. He nudged Tubbo with his hand, speaking softly in ender, asking for help.
Tubbo just made another noise of confusion, staring at the hand that had nudged his arm.
“I don’t understand, Boo,” Tubbo muttered, rubbing his arm, nervously chuckling, “you’re acting strangely.”
He tugged at the straps of one of the pieces of armor and nudged Tubbo again, vrwooping as to emphasize the point. Tubbo spread his hands and Ranboo copied the gesture.
“I don’t… what?” Tubbo stared up at his husband, the enderman hybrid towering far over his head. Ranboo made another noise and nudged at Tubbo, leaning down and knocking his forehead against Tubbo’s gently.
Ranboo had been gone all day. Tubbo had only seen him briefly this morning at breakfast before his husband had scurried off to go do whatever he did during the day. Tubbo was relieved to have him back home and to know that he was safe, but the way that he was acting sent Tubbo’s heart fluttering with growing anxiety. He hadn’t done anything to warrant this unease but the fact that Tubbo had no idea what was going on set him on edge.
He tugged at the straps on his armor and gave a small distressed chirp.
“Do you… need help?” Tubbo asked slowly, he pressed his lips in a thin line. Ranboo’s eyes lit up momentarily and he nodded once, giving Tubbo another enderman-like chirp. Tubbo looked up at his face, noticing the slight purple glow that came from his eyes. He didn’t look farther up so as to not make eye contact, he knew that it made him uncomfortable and really didn’t want to test the limits of their trust while he was in this state. Whatever that state was right now.
“Is it your armor?” Tubbo then asked and was met with another firm, quick nod. Ranboo’s tail was wagging back and forth and from where Tubbo was standing it was hard to gauge his exact emotion from the way it was moving. Tubbo was usually able to get a bit of a hint from the way that his tail would twitch or swish back and forth. But right now he was lost.
“What do you need help about?” Tubbo figured that he wouldn’t get a helpful answer to that question. And his suspicions were confirmed when he was met with a mutter of what seemed to be ender. Could he not speak common?
“Do you need to take your armor off?” Tubbo asked and Ranboo only tilted his head in confusion, warbling weakly.
“Off?”
An eager nod. Ranboo chirped, his ears twitching.
“Okay uh,” Tubbo scrubbed at his face with his hand, he pointed to the bench near the front door, “sit down I’ll help you.”
Ranboo made no move to sit down, or that he had even understood the command. Tubbo sighed, taking his arm and leading him to the bench. From there Ranboo seemed to get some of the picture. He sat down, staring at Tubbo with wide eyes.
“Okay uh…” Tubbo knelt down, tugging at the straps of his armor, digging his finger into the leather strap, and undoing it from the buckle so that it could slide off. Tubbo dropped the piece of his armor leggings with a bit less care than he should’ve. It made a loud crash and Ranboo whimpered, reaching up to cover his ears.
“Sorry,” Tubbo found himself whispering. He set the pieces of armor down more carefully from then. Though every time they clinked against each other or were set down on the floor, Ranboo seemed to flinch minutely.
Tubbo’s hands moved with a bit of rusty ease. It had been a while since he had taken off armor, let alone someone else's armor. It was always a much different experience than taking off your own armor. Ranboo wasn’t being much help either with the process, he sat there staring at what Tubbo was doing with a curious stare. He chirped and warbled as if he was trying to communicate something but gave up halfway in the process.
Tubbo undid the straps of his chest plate, pulling the heavy sheet of armor off and setting it down as nicely as he could. Ranboo curled his fingers around his shirt, saying something in ender. Tubbo felt a pang of guilt at the fact that he couldn’t understand a word that Ranboo was saying but he reluctantly had to ignore his husband’s unknown rambling to undo the last of the straps.
When the last piece of armor was removed Ranboo smiled at Tubbo, pressing his hands together in a quiet clap. He seemed to say something that Tubbo assumed was a thanks.
“Uh… you’re welcome bossman?” Tubbo stood back and Ranboo stood up, still towering over Tubbo which Tubbo thought was quite rude that he had to be that tall.
Ranboo stood with his arms curled towards himself and was slouched over, he blinked.
Tubbo chuckled weakly and rubbed at the back of his neck, “so what now?”
There was no response from his husband. So Tubbo shuffled awkwardly away from him.
“I guess I’m going to go start dinner uh…” As Tubbo moved to walk towards the kitchen, he noticed that Ranboo was following him, matching him step for step but making no sound as he padded across the hardwood floor. His tail swished back and forth behind him as he did so and he was still staring at Tubbo with his head tilted to the side out of confusion.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Tubbo muttered half to himself, burying his face in his hands for a second to collect himself. He was used to Ranboo acting weird, his entire thing was being weird. But this was too much, even for Tubbo. He just wanted some sort of straight answer though that didn’t seem to be a possibility anytime soon as Ranboo seemed perfectly content to follow Tubbo around, not saying anything. Or not saying anything in common.
Tubbo had no idea how to speak ender. He could read some of the words and sentences that Ranboo wrote down in his notes that he left around the house but that was about it. The pronunciations were weird in his opinion and he had no idea how to translate them. Besides, right now it seemed that Ranboo was only making small chitters and idle warbles as he followed Tubbo to the kitchen.
“Uh… why don’t you go sit in the living room or something Ranboo? Sit by the fire and warm up, you’ve been out all day. I can make dinner.”
Ranboo, once again, gave no indication that he had heard or even understood what Tubbo was saying. So Tubbo turned to the right, walking into the living room as Ranboo followed him.
Tubbo nudged him to sit down on the rug in front of the fireplace and wrapped a blanket around his shoulders. Ranboo clutched at the fabric, his hands clenching and unclenching around the silk hems.
“Stay here, I’ll be in the kitchen,” Tubbo said, taking a few experimental steps back to make sure that Ranboo would in fact remain where he was sitting. When the enderman hybrid didn’t seem to make any move to stand up, content to sit on the rug in front of the fireplace, staring at the burning embers while running his fingers over the blanket. His tail swished back and forth against the hardwood floor.
Tubbo backed out of the living room and disappeared into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, burying his face in his hands and he sighed. This was too much weird for one day.
Deciding that dinner could wait until later, he didn’t even know if Ranboo would be feeling okay enough to eat by the time that he had finished making it. So Tubbo moved to pull a pot out from one of the cabinets, filling it with milk and letting it warm up over the stove. Some hot chocolate never hurt, and the way that Ranboo had been shivering earlier led Tubbo to believe that he could really do for some.