Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sound of flames roaring was the only noise in Ranboo’s head. Loud and dangerous, like the song of battle drums.

It’s hard to remember what came before the fire, was there laughter? Was there a strike of a match? He doesn’t know, it’s too hard to breathe and he can’t think properly.

There’s hands on him now, around his neck—

Click

▫ ◾️ ☽ ★ ☾ ◾️ ▫

“Ranboo!” A cheerful voice calls out, sweet like a sugar cube. Ranboo winces at the wrong pronunciation of his name, but turns around all the same. Gaze meeting that of his social workers. A nice lady really, but she really could never get his name right.

“Charlotte.” He greets, waving a clawed hand at her. She walks over, no bounce in her step like she normally had. He can guess the reason pretty easily. Ranboo looks down to the floor as she makes her way over, pulling the blanket around his shoulders tighter.

Charlotte takes a seat next to him on the plastic chairs, hands curled around papers and a clipboard. There’s silence for a few seconds, weaving a web of anxiety in his stomach. Ranboo tries to see if he could burn holes through the tiled floor with his eyes. It would be better than listening to a throw away pity explanation on how he fucked up.

The older woman sighs, eyes looking him over. He can practically feel her gaze land on the fresh bruises littering across his arms in dark splotches. He pulls the blanket closer, covering them. “I’m sorry for what happened to you tonight. If I'd known that he was…unstable, I would have never left you in their care.” She starts off with, sadness coating her voice.

He doesn’t reply, doesn’t really have a chance to as she goes on. “I want you to know nothin was your fault and we’re taking the appropriate actions to suspend his account in the foster system.” Ranboo scoffs at that, rolling his eyes. Suspend , like a few months of rehab was going to fix a drunken lunatic. Charlotte sighs, papers roughly as she digs one out of the pile.

She looks them over, a frown crossing her face as she does so. “I’m looking for a new placement for you right now, but in the meantime you're going to be in a group home. I swear it won’t take longer than a week to find a…uh-“ she snaps her mouth shut, nose scrunching up as she thinks of the best way to say what she wants.

“Hybrid accepting home.” He fills in for her, finally looking up from the ground. He has concluded that he can’t burn holes into tile, so there’s no reason to keep his head down any longer. “You can say it you know, it’s not offensive.” He adds on as an afterthought.

She nods, hands shuffling around the papers to keep them busy. She looks thankful for the words, her smile seemingly to turn even sadder. “You're a good kid Ranboo, I’m sure it won’t take too long for everything to go back to normal.” Somehow he doubts her. The choker around his neck starts to burn.

☽ ★ ☾

It took a month before Charlotte found a new foster home for him. Either all the ‘hybrid safe’ ones were full and couldn’t take any more placements, were to suspicions to leave him with and or were flat out not qualified to handle him. Ranboo slightly regretted that runaway attempt he made two years ago now.

But now after a month of looking, his social worker had quote ‘found the best family to take him in’. Don’t get him wrong Charlotte was amazing to him, but after the last time where she had said those same words he’s starting to lose faith in the woman. There might not be bruises on his arms or an ache in his side from the family before but he won’t just forget what happened.

Charlotte’s car rumbles and creeks as she drives down the road, some kind of pop music blaring through the speakers. Ranboo sat beside her in the passenger seat, window slightly open to let the fresh air into the vehicle. His fingers tap against his thigh, trying to match the beat of the music.

He hasn’t really looked at where they were headed since they left the group home. There really wasn’t a need to. The two just sat listening to the weird music Charlotte likes to listen to as she drove. He knows it’s been awhile since they left, him having been able to sneak a nap during the drive and wake up to them still on the road.

Ranboo closes his eyes as he leans back against his seat, heart silently racing in his chest. Time flies by pretty quickly then, like he’s jumped forward a few minutes, or even an hour. When he opens his eyes again it’s to the car slowing to a stop, the creeks of a slightly unsteady vehicle stopping along with the car.

He looks over to the radio, finding that it had indeed been an hour since he closed his eyes for the second time. How far away was this new foster home? “Oh, you're awake!” Charlotte lays, looking over at him. Ranboo nods stiffly, sitting up in his seat as he wipes sleep away from his eyes. “Well we're here now, so get your bag and we’ll head over to the door.”

Ranboo unbuckles his seatbelt as slowly as he can without being still, grabbing his backpack from between his legs next before getting out of the car. He had gotten it when he turned ten years old, no longer being able to get by from home to home with a garbage bag. Plus Charlotte had hated the bags and so insisted he needed a pack. He’s thankful for it, even if it is worn now, having had it with him for years.

After closing the car door behind himself Ranboo finally lifted his head to look around. His breath caught in his throat at what he saw. Instead of a small house or building somewhere between district twenty to fifteen he was met with a two story one. Instead of broken street lamps and smelly garbage bins left on the side of the road he was met with flowers lining the pathway up to said two story house.

“Uh…” Ranboo blinks, then blinks again, trying to dislodge the illusion that has covered his vision. Because from what he can see of the street it looks nothing like the lower districts he grew to know. “I think we took a wrong turn somewhere.” He states, looking over at his social worker as she closes her own door.

Charlotte just waves a hand at that, a smile easily covering her face as she starts walking towards the house there parked against. “Nope, this is the right place.” She says, like there was nothing wrong with this situation at all.

You see, L'manburg was built in districts, from one to twenty. One being the richest part of the city as to where twenty was the poorest. Ranboo had lived practically all over the lower districts in all his years in the foster care system, the highest he’s ever gotten being district fourteen. The lowest district to the middle zone is the city.

Along with districts the city was broken up into four parts, one to five, six to ten, eleven to fifteen and sixteen to twenty. And in no way does this look like zone five or four. “Are you coming?” Charlotte speaks up, snapping him out of his rambling thoughts. Ranboo whips his head towards her, where she stands halfway up the stone path.

“Y-yea!” He stutters as he rushes forward, tail whipping uneasily behind himself. He quickly gets up to her, the two continuing on towards the door. The walk isn’t nearly as long as he hoped to help get his mind around where he was, eyes snapping to all over the exterior of the house and out onto the street.

The street looked clean , lamps actually looking up to code as the houses were spread out, giving room to what he assumed were backyards and gardens. It wasn’t clustered together, mismatched buildings nowhere in sight. The flowers lining the small path looked cared for, a beautiful array of pinks, reds, blues, yellows and blacks.

He watched as his social worker reached out towards the door, pressing down on a silver doorbell. His fate was sealed then, with a simple push of a button. Ranboo’s life was set in stone, no turning back now. Wait, if he made a run for it now would he be able to escape before the door opens?

His thought process is cut short when a voice from inside yells out “One second.” It causes a shiver to go down his spine. Ranboo swallows down a nervous vwoop, keeping his mouth clamped down tight. Soon enough the front door is opened, revealing a man standing in the doorway. “Oh, hello. You must be Charlotte and Ranboo.”

He greets, a smile on his face. Ranboo forces himself not to take a step back as Charlotte takes over introductions. “Yes that’s us, and you must be Mr Craft.” She says just as easily as the other did, holding out her hand for a handshake.

The other takes her hand in his, shaking once before letting go with a soft chuckle. “Just call me Phil, Mr Craft makes me sound old.” Mr Craft-or well, Phil, steps to the side, welcoming them inside. Ranboo shuffles behind Charlotte as they go inside, the door clicking shut behind them.

Just by the hall alone he can already tell there’s multiple people living here. There’s a shoe rack to the side that holds four separate pairs of shoes, each of varying sizes and looks? To the other side there’s a hall closet, slightly open to reveal multiple jackets, sweaters and boots that were set in the ground.

Ranboo doesn’t have much time to look around as the two adults move on quickly down the hall, forcing him to follow. They end up setting up in the kitchen, where Charlotte is placing a few papers in front of Phil to sign. He doesn’t bother to listen in on the conversation, instead resigned to silently freak out over his situation.

It’s obvious he’s somewhere between district seven to somewhere near district twelve. Which, okay that’s different . That coupled with there’s clearly multiple people living here? He’s doomed, utterly damned to a life of looking behind his shoulders and locking himself away. There’s a reason he doesn’t like having so many people, it means more eyes on him, more people to catch him in lies.

Ranboo lifts his hand up, fingers skating against the slick but thin black material that sits around his neck. He’s interrupted by a clap of hands. Turning to the two adults in the room he sees as Charlotte collects now signed legal papers, pen back into her hands. “Welp I should be getting on my way, it’s a long way back to the sixteenth district.” She says, standing up from her seat.

Phil stands up with her, and he takes it as his cue to do the same. “Let me see you to the door.” His new foster parent says, leading her out of the kitchen. Ranboo silently follows behind back towards the door. Watching as his social worker checks one last time she has everything.

