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Techno was waiting outside of the school, just as they always did, for Niki and Ranboo. They were just to the side of the entrance, standing under and leaning against one of the many tall oaks meant to liven up the place.
They were typically the first one out of school. The science wing was closer to the main entrance than the art and humanities wings so their walk was much shorter than their friends’. Techno never minded, though. They were more than willing to wait for them just so they could go to the library and cafe after school. It was a routine they loved more than anything else.
Niki walked up to them a few minutes later, complaining about some boy she shared class with. Techno, as always, listened to what she said with rapt attention, more than happy to hear about her day (no matter how good or bad it was). She pulled out a bag of chips from her bag, passing them over to Techno without any explanation, and then took out a granola bar for herself. Without having to ask, Techno knew she had a pack of cookies saved just for Ranboo.
Well, if Ranboo was going to show up.
There was nothing wrong with being late, teachers were fond of holding students back to talk to them, but twenty minutes (without warning) was more than just a normal amount of late. Especially for Ranboo, who hated breaking routine as much as Techno did.
“Techno! Niki!”
Ranboo was practically running towards the two of them and he looked completely out of breath, like he had been keeping up this pace for longer than a few seconds. He stopped right in front of the tree, leaning forward and gasping for breath.
“Took you long enough,” Techno said, snorting at the embarrassed flush that covered Ranboo’s face.
Niki smacked them on the arm, a faux scolding look on her face. “Leave him alone, Tech.”
“Sorry, I was just-” He took in a deep breath and it sounded wheezy. If Techno already didn’t know Ranboo’s medical history, they would’ve immediately assumed the boy had asthma. “I was doing somethin’. Speaking- god I can’t breathe!”
“Take your time, we were already waiting. We can wait some more,” Niki teased in her fake nice voice she used just so no one else would figure out how utterly rude she could be.
“Oh and I get scolded for bullying him-”
“It’s not bullying."
Ranboo did his little wheeze-laugh which certainly couldn’t have been good for his shortness of breath. “I can’t believe my best friends are bullying me.”
“Really?” Techno and Niki complained in unison, not even flinching at the way they’d linked up. At that point, it was expected for them to be on the same page (they had decided to dye their hair pink coincidentally on the same day, nothing could be more in sync than that).
Ranboo straightened up, giggling at his two friends. “Anyways, I was gonna say that- that- that- okay, so, there’s this kid in my history class, right, and long story short, I’ve got a new friend.”
Techno’s stomach dropped, a sour feeling making them feel sick. “What.”
Niki didn’t share the same dread that Techno felt. She gasped and clapped her hands together, the picture perfect image of support. Damn her. “That’s great Ranboo!”
“I know!” Ranboo replied, mirroring Niki’s own excitement easily. “He invited me to hang out at his place because he lives close to the school so we could just- just, y’know, walk there. I wanted to tell you guys before I went. So you wouldn’t get worried.”
“What’s his name?” Techno could tell they sounded too defensive all because of the concerned look Niki shot them, an unspoken and unanswered question in her blue eyes.
Ranboo grinned and Techno felt so guilty. He looked so happy just thinking about his new friend. “Tubbo! He’s, like, over there.” He gestured to somewhere behind him and standing awkwardly away from the trio was a short brunet. He wore a green jacket and a striped beanie. When he noticed both Niki and Techno looking at him, he waved. Why’d he have to look so goddamn nice?
“I hope you guys have fun.” Niki opened up her bag and pulled out Ranboo’s cookies. He took them with a giddy smile, just as he always did. He hit his left foot against the grass, a gesture that Techno knew meant he was happy. Happy about being without Techno and Niki. They stopped themself from scowling right there. “Feel free to share.”
“I would never, who do you think I am?”
“So we’re selfish now?”
Ranboo’s foot hit against the ground again as he laughed. “Well, if it’s your baking-”
Niki pushed against Ranboo’s shoulder, giggling when it almost made him fall backwards. “No flattery, go hang out with Tubbo. We can handle ourselves without you.”
