Work Text:
Tubbo is a person of facts. He didn’t think about there being any higher power above watching over him He had no need to. They were never there for him. When he cried for help, they weren’t there. When he was beaten within an inch of his life by the president, they weren’t there. When he had been exploded with color, they weren’t there. The only one ever there was his best friend, Tommy.
Tommy had once spoken of his belief. It was brief however, and Tubbo hadn’t heard anything else after that. From that moment forward Tubbo started noticing things about Tommy that hinted at his religious beliefs. For example, Tommy carried around a small rosary everywhere. Another example would be when Tubbo had started noticing Tommy would pray sometimes. Praying when times seemed bad, and he thought no one was watching.
In all honesty, Tubbo should’ve made the connection when he found the boy sleeping in the pews of the church, but he didn’t.
He’d never understood why Tommy prayed during bad times. Until now. Sam had come to him to break the news of what had happened in the prison earlier that week. Tommy was dead. He was dead and had been murdered by Dream. The man people had promised would never hurt him or his friends again, hurt them again. And Tubbo couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. The thought of losing his best friend- his brother was horrid.
“bo?- Tubbo?!”
Sam’s loud voice shot Tubbo out of his thoughts. Looking at the boy with a heartbreaking guilt. An expression that screamed thousands and thousands of unspoken apologies. Yet not even one was spoken.
“I’m so sorry for your loss. I wish I had done more.”
“But you didn’t.” Tubbo spoke, glaring at Sam.
Tubbo couldn’t look at his face anymore. He had failed the boys. Just like everyone else has. So, without speaking another word Tubbo walked away. Holding back tears that threatened to spill out. They had been a long time coming. Yet, he held all the horrid feelings he had. For the most part.
The next few days had been a blur for the boy. He’d been investigating the death of his brother. Of course, he knew who killed Tommy, and how he’d died. But he wanted to know who had set off the TNT that caused his younger brother to get locked in the prison. Between staying up all night writing down info and connecting the dots to information that ends up being dead ends.
It had been the third night by the time Ranboo had stepped in. The enderman hybrid had found the boy in his room scouring through stacks of notes he had. Unkempt hair, disheveled clothing, and large bags underneath his eyes. He’d pleaded for him to take a break, to just have one night of sleep. Tubbo gave in to his significant others pleads and decided to just... relax. Even for a few hours.
And yet he couldn’t. Couldn’t relax. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t stop thinking about it. Ranboo offered to go make him some tea and the boy accepted the offer with gratitude. Ranboo hurried out of the room, not wanting to leave Tubbo alone for too long.
With a moment alone to himself Tubbo took a minute to collect himself. Standing up to pace around the room. He had tried everything to just get justice for his little brother. He didn’t just want justice. He wanted his little brother back. Gods he wanted to be able to talk to him again. Sit on the bench and listen to those stupid discs the blonde was so fixated on. Wanted to hear his laughter again. Hear his loud voice.
He was getting off track. He needed to breathe. So, he took a seat on the side of the plush bed closing his eyes. Feeling the soft fluffy fabric of his bed. The scent of lumber their home always gave. Listening to the quiet noises of the night. Crickets chirping. Wind blowing vigorously as snow fell quickly.
The boy had been so caught up in his surroundings he hadn’t realized he’d picked up on something he hadn’t done in years. Quiet prayers being whispered out. The last time he had prayed had been moments before his second death. Silent prayers hoping for someone to save him. Pleading for help. He had stopped after being betrayed by those he had trusted his life with.
Hands carefully folded into each other as his prayers continued. The boy prayed for what could’ve been. Prays for what could still be. And prays for one chance. Once chance to say goodbye. Once chance to see his smile again. Once chance to hear his laughter. One chance to be with him. One. Last. Time.
“Oh- uhm Tubbo?” A voice interrupted, resulting in Tubbo’s head shooting towards the direction of the voice.
At some point Ranboo had found himself back upstairs, holding two mugs of sweet hibiscus tea, standing in the doorway. Looking at the goat hybrid in front of him solemnly. The mugs were each hand made by Michael. They both looked like each of his parents respectively. And were both made with the same amount of care a 6 year old child could muster. With small chips and cracks placed around both of them. Tubbo and Ranboo love those mugs.
“Ranboo.” The boy responded. Looking at him blankly. Probably planning to murder him in his sleep.
“I’ve- Ehm... got your tea.” Ranboo answered, shrinking in on himself as he walked towards Tubbo with the mugs in hand. With that, the boy sitting on the soft bed was kicked out of the trance he was previously in.
“Thank you, thank you.” He smiled softly, grabbing his mug and taking a sip from it.