“I’ll be back to check up on you in three months Ranboo.” She addresses him for the first time since getting inside. Then a look he can’t really understand crosses her features, lips thinking as she fully faces him. “You have my number if you need it, remember?” And he nods, ignoring the way his heart clenches at the words.

The real sentence is hidden behind context, no one really wanting to state the obvious. She really means you have my number if things go south, call if it does . With one last goodbye to Charlotte she’s out the door, car rumbling to a start as she drives away down the road. Which means he’s alone, with Phil, in his new placement.

“So, Ranboo.” Phil says, drawing his attention over to the man. Ranboo at being addressed hunches his shoulders, pointed ears flicking in discomfort. It doesn’t do much to shorten his already taller than average height. The man doesn’t acknowledge the movement and if he does he spares him the embarrassment and doesn’t say anything about it.

“Would you like to have a tour first or to settle down in your room?” He says after a beat of silence. At the mention of a tour Ranboo shakingly nods his head. If he knows the layout of the house it would make sneaking out a lot easier. With the decision now set in stone Phil gestures for him to follow, leading him around the house and pointing out rooms.

The house was bigger than anyone he’s been in. Well, except for the group home he was just in. But then again he was sharing the home with six other teenage boys and a set of caretakers. A wife and her husband. So he guesses the person to available space ratio is kinda wonky here.

They went through the lower level of the house first, Phil showing off all the rooms. It's pretty simple so memorize at first, Phil chatting up a storm between each room. Living room, kitchen, dining room that he says they never actually use and a small bathroom. It’s after all of that that Phil points out a door that’s right underneath the staircase.

“This leads down to the basement or what my sons like to call ‘the man cave’. Both my office and my brother's bedroom are down there so if you're going to hang out make sure to watch your voice.” He instructs, looking over at him to make sure he got it.

“Okay.” Ranboo says slowly. He’s decided that he’s never going into the basement. No need to risk angering them. He’s done enough of angering foster parents, no need to piss off a foster parent and their brother . 

Phil smiles at his one word however, like talking was some magical accomplishment. “We can go down if you like, or head upstairs? Your choice mate.” Ranboo doesn’t need to think, feet already moving away from the basement door.

“Upstairs is fine.” He replies, looking anywhere but at the man beaming in front of him. Phil hums as he leads him upstairs and to the second floor. Upstairs were more halls than big spaces, filled with doors and windows overlooking the outside. Phil quickly showed him the main bathroom, this one having a shower and cupboard instead of just the toilet and sink like downstairs one had.

They then went to the ‘main’ hall of upstairs. “And this is what the boys have coined the sleepy bois hall.” Phil says as he gestures to the closed doors. “All the rooms here are bedrooms, the ones on the right are mine and my eldest while the ones on the left are my youngest and your room.” He says happily, opening the last door on the fight.

They walk into it, Ranboo’s eyes snapping over to different parts of the room. It was a good sized room…clean and most importantly had a bed . He quickly started finding this whole thing to be too good to be true. “I don’t have to share my room with anyone?” He finds himself asking before he can stop himself.

A second after the words left his mouth he recoiled, head snapping downwards towards the ground. He shouldn’t be questioning the other, how would he have already messed up? Foster parents hate being second guessed and questioned. Before he can apologize however, Phil speaks up.

“No, you don’t.” He says softly, any aggression in his voice lacking. He’s hiding it, he has to be. The shoe still needs to be dropped, surly. “Everyone has the right to a personal space, you're no different.” Phil adds on, walking more into the room. Ranboo doesn’t nod, just peaks up from behind his bangs to stare as the other goes over to his desk.

It’s then that he realizes something was actually on the desk. A small basket of some kind. Phil catches him staring at it and chooses that as a good way to change the subject. “The boys thought it would be nice to make a little gift basket for you.” He chuckles, lifting up a notebook that was sitting beside it. “I also wanted to get you something, so I thought of this.” He walks back over, handing the book over.

Ranboo reaches for it, holding it with the gentlest hands he could muster. “…thanks.” He says, looking at the cover. It was a dark maroon colour leather bound book, black thick string holding it together. “You didn’t have to.” Because really, who gets a foster kid a notebook? On their first day here?

He won’t even make it a month before pissing someone in the house off so why ? “Don’t mention it mate, plus we all wanted to.” The other explains as he walks over towards the door. “I’ll leave you to get settled, if you need me I’ll be out back.” And with that Phil closed the door softly behind himself, leaving him alone.

He lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, shoulders slumping at his sides. Ranboo stared at the closed door for a few minutes. He didn’t know what he was expecting, maybe that Phil would barge in and yell out confusing rules? But nothing, he was gone. His hands tightened around his new notebook.

The thing is, Phil was so human . Not one thing out of place on the man, not one horn or animal like ear. He remembers Charlotte saying that his foster father was a human in passing. Which confused him now, Phil hadn’t once scrawled or stared at his features. At the thought Ranboo turned away from the door, looking over at the basket that was on his desk. Maybe Phil didn’t care about him being a hybrid? He’s fostering one after all…

He walked over to the desk, setting down his notebook and turning his attention to what else was there. In the small basket was a new toothbrush, a box of chocolates, hair ties, pencil crayons, a sleep mask and a note. He chirped in interest, picking up the note and looking it over. It read-

Hello Ranboo! I’m in charge of writing a note to you. Wilbur says he regrets letting me do it but what the fuck does he know? Anyways I hope you have a good first day here and I’m excited to be getting a foster brother. I’ll see you when I get home from school, but if you get hungry I left chocolate in the basket.

Ranboo shoved the note in the basket. That was, wholesome. He shook his head at the thought, opting to take the basket and hide it somewhere. There was no way he was going to lose all this free stuff. It’s his now and he’s going to keep it safe. With a nod to his plan Ranboo shoves the basket underneath his bed.

And for good measure he takes his bag off his back and shoves that underneath the bed along with his new notebook tool. He stands up, satisfied with his hiding spot and decides to wander around his room. He has a closet, bed, mirror, desk and a small rug near the door. It was all so…nice. There had to be an alternative motive.

☽ ★ ☾

It’s a few hours later that shouting enters the house. At first Ranboo stiffens on his bed, ears straining to hear if it was Phil. Maybe he had entered from the backyard because Ranboo had broken some silent rule he wasn’t aware of? He rushes off of the bed, climbing to the other side of his bed and ducking.

He curls up near the floor on the other side of the bed, hiding him from view. The shouting doesn’t yet louder, instead it seems to just begin rambling. It’s then that he realizes it’s not Phil, but instead the other members of the house. His shoulders sag for a second before it hits him. He’s not alone in the house anymore.

At that he curls in on himself tighter, not wanting to be pulled into a conversation yet. From what Phil had said hours ago he has two sons and a brother. Which means three more people, more ways to mess up. Don’t get him wrong, Ranboo has lived with foster siblings before. For as old as he was there’s no way out of it.

But foster siblings and him never got along. If it wasn’t the in-fighting then it was favouritism, and Ranboo was the last person to get special treatment. He wasn’t the most subtle hybrid you’ve ever seen. Split coloured hair, black and white freckles to match, pointed ears that blend to the same colouring as his hair, mixed matched eyes, claws and a tail wasn’t easy to hide.

Wasn’t very ‘nice’ to look at either. So he tries to listen for footsteps that would suggest someone was going to barge into his room. After around twenty minutes he did hear footsteps but they entered the room next to his, ignoring him all together. With a sigh he crawled back onto his bed, head hitting the surprisingly soft pillow underneath him.

This house was weird , weirder than anything he’s ever seen. The family was clearly well off, not one rule being placed yet and he was allowed to spend hours up in his room, alone. Ranboo turned towards the window, a thought coming to mind. He quickly got off his bed and walked over to it.

The window looked over the backyard, a decent sized house extension out in the back. Presumably where Phil had run off to after showing him around. But he wasn’t interested in the backyard, no, he was interested in the window itself. With slow hands Ranboo held the latch, flipping it open. It didn’t push against his fingers, coming undone easily.

He slid the window open, cold air flooding from the outside and tickling his skin. Ranboo stuck his head out, taking a deep breath in. This will do perfectly. He reaches up for the choker that’s around his neck, feeling it’s sleek material against the pads of his fingers. And he would have been surprised by the low pulse the jewellery gave back if he hadn’t known any better.

He knows the choker almost like he’s had it his entire life, knows of the magic engraved into it, of the words in old reading out curse of binding on it. Ranboo doesn’t know why or how it ended up on his neck, but he knows it was for a reason. And he knows he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing.

A new foster family wasn’t going to stop him from doing what he knows is right. Maybe a few more eyes was going to make keeping his secret hidden harder, but he’s literally been in a group home for the past month, this is practically nothing. Ranboo was still going to sneak out in the dead of night, magic pulsing through him as he does what they refuse to do.