Speak for yourself, Techno thought to themself even though they nodded along to Niki’s words.
“Okay, okay! See you guys tomorrow?”
“Of course,” Techno scoffed at the same time that Niki exclaimed, “And the day after!”
Ranboo waved them goodbye, hand moving too fast to properly see, before walking off to join Tubbo. Techno watched them go and finally allowed themself to scowl and frown and grimace to their heart's content.
Niki laughed at Techno and they grumbled in protest.
The afternoon was different without Ranboo there.
Techno loved Niki like their own sister, she was amazing and lovely and fantastic; she was wonderful to be around on her own, entertaining and calming in a way that guaranteed a good day. Yet the lack of Ranboo left a hole in Techno’s chest and ruined the time that they usually found relaxing. The seat he usually occupied was glaringly empty. It was open and techno felt cold whenever they looked at it.
It wasn’t the fact that Ranboo was gone that changed the atmosphere (he’d had to leave for plenty of family events and medical appointments). It was the knowledge that he was with someone else, that wasn’t Techno or Niki, that changed his absence. Reading and poking fun at random books they found on the shelves in the library wasn’t as amusing and the drinks they had at the cafe tasted bitter instead of sweet. They, of course, told all of this to Niki.
She took in Techno’s admission with an amused smile, lips curled around the straw of her iced coffee. “You know Ranboo can’t just have us, right?”
Techno mumbled something unintelligible into their peppermint hot cocoa, hiding their face from Niki in the decorated cup. The steam from the drink fogged up their glasses and they made no move to clean it off; they did not want to see Niki’s judgement. “Right, but still-”
“He’s going to need friends when we graduate. Do you want him to be alone while we’re in college?” Niki, as always, had a point. When Niki and Techno graduated, Ranboo still had two more years to go. Techno knew how much it sucked to be alone during school and he definitely didn’t deserve any of that. “Tubbo’s not going to take our place, Tech, Ranboo’s still going to be our friend. He’s just going to be spending time with Tubbo now as well.”
Techno pouted, leaning back in their chair. It was petulant and would most definitely ruin their image. They didn’t care at all. “I don’t like when you make sense.”
Niki snorted and it sounded much more graceful than it should’ve. “You’ll be fine.”
“You don’t know that.”
A balled up napkin was promptly thrown right at Techno’s face.
Niki was, unfortunately, a hundred percent correct. Ranboo still spent most of his afternoons with Niki and Techno and his weekends were spent lounging around at Niki’s house. Tubbo took up much less of his time than Techno first thought and it was a blessing, really.
Some days, he’d sit at their lunch table with some story about how Tubbo had found a baby duck or how he sawed off the end of a pen with a piece of string or how he stole another of the teacher’s mugs. Every story was told with the sweetest grin on his face and Techno had to forcefully stamp down their jealousy, only because Tubbo managed to make Ranboo look so happy.
At least Techno never had to actively interact with Tubbo. They only had to learn about him through Ranboo and that was how they preferred it.
But, unfortunately, Ranboo had a big heart and he loved his friends.
Once again, he was late and he’d ran to Techno and Niki. Out of breath because he didn’t learn his lesson from the last time, he asked them if Tubbo could join them.
“It’s just- hah, air,” he wheezed out, “You guys mean a lot and I’ve talked about- ow- I talk about you and, like, legally he needs to know all the good things I say are true.”
Techno’s heart certainly didn’t warm and they definitely didn’t find Ranboo at all sweet. Stoic, stoic, jealous. Yup, yup. “I guess so.”
“I’d love to meet him,” Niki said, much more enthusiastic about it.
Ranboo beamed at them and it was the greatest thing Techno had ever seen. He turned around and shouted for Tubbo. He came walking up to the group right after. The green jacket he wore last time was swapped for the loudest sweater Techno had ever seen. It looked like something Ranboo would wear just to annoy Techno and Niki. No wonder the two of them got along. Birds of a feather or whatever.