“Tastes like mug.”
“Oh well, you know, it is in a mug.” Ranboo teased, sipping his tea quietly with the other. The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Before Ranboo started fidgeting. Tubbo taking notice almost immediately.
“Everything alright Boo?”
“Yeah! Uhm- yeah no everything’s good!” Ranboo answered nervously, “I was just wondering, and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, cuz I understand it might be private and I don’t-”
Tubbo interrupted bluntly, “Ranboo. You’re rambling.”
“Right, right. Sorry.” The ender hybrid apologized, gaining an understanding nod from Tubbo as he continued with his question, “When I walked in you were uhm- muttering something?”
“Oh yeah. Nah I was just praying. I don’t do it much anymore, kind of a lost habit.” Tubbo sighed, “I just... stopped a bit after my execution.” He laughed sadly.
“Not permanently though?” The ender hybrid questioned, tilting his head slightly to the side.
“I- This is the first time in years I’ve actually done this. It’s probably just from me being tired.” The younger boy admitted.
“Oh- right. Okay.” Ranboo didn’t push anymore of that topic, sensing the sensitivity of the situation. The two sat there, once again in silence. This time it was a bit more uncomfortable, mugs of tea abandoned. Deciding he no longer was willing to sit in awkward silence Tubbo stood up,
“Alright! That’s enough relaxing for me.” Wanting to get out as fast as possible. Before he could get out the door though Ranboo spoke while grabbing his hand, “Tubbo wait, it’s only been an hour. You really need to sleep.”
“No Ranboo. I don’t need to sleep. I need answers.” Tubbo grimaced , yanking his hand out of Ranboo’s grasp.
“How are you going to find answers if you’re sleep deprived Tubbo?!” The taller boy challenged.
“How am I going to find answers if I’m too busy sleeping?!” The other disputed, not wanting to budge.
Ranboo wasn’t budging either, “Tubbo you can’t function correctly if you don’t get any sleep! You’re worrying me!”
“I’m fine Boo! I’ve gone without sleep for a lot longer than a few days!” Tubbo hissed.
“But you don’t NEED to stay awake Tubbo! You don’t have to ignore your health in order to find out what happened!” Ranboo admitted. He was desperate. He knows who he married. He knows Tubbo is stubborn and won’t move on anything. But if there was one thing Ranboo was more stubborn than Tubbo on, it was the health of Tubbo himself. And gods forbid Ranboo losing this battle.
“I need to do this Boo! I can’t sit back and do nothing!”
“You’re not ‘sitting back and doing nothing’,” Ranboo gestured to the room around him, “You’re doing so much more than anyone else to figure this out!” The enderman took a deep breath to calm himself, “But you’re not helping anyone by hurting yourself. You can’t help Tommy if you drive yourself to your own grave!”
With that Tubbo quieted, looking at the ground, ears flopping down, and debating with himself. Ranboo walked a little closer to his husband, keeping his distance. Small sniffles escaping from the goat hybrid. Ranboo stepped closer softly wrapping his arms around the other. The action making Tubbo break down in the taller boys arms. Tightly gripping the others shirt
“I- I- just want him back Ranboo.” The boy sobbed out, “I miss him. I miss him so much and it hasn’t even been that long” Crying loudly.
“I know it’s hard. I really do Tubbo. But you can’t do this to yourself.”
Tubbo only responding by digging his head into Ranboo’s chest. Ranboo hugged back a little tighter, before guiding Tubbo over to the bed and sitting the two of them down.
The two sat there on the bed, Tubbo being held comfortably in Ranboo’s arms as he sobbed. Wishing for one more day with his lost brother. Ranboo only sat there comforting the other boy, speaking reassuring words towards the other. Soon enough the crying quieted as Tubbo drifted into sleep, Ranboo still comforting him.
All was good for the next few days, as Ranboo helped Tubbo with research, and the two worked on building a hotel adjacent to the Big Innit Hotel. Keyword being was.
It had been a cool summer day, wind softly blowing through the grass. Tubbo had gone to gather extra supplies, taking a bit too long than expected. Ranboo hearing the sound of footsteps quickly approaching, hearing a second pair not too far behind. He hadn’t turned around as he assumed it had just been Tubbo getting extra help. He hadn’t expected Tubbo to practically hide behind him and stare daggers into the person following him.
“Woah- Tubbo you good?” Ranboo spoke looking down at the boy. Tubbo didn’t answer. Only stared.
Ranboo looked into the direction Tubbo had been glaring at and was met with the blue, piercing eyes of the blonde Tubbo thought he had lost.