Protect what is forgotten and damned, because the rich and ignorant refuse to believe in anything else but brand new dresses and fake fundraisers. In a world full of heroes and villains Ranboo has the power to work outside of the law, and if being coined a vigilante lets him help people then so be it. He’s a vigilante, through and through.

And this window being unlocked as his first step to getting back to his job. “Hey mate!” Phil calls, snapping him out of his thoughts. Ranboo jolts in surprise as he whips to look down at his foster father, who’s crossing the backyard from the house extension. At his bewildered look Phil puts up both hands. “Sorry mate! Didn’t mean to scare you! Just wanted to tell you I’m going to start on dinner soon!”

And Ranboo nods stiffly, watching as the man heads inside the house. His heart beating against his chest, ears raised and alirt. After a few seconds of nothing happening he closes and locks his window, scrambling to hide between his bed and wall. So maybe going out tonight was a no go…there’s always tomorrow?

He hopes Mellohi and Rover are not pissed at him for dropping at the face of the earth. They should understand though! Maybe, probably…

He has a feeling he’s dead the next time he goes on patrol.

Chapter Text

Ranboo stayed up in his room for as long as he could, deciding that it was the safest place to be right now. But of course his hopes for going unnoticed for the rest of the night wasn’t going to last as dinner came around, causing the once kinda still house to shift, energy surging through it.

“Boys, dinner!” Phil’s voice called from downstairs, rousing everyone up. The bedroom door beside his own whipped open, then came the one from across the hall. He could hear yelling and chatter as two sets of footsteps ran down the hall and to the staircase. Ranboo sits there on his bed for a few minutes after, just staring at his door.

This was it, he was going to meet everyone else. He’s been avoiding having to meet them for hours , the sun now on the horizon as golden hues burst in from his window. Does he head downstairs? Was he expected to eat along with everyone else? Ranboo picked at the edge of his choker, a nervous thing he’s picked up over the years.

It seems like he’d taken too long as footsteps once again entered the hall, stopping in front of his door. He holds his breath as he watches the shadow the person casts near the bottom of the doorway. “Ranboo?” Phil’s voice cuts in, a soft knock coming right after his name was called.

He scrambled to his feet, hurrying over to the door. Crap, he’s pissed off Phil for not coming when asked, didn’t he? He doesn’t know the rules yet and doesn't know how Phil runs the house, he should have just went downstairs when asked. Before Phil knocks once more he opens the door a crack, peering out at the other man.

Phil’s hand was slightly raised, like he was going to knock again. It falls to his sides as he puts up a smile. Ranboo can’t tell if it’s genuine or not, he’s never been good at that kind of thing. “You might have not heard me but dinners ready if you want to come down? It’s curry if that piques your interest.”

Ranboo’s nerves calm down at the calm attitude. He opens the door a little wider. It’s then that the smell wafts in from downstairs, of seasoned chicken and rice. “…I'll come.” He decides, stepping out of his room and closing the door behind himself. Phil just nods as he starts walking. He quietly follows him through the house.

The smell of food only grows stronger, his stomach yelling at him and alerting him to how hungry he actually was. He doesn’t think it would have let him skip dinner even if he tried. Phil takes him to the kitchen, where all of the chatter had been coming from. They turn the corner, Ranboo’s eyes snapping to the chairs that were now occupied.

There were three people sitting at the table, all talking amongst each other. “Guys, this is Ranboo.” Phil speaks up, ruining his plan at trying to stay as unnoticeable as possible. Thanks a lot Phil. The three other members of the house quiet down at the mention of his name, all turning to face him.

“Oh, hello.” A brown haired man says, waving a hand at him. He’s tall, almost as tall as Ranboo himself. Which was surprisingly because not only was he an enderman hybrid but this guy looked so utterly human , just like Phil.

Before he can say a greeting back, the next tallest—how many tall people are in this family?—straightens up in his seat, a wide smile crossing his face. “Hello!” He practically yells, causing literally everyone to wince at the volume. Well almost everyone, Ranboo was used to loud people believe it or not. “I was wondering when you were gonna show your face, big man!”

At that the brown haired man that sat beside him slapped the blonde's arm, Phil just chuckling awkwardly beside him. “What the fuck Will!?” He screeches, turning to glare at his…brother? They sure act like brothers and Phil had said he has sons.

“You're being rude .” The other hisses. Ranboo’s just going to start calling him glasses as he doesn’t really know anyone's names yet.

Blondy scoffs, rolling his eyes. “I wasn’t being rude! I was being truthful! Have you ever been truthful? If you did you wouldn’t fucking hit me-“ a sigh cuts him off, drawing everyone’s attention to the last person sitting at the table. And-oh, oh wow.

Ranboo couldn’t help but feel surprised at the third person, being the most different to everyone else. The third person had pastel pink hair, sharp ears and two tusks at the side of his mouth. A piglin hybrid , his mind oh so helpfully filled in for him. Maybe Phil not staring at his hybrid features were making a little more sense now.

“Can you two wait to argue after we’re all sat down and eating?” Pinky said, gesturing to him and Phil. His voice was thick with an accent Ranboo couldn’t place. He’s heard it before, in other nether raises, but he never bothered to look at specific terminology. “I’ve heard the kids' stomach growl like three times now.” He ends off at, silencing any retort that was going to be sent his way.

Like a traitor in war his stomach picks the left over silence to growl loudly, proving the other right. Ranboo feels heat crawl up his face, embarrassment creeping along with it. His tail flicks uneasily behind him, ears tilting downwards. All eyes were once again on him, making him want to find a dark place and to just hide there until this interaction was over.

Glasses is the one to break the silence, standing up from his seat. “I’ll get a plate ready.” He says, walking over to the stove. And just like that Phil leads him over to the table. Glasses is quick to come back with a decently sized plate of food, putting it down in front of him before going back to his own seat.

The silence doesn’t last however as the two go right back to arguing about nothing and everything. Ranboo sits there stunned, fork in hand as he looks down at his plate.

☽ ★ ☾

Dinner was…interesting? He doesn’t really know how to put it. Ranboo learned the three’s names quickly after sitting down at the table beside Techno. And yes, he got sat right next to the mound of muscle that was Techno. Glasses and blondy’s names turned out to be Wilbur and Tommy respectively.

He ended up being right that they were brothers, leaving Techno to be Phil’s brother. Ranboo tried everything to stay out of conversation, wanting to eat his dinner and hide up in his room for the next decade or so. But both Tommy and Wilbur wouldn’t have it, trying to drag him into conversation over and over again.

He never latched, giving short and quiet answers or replies. Soon enough they got the hint, resigning themselves to chat with the other two at the table. That left Ranboo watching, head held low as he ate. He felt like an outsider looking in on a family, it felt wrong . But he didn’t really have a choice did he?

The rest of dinner went like a blur, but even then something struck him as odd. There was something weird about Tommy’s eyes, or at least he thought so. The more he stared the more confused he got. They didn’t look, well, normal. Well they looked normal , but also brighter in a way. He shook that thought away quickly.

“-anboo?” The voice made him jolt, eyes snapping upwards to meet Phil’s. He unintentionally let’s a small vwoop slip past his lips. He freezes in place, realizing his mistake too late. He hadn’t been listening. How many times have they called his name? How many times has he not answered.

An apology is on the top of his tongue but before he could declare it there’s a deep huff from beside him. “You okay there?” Techno asks, looking over at him. Brown eyes flitter across his face then his plate, a small frown forming on his face. But other than that the other had shown nothing to give away his intentions.

“Oh, uh…” Ranboo looks back down at his half eaten food, grimacing. Everyone else was done eating, him being the only one with food left on his plate. “Just tired.” He shrugs. The obvious lie is covered up by overall anxious behaviour and the fact they don’t know his tells. Techno just hums, taking the answer. “Did you-did you call me for something?” He says next, looking over at Phil.

Hopefully they won’t ask anymore questions, or don’t get mad for letting his vocals slip. He knows people hate them and call them abnormal, but maybe they’ll turn a blind eye this once. The older man hums back at what he had asked, looking over across the table. “Well if you're tired I won’t hold you that long, I just wanted to go over house rules now that everyone was in one place.”

Crap, house rules. The bane of Ranboo’s existence. There was this god awful thing with foster parents and rules. They always felt the need to keep the power in the house, using the rules to keep everyone else in line. Depending on the type of person you got stuck with usually meant different types of rules.

Control freaks made rules such as cleaning the house from top to bottom, don’t talk unless spoken to and always be polite, things like that. The newbie foster parents usually made rules such as having to be outside his room all the time and that doors can never be closed.

The worst ones however are the untrustworthy types. The parents that force you to empty your pockets, lock you in the house after a set hour and yell if you didn’t show them what was on your phone. You can imagine why a vigilante like himself hates those kinds of foster parents. “O-okay.” He replies, setting down his fork.