“Hello Tubbo,” Niki began because she was always the most agreeable out of the two of them. She held a hand out for Tubbo to shake and he did. “I’m Niki. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Tubbo bowed his head slightly. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
He turned to Techno and flinched right after. Good. They still looked intimidating enough to scare freshmen. Wonderful news. “Technoblade.”
“Uh-”
Ranboo rolled his eyes. “What an introduction.”
“What did you expect?” Niki asked, smiling like the little shit she was.
Techno crossed their arms over their chest and glared lightly (lightly, okay, Ranboo couldn’t get upset at them for it) at Tubbo. He looked away from them and focused his attention on Niki and Ranboo. Techno could say all he wanted, but at least the kid wasn’t stupid.
After introductions were out of the way, the group of them began the walk to the library. It was strange not having to attempt to walk all side by side, instead pairing off and going two by two. Tubbo and Ranboo walked ahead of Techno and Niki, talking and laughing.
“You’re so dramatic, I’m surprised you never joined theater,” Niki said, poking Techno in the side. They squealed unbidden, moving away from Niki’s hand. The two teens in front of them turned to look at them and techno could feel the embarrassment like it was a physical weight, even when they turned away and went back to their own conversation.
“Why are you like this?” Techno mumbled.
“Be nice, yeah?”
Techno shrugged and Niki sighed. She leaned into their side and, because of course, it was more comforting than anything else could have been.
The library was fine. Ranboo read everything out for Tubbo. Tubbo was surprisingly good when it came to analyzing literature. Where Ranboo would joke about his interpretations, Tubbo would manage to take those and make them legitimate with actual lines in the novels and poems. He took criticism well and expanded on Techno’s own ideas with a maturity they wouldn’t have expected from the stories Ranboo told. He fit well into the humor the rest of them had, joining in on the banter with a confidence that paid off.
The cafe was just slightly better than the library. Tubbo went to Techno specifically to ask for any recommendations and, to not be rude, they obliged. He ended up ordering a peppermint hot cocoa, just as Techno did. Techno very easily didn’t focus on how much Tubbo enjoyed the drink. They had to drag over a seat from another table to fit all four of them at the usual table, even though Tubbo said that he was more than okay with standing. He was much more unhinged in the cafe than in the library, saying the most off the wall shit that earned him more than a few playful hits from Ranboo. The dynamic between the two was amplified; they both were much more fondly antagonistic towards the other, arguing in a way that reminded Techno too much of Tommy.
It wasn’t that bad. Not that Techno would ever mention that out loud, but their expectations were a lot lower than the reality of the situation. Tubbo was a good kid, through and through. He cared about Ranboo and Ranboo cared about him. Even when they left to go home, he was still treating Niki and Techno nicely. Techno wasn’t typically a good judge of character or whatnot, but they could tell that Tubbo wouldn’t be an asshole.
Ranboo slammed the backseat door of Techno’s car, laughing when Niki scolded him. “So, thoughts on Tubbo?” The question, at surface level, was lighthearted and not too genuine, just something he asked out of curiosity. Techno knew Ranboo though and they knew that Ranboo legitimately wanted to know their opinions.
Niki hummed in thought as she put on her seatbelt, playing her deliberation up for theatrics more than anything else. “It’s like another you but shorter, so he was lovely, I’d say.”
“He wasn’t that bad,” Techno muttered. Ranboo gasped and Niki echoed it, though hers was much less genuine than Ranboo’s. They turned to look at him, not at all surprised to see an open-mouthed grin on his face.
“You liked Tubbo?”
“I didn’t say that-”
“I don’t know,” Niki chimed in, “I’m pretty sure those were the exact words you said.”
“No I didn’t, c’mon guys, please-”
Ranboo gasped again and jumped in his seat, bouncing like an overexcited toddler. “Does this make Tubbo the next member of the Syndicate?”
“From three to four, yes!” Niki was smiling just as much as Ranboo, immediately adding onto his horrible idea without any hint of hesitation.
“Tubbo’s not joining the Syndicate!”