He didn’t feel as hungry anymore. Tommy narrowed his eyes on him at the stutter, but for the first time this whole night hasn’t said anything else. “They're all pretty easy, most are just common sense.” Phil goes on to say. “First rule, everyone has privacy. No going into rooms without permission, and even if you're allowed, the person who let you in has the right to tell you to leave at any time.”

Okay that was pretty simple. Ranboo wasn’t planning on entering anywhere other than the bathroom, kitchen and his own room. He just hopes the others follow this privacy rule, it’s not like he has a lock on his door. Which was frickin disappointing. “The only time this rule should ever be broken is if someone is in danger or endangering someone else. I have the keys to both bathrooms but I promise not to use them unless it’s necessary.”

Ranboo quickly looks across the table, eyeing everyone’s look to this little add on. They don’t seem to really care. “Second rule, no touching something that isn’t yours. This mostly applies downstairs as both my office and Techno’s room is down there. Things get left around and putting them up is fine, just no taking anything.” Phil’s voice goes stern here, eyes pointedly staring at Tommy.

He has a sneaky suspicion that Tommy doesn’t really follow that rule as he’s looking anywhere but at his father. “Third rule, and this is kinda important, no staying out past twelve. Everyone has to be in the house by then as it’s basically the next day, well unless it’s work and or we discussed things like sleepovers and such.”

He’s going to ignore the crap out of that rule. There’s no way around it, he just hopes there’s no bedtime check ups. “Dad.” Tommy speaks up, catching everyone’s attention. “I’m literally too old for sleepovers and both Wilbur and Techno have night jobs. That rule fucking sucks.” He declares.

“He’s kinda right.” Wilbur laughs as Phil makes a confused face. “The only way that rule is going to apply is if it’s just no sneak out and I’m pretty sure no one here does that.” Ranboo chooses to look away from Wilbur at that point.

Phil sighs, succumbing to his defeat. “Okay you two have a point. Just uh, call or text if you're staying out late, okay mate?” He says, looking over. Ranboo stiffly nods, keeping quiet. Again he’s never really going to do that so there’s no reason to think about it. It’s not like he goes out much besides for patrols and school. “On to our last rule, boundaries.”

And isn’t that the thing that makes everyone sit at the edge of their seat. A real kicker. Ranboo likes to think he has keen eyes and the fact all jokes felt off silent tongues was a good enough reason to shut down any running thoughts. Here’s the big rule, the one that everyone takes seriously.

The air around the table shifts, suffocating and chaining his limbs down in place. Boundaries were a hard topic, usually misused. His own were always ignored, stepped on like it was a twig. He doesn’t know the last time he was given a peace of mind around them. Maybe when he was younger, before foster care was even an idea in his mind.

“Boundaries in this house are very important and are to be respected. I’ll let everyone tell you their own, but I’ll start us off.” Phil was staring at him, a camanding look in his eyes. This rule wasn’t going to be ignored, that was for sure. “No drinking or substances in the house. This is mostly towards Techno and Wilbur as they are adults, but you should be aware.”

Ranboo takes a deep breath in. Ya, he can do that. He’s underage for god's sake, not like he would be sneaking in alcohol or anything. Wilbur seemed to be next, sitting up better in his seat. “This isn’t really a hard boundary with me, more so me just asking something of you. No touching my guitar without permission.” Another one he can understand, okay this is going good so far. “Tommy, you want to go?” 

Said boy in question jolts at his name being called, like he was somewhere in his own head. “Oh-ya sure.” He says, looking across the table at him. “I don’t like unexpected touches. Like if I know you are going to do something I’m fine with it, but like a hug from behind is a no go.” Tommy then looks over at Wilbur, a smirk coming onto his face. “Wilbur gets a pass.”

The other just rolls his eyes, slinging an arm around the younger shoulders. The display is so…soft. He feels his chest tighten at the action. “I guess I’m next.” Techno says from beside him, gaze looking off somewhere else. “No touching my jewelry, even if you find something on the ground. Just call me and I’ll get it.” Now that was…an interesting boundary.

Ranboo found himself nodding all the same. Now that other man had actually mentioned it, he could clearly see earrings and rings across the other's body. Gold shining on his pointed ears. Even a tusk clamp was placed on one of his tusks. He looked away before he was caught staring. For all he knew the other also didn’t like his jewelry to be stared at, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“Techno…” Phil spoke up from the head of the table. He just huffed at his brother's words. Ranboo looked between the two, wondering if he had missed something. It seemed like he had become everyone was looking at the man beside him. “You seem to be leaving something out there mate.” The piglin sighed, ears flicking at the side of his head.

“No talk of body weight near me.” He adds on hesitantly. “It’s a bad subject.” And-oh, that wasn’t what he was expecting at all. Ranboo doesn’t want to assume, oh god he really doesn’t, but Techno looked fit. He could see his figure from underneath his shirt and he would have to guess the other worked out like a hundred times a week.

But he wasn’t going to voice that, a boundary is a boundary, doesn’t matter how someone looked. The past was still a thing, a looming and dangerous thing that infected everyone. Ranboo was sure to remember that spificic boundary. “Do you have any boundaries?” Tommy speaks up after a few moments of silence.

All eyes were back to him, fantastic, just what he wanted. “No.” He says all too quickly to be the truth. Wilbur raises an eyebrow at him, while Tommy once again narrows his eyes at him. He doesn’t know what the others’ two reactions were as he’s deciding not to look at them. 

“You sure?” The oldest of the two across from him asks. Just the tone of Wilbur’s voice gives away his disbelief.

Ranboo’s already said no, he’s not going to go back now. “I’m sure.” Then, “Can I go now?” Tommy looks like he’s about to say something but Techno beats him to it.

“Sure.” With that one word Ranboo hurry’s to take his plate, scrape it, put it in the sink and then he’s off speed walking to his room. The moment he’s in the walls of his new bedroom he closes the door behind himself, sliding down it.

“Crap…” He groans as he shoves his face into his hands. Clawed fingers curling around his black and white curls. It would have been so easy to just shout out his boundaries, to tell the four of them of his triggers. But then past homes fill his mind, corrupting his clear thoughts.

They could easily use the information against him, use it to hurt him. He can’t have that, not now anyways. Ranboo looks up at his window, at the now dark blue sky that was crawling with stars. He can’t go on patrol, not this early into his stay here. Even if his hands itch to unlock the glass panel and leap out into the night he can’t .

But there is something he can do instead to fill in the gap of time. Ranboo crawls over to his bed, reaching underneath it and pulling out his notebook along with the pack of pencil crayons he got that day. He’s going to have to memorize this new foster family’s routines, memorize who’s steps are who’s, everything .

He flips to the first page, and with a black pencil crayon he starts to scribble down words with lightning speed.

Journal One—

Chapter Text

The next day was spent trying to avoid everyone. You know, like you do. Which turned out harder to do than to actually say. Everyone here was so active , it reminded him of the group home. But at least no one there actually stayed indoors, everyone was off doing something or another. Here though? There was always someone wandering around the house.

It was however made easier with the knowledge that Tommy still had classes for the rest of the week made up for exams. His alarm went off in the early morning and practically woke up the whole house. He knew it was Tommy to, as the door whipped open only a second later. Even if Ranboo had still yet to wipe sleep out of his eyes he could tell that Tommy was up, groaning and making noise.

He’s starting to see a pattern with the youngest Craft being the loudest. After the alarm clock went off it seemed like everyone else upstairs stirred awake, yawning and telling Tommy off for having his alarm clock so loud. Ranboo had kept quiet as the others got ready for the day. Even going as far as to deny breakfast when Phil knocked on his door asking if he would like some.

But the smooth sailing ended there. He was sitting on his bed, back to the wall as he scribbled down notes in his new journal. About how Tommy wakes up at seven for school or how he’s yet to hear from Techno. Which isn’t really a surprise as his bedroom was in the basement. Ranboo was sure to leave a note saying to never go down there.

It’s then that the delicious smell of sausage and eggs hits his nose, like a siren calling out to her pirate pry. Phil had just made cereal, as that’s what the man proposed to him when he asked if he wanted to join them. So this was someone else, and he was dying to open the door and see who was cooking. Skipping breakfast probably wasn’t the best idea.

It wouldn’t be too bad to just see who was in the kitchen right? It wasn’t like he was going to stick around, he was just curious. Plus it would prove beneficial to find out which steps on the stairs creak and make noise. Ranboo now set in his plan hid his journal and pencil crayons underneath his bed and went to his door.

Cracking it open was easy enough, and so was sneaking down the hall. No one seemed to be upstairs at the moment. He thinks Phil went out back again? He has no idea where Techno and Wilbur were. The stairs were just like everything else, easy. None of the steps creaked as he walked down them as slowly as he could.

The smell of food only got stronger the closer he got, making his mouth water. His tail whipped behind him in interest. Ranboo quietly turned the corner, eyes scanning the kitchen. At the stove stood Techno, hair messily falling against his shoulders with his back towards him. It looked so domestic as the man just cooked by himself.

There wasn’t even any music on, only the sounds of sizzling food being cooked. Ranboo felt hunger chewing at his stomach, demanding that he get something to eat. He ignored it and went to leave, having spent enough time downstairs lingering. His escape was short lived as a voice joined the sounds of cooking meat. “I’m making you a plate.”

Ranboo startled, heart leaping up inside of his throat as he slowly turned back to the kitchen. Techno wasn’t facing him, but his voice was loud and clear. “W-what?” He asked hesitantly, voice rough with lasting sleep from a few hours ago.

Techno made a soft grunting noise, sounding very close to one a pig would make. “Phil told me you didn’t eat breakfast with the rest of 'em. So either you eat now or this is just going to get cold. I for one hate cold eggs.” The tone wasn’t demanding, if out of anything it was flat. Void of any real emotions he could make out.

It wasn’t a ‘you have to come eat now’ type of tone either. It was more of a ‘you're going to eat sometime today and I rather you eat the food hot then cold’ type of tone. “I’m not that hungry.” He lied, still trying to find a way to leave. Would Techno get made if he just ran for it?

The other plated some sausages onto a paper towel, moving the pan off of the stove before clicking the heat off. There was silence for a few seconds as Techno set up the two plates, the smell of them intoxicating. Ranboo couldn’t for the life of him pull his eyes away. Techno turned, both breakfasts in his hands as he looked over at him. Brown eyes met red and green ones, both knowing that Ranboo was a bad liar.

Then he just walked over to the table, setting down both plates. Techno sat at his spot that he had the night before, fork in hand as he started eating. There were no words, no encouragement or demands to eat. No aggressive state and scowl of disapprovement, just a simple look that told him the other knew of his lie.

Ranboo clenched the end of his shirt as he shuffled over to the table, dropping down into the seat across from the other. Techno only spared him a glance before going back to eating. He picked up his fork, eyes glued to the food in front of him. It looked amazing . He wouldn’t be the first to say that food down in the lower districts wasn’t the best.

Especially for homes with more than one child, who relied on everyone to put food on the table. Those were the worst with food, they didn’t really care for taste. Only that it was filling and enough so you wouldn’t starve. Phil’s cooking had shocked him at first, because the curry tasted good . But compared to this? It was just cruel to put them up against each other.

The moment the food touched his tongue Ranboo knew he was done for. If it was poisoned he would die completely in bliss, thanking Techno for letting his last meal be this good. But the food wasn’t tainted, and so he just kept shoveling it into his mouth.mHe never knew eggs and sausage could be so seasoned deliciously.

It wasn’t too salty, or too flavoured that the spice over powdered it. The spicy meat did make him want to reach out for a cup of water though. He could smell the heat off of the food and he actually found himself liking it. He wasn’t ever in a place to try spicy food that didn’t just have liquid hot sauce poured on top of it. “Not hungry huh?” The other said from across from him.

Ranboo stilled, fork clenched between his teeth as he looked up. Techno had a smug look on his face, a smile all to knowing. His own plate was half done while Ranboo’s was almost finished. A small blush creeped up onto his face. “You're a good cook.” He mumbled around his utensil.

Techno’s smile grew as he shrugged. In the back of his mind he’s starting to think if he’s unknowingly feeding the man’s ego. “It’s nothing, just got sick of Phil always making curry. He literally can’t make anything else.” The other laughed at this invisible and most definitely inside joke. Ranboo hummed nonetheless.

After he was done—which was definitely before the other—Ranboo put his dishes away and ran back up to his room. He shut his door quietly and sunk down to the floor, head resting against the wood behind him. He’s definitely not going to go out again, that interaction was enough for him.

He sighed, eyes once again landing on his window. Mellohi and Rover better be ready for him, because Ranboo doesn’t think he can go another night without losing some steam.

☽ ★ ☾

The rest of the day Ranboo spent walking back and forth in his room, checking his window locks and scrolling through the media on his old and cracked phone. It was calm, quiet. The house still made house sounds and he could hear Techno and Phil chatting downstairs for a few minutes, but besides that there wasn’t much happening.

He found out by listening in on the two downstairs that Wilbur had left the house. Ranboo doesn’t know how he didn’t hear the door open and close, which was slightly unsettling. But other than that he was curled up under the blankets, thumbing his screen for entertainment.

The only time the house actually ‘woke up’ was when Tommy came home, Wilbur in toe as they bounded around the house. Ranboo said no to any talks of coming out of his room and when dinner came he kept quiet around the family as they ate. Overall the day was pretty lazy and he was itching to just get out of the cramped space.

Which now posed a problem, actually sneaking out without getting caught. It was late into the night, everyone was in their rooms. It was perfect , outside of the whole thing about Wilbur and Techno having night jobs, which seemed to be inaccurate at the moment. Maybe they were on a break? Or paid leave?

Either way that would surely be a problem for future him, because right now everyone was asleep and he was not. Ranboo checks the outside of his door one last time before closing it softly behind himself. He makes his way over to the window, moonlight flowing in from outside, bathing his room with a soft glow.

Ranboo unlocked the window then, going slowly to make sure it didn’t suddenly start creaking. It thankfully didn’t and he raised it, climbing out and onto the little ledge right outside the window. It wasn’t ideal, not like his last home where his bedroom was in the cellar. But the small ledge would have to do.

He quickly took a small folded paper out of his pocket and placed it on his windowsill before closing it. It stopped the lock from falling into place, keeping it unlocked for as long as he wanted it. With a nod Ranboo sat down on the ledge before shifting forward and dropping onto the stone path at the side of the house. He didn’t so much as make a thud of noise as he landed.

Without anything else holding him back Ranboo rounded the house and ran out the side. He stayed in the shadows as he passed house after house, staying out of view of possible cameras and late night buses. He didn’t know this district or it’s number, but Ranboo knew enough of his city to know if he just headed away from the flashy lights of district one then he’ll get where he wants to in no time.

After what he’s pretty sure is an hour and a half he reaches the lower districts in zone three, bordering zone four. Ranboo slips into an alleyway, the street lamps their usual broken selves giving cover for him. He ducks behind a very smelly trash bin and tries to relax. His heart is already pounding from running half way over here, the other half looking out for people.

He really needs a better route down here if he wants to not get caught, that was way too out in the open for his liking. There’s nothing he can do now, so he pushes the thought to the side. Ranboo smiles as he closes his eyes. His choker, sensing what was about to happen, hums with energy. Magic clinging to his skin, making his neck tingle with the feeling.

He opens his mouth, eyes opening to scan the area as he says the words, “Enchantment unbind.” out into the world. The effect is instantaneous as a snapping sound rings out through the alleyway, his choker pulsating as purple particles cover his limbs and body. Fabric forms over his body. Or does it replace what was already there? He doesn’t really know, but it happens in a blink of an eye.

Sneakers disappear, tall platformers being left in its wake. His undone nails are magically changed to fit purple polish and his hair is done up into a high ponytail with it. A deep red band tinging it up and out of his way. His pants are switched out for tights, which thankfully are stronger than they look. A skirt falling over top of them, fitted with a hole for his tail.

A lot of things change in the seconds after the words are spoken, all of which he can’t explain. Ranboo had questioned it multiple times, but answers were never given to him, except for one. It was magic, Ranboo had learned to know it’s name after the first time it was activated. Old and forgotten magic.

He doesn’t know much about it but he does know it was here before powers started popping up all around the world, giving people abilities like no other. He doesn’t know how he knows this but he knows this old magic will be here long after anything else, even humanity. It was old and it will forever be old.

The particles disparate leaving his skin split half white half black, eyes a deep purple with clothes flowy in the way it would dance if there were wind. A mechanical mask covers half of Ranboo’s face, over the bridge of his nose. If he were to look in the mirror he would look girly as hell, with platform steel toed boots and a skirt that could kill a runway.

Ranboo stands up from his crutches position in the alley. The height from the boots just adds to his ridiculous height as an enderman hybrid. He quickly finds his footing with the new footwear and walks over to a fire escape ladder that leads up to the roof of the building. He makes his way up, eyes scanning over the buildings around him.

He breathes in the chilly air for a few seconds, a satisfied chuckle leaving him afterwards. “Oh it’s so good to be back!” He yells, knowing the only ones awake to hear are the criminals and vandalists of L’manburg. Ranboo’s voice on the way out is twisted, mechanical and higher pitched. The mask fitted to him was doing its job, and he’s thankful that even after his break the magic is still there .

Wanting to get on with his patrol Ranboo runs towards the side of the building. The edge comes up quick and before he could even think to change his mind Ranboo’s jumping, propelling himself forward and over to the next building. The moment his foot leaves the ledge he’s bracing, landing on the other building in a roll.

He pushes himself up with a spring in his step as he carries on down the district across the rooftops. After getting to somewhere more familiar he slips back down the fire escape, landing in an alleyway just like the one he transformed in. He lifts his hand up to his mechanical mask, flipping a hidden switch on the side of it near his left ear.

The mask on the side of his head was connected to an earpiece that sat hidden behind his curls, like a more high tech earbud. The earpiece crackles to life, signaling its sink up. “Hey-“ Ranboo doesn’t get any words in before he’s bombarded with a very loud voice. He wince’s at the volume, tail thrashing to the side in displeasure.

“ Where were you! ” Rover yells, or more so demands as they shout from god knows where.

“J-just places!” He says back, to which he can hear the other grumbling under their breath. “…sorry?” He says after a beat, hoping that Rover wasn’t too pissed at him.

It seems like that wasn’t the best decision on Ranboo’s part as he hears Rover taking a deep breath in. “Sorry!? You disappear for almost a month and all you can say is sorry!? Lethe you can’t just do that! We promised to keep in touch, remember!? We were worried sick you know, wondering if something had happened when you were going home on your last patrol!”

Ranboo stands there as Rover sucks in a large breath, presumably to start yelling at him again. He cuts in before the other could though, trying to save his eardrums from permanent damage. “I didn’t know I’d be gone that long! I meant to tell you I was fine, really I did.”

“ But you didn’t. ” Rover sasses him back. He can practically picture the others arms crossed, foot tapping on concrete. “… Where were you anyways? ” Ranboo paused in answering, eyes looking across the alleyway like there was someone there. There wasn’t, hopefully, so he went back to staring across at the brick wall in front of himself.

Rover was one of his teammates and even if they were only vigilantes for a few months Ranboo trusts them. Their first meeting is evidence enough that the other was trustworthy. But he can’t just tell the other ‘oh ya I’m a foster kid and no one wanted me until literally yesterday so I had to live in a group home where there’s no hope for sneaking out when you share a room with three other teenage boys’.

Because that’s way too much information that he doesn’t want to give out. Not to someone he doesn’t even know the proper pronouns for. Because Mellohi might scream that he’s a ‘big man’ at the top of his lungs but Rover had never said anything. Coupled with the fact Ranboo’s currently in a skirt and tights he has no place to judge. So he can’t tell the other the truth, even if they deserve it.

“Got caught up in some personal things.” He says, hoping that they understand. Rover seems to as they just make a disgruntled hum, the noise cackling over the com. “So where’s Mellohi? I thought he would have made me deaf by now.” Ranboo asks, wanting to change the subject.

“ Good question, he’s usually at the meeting spot by now. ” Rover says, sounding a bit confused. “ Maybe he got held up- “

“ What’s up bitches! ” Mellohi’s voice cuts Rover off mid sentence. Ranboo jolts at the sudden noise, standing up straight off of the wall. He vaguely registers that he sounds out of breath. “ Great seeing you back Lethe, now tell me, where the fuck have you been?” If Rover shouting was loud, then the quiet calm of Mellohi was somehow even louder.

Ranboo was so dead.

Chapter Text

Ranboo’s jumping across rooftops, eyes scanning the streets for any disturbances. After Mellohi had practically ripped him a new one about keeping in touch Ranboo was left reeling. Thankfully Rover got them back on tack with a promise to not do that again, and so they were all on patrol.

Ranboo and Mellohi weren’t in their patrolling district yet but they still kept their eyes out for trouble as they went. There wasn’t much going on tonight in the third zone it seemed as he quickly got to the fourth with nothing off being spotted. A couple of minutes into fourth and a few breaks to catch his breath something finally caught his attention.

He slowed down to a slight jog as he held himself lower, eyes gazing across the road. There was a hooded figure next to a parked car on the side of the road. Now that would be normal if it wasn’t for the fact they were trying to unlock said car with a makeshift lock pick that looks to be from a clothes hanger.

Ranboo lifts up his hand to his mask, right underneath his earpiece and turns it on. “I think I got something.” He says in a hushed voice, crouching down on the building to not get spotted.

The com crackles, signaling one of his teammates has turned their own mind on. “Where?” Comes Mellohi’s voice, sounding intrigued.

He stops himself from commenting on how the other’s probably too far away to help and instead just answers the question. “Down near…” Ranboo looks over at the street sign, having to squint his eyes to get the name. “Berry street.” He manages to say. “Just a car break in, I can handle it.”

“ Are you sure? You’ve been gone for a while. ” Rover comes in, sounding hushed himself. He’s probably lurking around his own suspected crime sightings. Ranboo just hums before shutting his mic off, slinking away to get to the fire escape. He ignores the stairs as he slides down the side, the building he was on not being very tall.

The person was facing the other way and so Ranboo just watched his footing as he ran across the road. Soon enough he was in range, hearing whoever it was cursing as they aggressively tried to pick the car lock. “That’s not how you pick a lock.” Ranboo speaks up

The person jolts and whips around, hackles raising as they point their ‘lock pick’ at him. They stare at each other for a few seconds before the other just scowls. “What the fuck?” He says as he looks Ranboo up and down. Ranboo frowns, crossing his arms.

“I suggest walking away right now.” He starts, pointing at the man. “You haven’t really done anything wrong yet, you could walk away and I’ll let you.” He tries to give the other an out, a way to walk away. He likes to try, to give chances where others might arrest and thrown away. Ranboo knows that people fall on hard times, he has been for a while.

It’s all he can do to help the people in his patrol district. It’s more than what hero’s do. “And why the fuck would I do that? Just because a chick in boots asked me to?” He sneers, hand grazing his pocket.

Ranboo feels a growl rising in his voice as his outstretched hand starts to buzz. “I’m not a chick , but I am the one who’s going to tie you up for the police to find in the morning if you don’t leave.” Another chance, one that’s not deserved.

“Ya right.” The guy says, pulling out a knife. “That’s not going to happen.” Ranboo cocks his head to the side, powers curling around his fingers. He tightens his grip, something like a thick mist being gripped in the palm of his hands.

“Is that so?” The guy rushes forward, knife aimed at his chest. Before he could get in range to hurt him Ranboo raises his hand, hand snapping open as shadows close together and spread out from his palm. The knife collides with the shadows, making a scratching sound. Ranboo quickly twists his hand, knife getting locked in place as the shadows descend upon it and up the other’s arm.

“What-“ Before anymore is said Ranboo pulls back his left arm, a smile crossing his face. 

“I told you to leave.” And with that he socks the guy in the nose. It isn’t enough force to break any bones but it’s enough to send the fool falling. The shadows keep his arm up as Ranboo kicks at his side, making sure the guy stays down.

He whines, protesting with profanity. “You bitch !” Ranboo ignores the jab, having heard that exact sentence from Mellohi. At least with his teammate it was said lightheartedly, this guy was just being plain rude. He quickly grabs a zip tie from a small pocket in his skirt. With that same hand he grabs the guy's wrist, powers deactivating as the shadows return to their normal place.

Before anything could be done to get loose Ranboo twists the guy's wrist, the knife clattering to the ground as the criminal yells in pain. Ranboo then squats down, forcing the guy on his stomach as he struggles to get free. “You know that’s not going to work.” He says plainly, moving his hands around to get the zip ties around them.

“Fuck you, you vigilante wannabe!” Ranboo tightens the zip ties, taking out another one as he drags the guy over to a poll. It’s comical in the way this gothic looking vigilante is just dragging this thrashing man across the parking lot, he knows Rover would be taking pictures. He quickly ties the guy to the poll, backing up to look over his work.

After making sure he won’t be getting out any time soon he waves to the screaming man before bolting back down across the street. He clicks on his coms as he hinds between the alleys. “I’m finished here.” He says simply.

“Got it, I’m moving in on my own mugging down East street. Should be easy for me to handle on my own.” Rover comes in quick, voice hushed as other more louder voices come through.

Ranboo bends down, taking out a notifier. The thing that’s weird about magic is that it takes things with it, like the zip ties. Anything that Ranboo wasn’t originally carrying disappears along with the disguise. Like the mask, which didn’t come with the whole get up in the beginning. Rover made it after a few nights of talking with only a face mask you can get at the dollar store and their own ways to change their voices.

There were other things that the magic has claimed as part of their get up, like the notifiers that Rover has also made them all. It’s a way to get police over here without actually calling or needing someone else to do it. All you have to do it put in the location and send it. Vigilantes have been doing it for so long the police just know to come check it out.

Ranboo likes leaving the reason why in a short message, but he’s pretty sure no one actually reads them. Mellohi comes in right as he presses send, voice not so hush and quiet. “Rover, If you see a gun-“

“I fucking run, I know.” The other says back to Mellohi. Ranboo can practically feel the eye roll. “I’m not like you you know.” Mellohi lets out a gasp but before he can go off on a tangent Rover shushes him. “I’m going in. I’ll call if I need help.” And with that Rover’s com is switched off.

Ranboo decides to run the alleyways instead of going back up to the rooftops as he goes on with the rest of his patrol. Mellohi comes in to say he has something before disappearing to stop whatever it was he had found. With the two occupied, Ranboo scans the streets for his own crime to stop.

☽ ★ ☾

After a couple of hours into the night and a few attempted break-ins and knife muggings Ranboo finds himself slowing down, exhaustion finally setting into his bones and making him more sluggish. He starts heading back, but stops as he sees a crouched figure on a rooftop.

It’s hard to see who it is in the dark of the night, but the short and put up ponytail with red tips is an easy image to see when you know who you're looking at. “Mellohi?” He asks into the com, to which the figure moves it’s hand up to its ear.

“ Ya Lethe? ” Mellohi says. Ranboo has to stop himself from waving as he peeks his head out of the alleyway. Mellohi looks over, a groan coming through his mic. “ Ah, I see you. Tall fucker. ” He can’t help himself as he chuckles, looking both ways before running across the road.

“So I’m just by myself then as you two have fun together? Wow I see how it is. ” Rover comes in as Mellohi makes his way down the side of the building.

“Trust me I would rather be with you then Lethe.” Mellohi says back, voice coming through the com and from right above him.

Ranboo crosses his arms as the other makes his way down, stopping a few steps away. “That’s rude.” He retorts, shutting his own com off. “I’m fun to be around you know, you just don’t give me the chance.” He says gesturing to the cropped hoodie wearing vigilante.

Really, why did he have to get stuck with a long skirt and tights while the other got a short skirt and a cropped hoodie? Ranboo thinks the magic is playing favourites, even if Mellohi thinks that heels are worse than having to wear a skirt. “Ehhhh.” Mellohi says, hand wavering in the air in front of him.

“I feel judged.” He says as the two start walking through the alley, the clacking of heels is almost silent with practice.

“ You are, heavily. We are all judging you. ” Rover says flatly.

He rolls his eyes as Mellohi laughs. They chat together as they look around for anything suspicious, the patrol drawing closer and closer to the end. Rover comes in after thirty minutes to say they're heading off back home and they’ll check in if they see anything on their way back. But other than that there wasn’t really anything happening.

Well, at least until he and Mellohi turn the corner and spot a diner being broken into. The two instantly go stiff, eyes wandering over the group of people there, all holding some kind of weapon, baseball bats being the main one. There was no reason to call Rover as they would have probably ended their patrol, their com would be offline.

“I guess we’re having a big bang to end the night then Lethe, you ready?” His teammate says, and Ranboo doesn’t even need to be looking at the other to know he’s grinning, blue almost milky white eyes trained on the burglars.

Ranboo rolls his neck as he shakes out his hands. “Ready as I’ll ever be.” And with that the two split into opposite directions, intent on cornering the people from two sides. His magic buzzed in his palm as he used it to thicken the shadows near himself, masking his form as he sprinted across the road.

The com’s static sounded to life as Mellohi’s voice came out as he crouched behind a bin on the side of the road. “ There’s four of them, the lock picker seems about ready to break the window with his luck. I’ll get him first and when they all turn to me you pop out. ” Ranboo hummed as he got into position to easily sprint across the parking lot, shadows moving themselves down off his body and towards the ground.

“Don’t get shot.” He said, eyes trained on the person watching the streets. He moves more towards the ground to not get seen. Like the other said there was a guy at the day, looking like he’d been at this for a while now. There’s a second person next to him, leaning against a concrete pillar while two are being the lookouts.

A chuckle rings out through the com. “ Big men like me don’t get shot , you should be worried about yourself missy. ” Mellohi says easily, Ranboo cringing at the last word. He can’t blame the other though, no matter how strange it was being called that. “ Alright, I’m going. ” Ranboo watches as Mellohi breaks from behind the bin he was hiding behind, heels clicking against the ground as his hands light up in red and orange sparks.

Like they had suspected the fours head snaps to him, sneers already on their faces as Mellohi throws one of the sparkly balls to the ground right next to the guy at the door. It bursts and cackles like the fizzy candy sticks you can get at the store before fizzling out. “Hey fuckers!” His teammate curses out, a que.

He races out of his hiding spot, a trail of controlled shadows right next to him as he forces it to move with him. One of the lookouts raises their bat to hit Mellohi in the back of the head, but before they could bring it downwards Ranboo swings his hand out, a shadow like rope snapping up from the ground and catching their wrist. The person whirls around, tugging back on their arm. “What the hell!?”

Ranboo can still hear the crackling of Mellohi’s powers as the other deals with the other two, keeping them back from the diner. He goes to crane back his arm and force the person to stumble over their feet, hoping to get a few words in and convince them to go home and something wraps around his throat, tugging him backwards.

The sudden pull causes him to lose his grip of his magic, shadows snapping to where they would originally be leaving the guy in front of him free. Ranboo lets out a choked up sound as he goes to pull whatever was around his throat off of him. The bat holding guy—at least the one he was fighting—tightens his grip on his bat with a smirk.

He swings without hesitation, the bat heading right for his head. Ranboo bites down on his tongue as he lets his legs go limp, knees hitting the ground. Pain flares up where he had hit the ground, the person that was behind him going forward thanks to the height difference, the bat just missing the both of them. Ranboo rolls on his hip, kicking out his foot and slamming it right into one of the burglar's chests.

He falls backwards, the rope around Ranboo’s neck giving up and giving him freedom. He scrambles forward, shadows forming in the palm of his hand as he raises it above himself, stopping the second blow to the head. He lets the shadows curl up the bat as he kicks his feet out, tripping the other. “Shit-“ before he could find his footing Ranboo takes the bat right out of there hand and turns, hitting the person behind him in the head as they tried to get up.

It didn’t do much with being the opposite way but it sent them scrawling nonetheless. Ranboo holds the one on the ground down with his shadows, black misty tendrils wrapping around their arms and legs like chains. Ranboo hurry’s to his feet, as the bat—well he doesn’t have a bat anymore, he does—burglar also gets to his feet.

Ranboo squares up to fight them, the other scowling at him. “I’m not dealing with this shit!” They yell, putting up their hands. “I’m done! There’s one thing with vigilantes but it’s a whole other thing with vigilantes in dresses !” And with that they take off, sprinting down the parking lot. He goes to give chase when a yell catches his attention.

Forcing his attention towards the diner his eyes widen in surprise at seeing a gun pressed to Mellohi’s head. His teammate’s own eyes are wide, panic causing his eyes to flip between everyone. “Lethe-“

“SHUT UP!” The gun welder says, slapping the but end into his head. Mellohi winces, teeth gritting. The woman grins at the look, the lockpicker beside her and holding Mellohi’s hands behind his back. A yellow glow comes from their hands, powers curling dangerously around his partner's own. Ranboo doesn’t have time to guess what it’s doing before his name is said again.

“Lethe, so that’s your name.” The woman says, looking straight at him now. “Let my friend go or I’ll put a bullet in yours.” She sneers, fingers already testing the trigger. Ranboo ignores the slow shake of Mellohi’s head as he relaxes his hands, the misty shadows disappearing. “Good, now put your hands up.” He does what’s asked of him, putting them above his head.

The woman snickers as she gestures to the one holding Mellohi. “See, vigilantes are all the same. They talk a big talk, but wilt under the point of a gun.” She laughs, fanged teeth showing in the glow of the closed sign on the diner. “It’s pathetic, rats should know to stay out of other people's business-.” His heart beats a mile a minute as he locks eyes with his friend, whose eyes have turned fully white.

Ranboo looks into those eyes and sees a plan. Not fear, not acceptance, but unfaltering determination. He shudders under the look more than he shudders about the gun, knowing if he plays things right it might not go off, but if they play by Mellohi’s rules it’s sure to shoot. He prays with his eyes that Mellohi stops whatever he’s doing, the other only grins.

“-not like there not criminals themselves!” She finally ends her big talk, her friend looking bored about the whole situation. The third burglar—the one who hadn’t run off—starts to stand, steps shuffling to the side as they shake off the feeling of a bat to the head. “Now I think you both know what we’re going to do here. I’m sure the police would love to get a few vigilantes handed to them.” She chuckles as she gestures wildly with her gun.

A mistake if Ranboo has ever seen one. Mellohi with his few gained seconds with the gun off of him starts to sing , voice booming across the parking lot. Ranboo flinches back at the sound, his mind fuzzy at the corners. Mellohi distorts, horns like his own curling up out of his skull, bone cracking sounds churning his stomach. “I was listening to the ocean, I saw a face in the sand. But when I picked it up then it vanished away from my hands, down~”

Cracks in the ground erupted, bubbling black ooze leaking out of them. It smelled like seawater, but Ranboo knew better than to trust his senses. The woman stared horrified at Mellohi as that same black ooze flooded down his face from his mouth and nose as he kept singing, voice getting louder and louder in everyone’s brain.

“I had a dream I was seven, climbing my way in a tree. I saw a piece of heaven waiting impatient for me, down~” The woman clicked her gun, pointing it with shaky hands at Mellohi. Ranboo was stuck frozen, hands itching to move towards his friend. Mellohi’s mouth split wider, a thing of nightmares as razor sharp teeth look down the gun's barrel.

He needed to move, to do something . It wasn’t real, the ground wasn’t breaking and the black ooze wasn’t there, leaking down his friend's chin as he looked more and more like a monster. Yet his brain continued to see it, continued to see the hallucination for what the other wanted them to all believe. In a flash of orange and red sparks Mellohi broke out of the others grasp as he rushed forward.

Ranboo almost pulled his shadows to shield himself from the monster heading for him if he didn’t know it was Mellohi behind the lies, behind the singing. “And I was running far away. Would I run off the world someday, nobody knows, nobody knows. And I was dancing in the rain, I felt alive and I can't complain~” Mellohi gripped his midsection and tackled him to the ground, a bang ringing out as a shot was fired.

For a few seconds Ranboo just lays there, wondering if the bullet had hit someone, had hit Mellohi . But then the fuzziness snaps and everything that wasn’t actually there disappears. Mellohi wasn’t a monster, there was no black ooze and the cracks were gone, like he had never seen them. “You okay?” He can hear Mellohi whisper as he tugs him up.

“Ye-yea.” He croaks out, blinking a few times to rid his mead of the images he had seen.

“Good because fucking get her gun !” He hisses, sparks lighting up into his palms as he throws them at the burglar. Ranboo at those words instantly snaps his head towards the woman, gun having fallen to the ground, the bullet having gone off somewhere across the street. She was rubbing at her eyes as she staggered back, the criminals having had the bunt of the illusion.

He doesn’t envy them for that. Shadows curl around the gun as Ranboo pulls his hand back, it flying into his palm. He runs forward, pointing the gun at the woman. He wasn’t going to shoot, he wouldn’t ever fall upon that, but the fear alone of him having the gun makes the twos hands raise. “Wait we can work something out-“

“The only thing we’re working out is what pole to tie you to.” Ranboo spits out with venom, interrupting the woman’s partner who had held Mellohi down. Just the gun being in his hand was making him sick to his stomach. “I suggest staying still as Mellohi ties you up. I do have a weak finger and this trigger is very loose.”

The two stiffen at his words, not noticing his finger was pressed to the side so he wouldn’t be able to trigger the gun. He hears yelling as Mellohi drags over the third criminal, hands tied around their back as he holds up four new zip ties. “And if Lethe doesn’t shoot you, don’t think I won’t take the gun from him and do it myself.” The other says, a frown plastered on his face and voice rough.

It doesn’t take much time to tie the three up and leave the gun on the sidewalk for the police. Ranboo and Mellohi wait up in a building top until the police arrive, making sure the gun stays in the hands of the cops. Once they do they slip out of sight, jumping buildings as they head away.

A few minutes later they slow down, making their way down into an alleyway. “I better get going.” Ranboo says as he takes a step back. He just remembered that he doesn’t really know when his foster family wakes up, and he doesn’t really want to spend his third day explaining why he had snuck out.

Mellohi nods, hands on his hips. “Before you go, uh, sorry.” He says, scratching the back of his neck.

Ranboo cocks his head to the side confused. “…what for?” He asks, tail curling around his leg anxiously.

The other gestured to his head then to his back now blue kinda milky white eyes. “The whole singing thing, I tried to ignore you with it. But well, can’t really control who hears me.” He shrugs, scuffing his foot against the ground. Oh, so he’s upset about the illusion.

He waves his hands in front of him, shaking his head. “No it’s fine, you literally had a gun to your head. I think I would rather deal with nightmare fuel than a shot friend.” He chuckles as he tries to reassure the other.

Mellohi doesn’t look convinced but ends the apology anyways. “Are you going to come out tomorrow?” He changes the subject, back turning to him to head his own way home.

Ranboo nods, but quickly speaks up after seeing that he wasn’t facing him. “Yes, I will be. Personal stuff got in the way before, I’m not going to let that happen again.” Or at least, he’ll try not to. Can’t really predict the future but at least he can give a warning next time to his partners.

“Alright then, see you tomorrow Lethe.” He waves his hand, walking over to the sidewalk to cross the road. He pauses before leaving, turning his head to face him one more time. “Don’t get into any more trouble tonight, I might be a savior of women but I’m tired .” And with that Mellohi leaves, leaving Ranboo cringing in the alleyway.

Before he can think too much about the wording he’s off towards his foster placement, racing across the districts to get home and hopefully more than three hours of sleep.

Chapter Text

The words were like nothing he’s ever read before. Ranboo has looked in every dictionary and all across the internet yet he could never find a match.

Yet he knew it said curse of binding anyways. If he looked close enough he could see the words shimmer.

No one ever believed that there were words there, calling him a liar.

He was the only one that could ever see them…

▫ ◾️ ☽ ★ ☾ ◾️ ▫

Tommy’s alarm clock deserved the death sentence. It roared to life, waking up the house and Ranboo for the second time. He wanted to barge into his foster brother's room and throw it against the wall. He doesn’t know when he got back from patrol but he knows the second his head hit the pillow he was out like a light.

But now he was awake and he hated it. Ranboo started up at his ceiling, arm thrown over his forehead and every part of his body ached. He had forgotten how straining it was to be jumping off rooftops and actively dodging knife swings and kicks to the stomach. He had forgotten about the exhaustion that clouded his mornings after waking up from patrols.

As the house came alive he spent lying dead in his bed, wishing his brain would get tired enough to let him sleep. That sadly doesn’t get to happen as around twenty minutes later—he wishes he was a person to just fall asleep after waking up, but that wasn’t the case—Phil once again knocks on the door, like he did yesterday.

“Ranboo?” He calls, to which he suppresses a groan. He really doesn’t want to deal with a conversation right now. “Are you awake?” He wants to say no, he wants Phil to leave him alone under his comfy covers to wallow in aches and pains. But he knows better to ignore a foster parent and it’s not like he had a lock to hide behind. His door didn’t have one and it would be easy for Phil to just peak in and see he was awake.

He doesn’t want to risk getting in trouble so early into his stay. He wants the others to pretend to be nice just a little bit longer. So he answers back, a little drowsy and rough with sleep. “Yea.” His voice cracks but Ranboo chooses to ignore it, if he does then the embarrassment won’t set in.

“Would you like to come down for breakfast with the rest of us?” Phil asks, sounding all too hopeful. Now here’s the problem with Phil sounding hopeful, Ranboo couldn’t take it. Yesterday it was just a passive question from the older man but today he sounded like he wanted him there at breakfast. And when foster parents want something from you it would be easier to give it to them.

So without thinking of the results of his actions—partly because he’s exhausted—Ranboo stood up and walked over to the door, swinging open with the grace of a ghost. Meaning he almost hit his own face with the plank of wood. What he was met with was a startled Phil, standing in the hall dumbfounded. At least for a few seconds before he schooled his expression.

Then a bit of worry cracked through the look and Ranboo leaned a bit back. Maybe this was a bad idea? “You look tired, didn’t have a good night's sleep?” Oh, he was just worried about his sleep schedule. Ranboo can deal with that.

“I’m not really a morning person.” He ended up saying groggily, fighting back a yawn. “I look like this a lot.” Which wasn’t really a lie, he does end up looking like crap in the morning more often than not.

Phil seemed to buy his half baked kinda lie and nodded. “Okay then, let’s head down to breakfast so the others aren't waiting.” He followed the other down the hall and down the stairs as he tried to shake himself awake. He wasn’t much better as they turned the corner into the kitchen.

Tommy and Techno seemed to be fighting over cereal as Wilbur cradled a mug of what smelled like coffee in tight hands. Phil wasted no time in walking over to the two bickering as Ranboo took a seat at the table. He ignored the two- now three arguing over the cereal as he put his head in his hands. “Rough sleep?” Wilbur spoke up from across from him.

Ranboo looked up as he eyed the other. Wilbur looked about dead on his feet with eye bags and his glasses haphazardly on his face. “Just not a morning person.” He shrugs, keeping up with what he had told Phil.

Wilbur hummed as he moved his hand to move his hair out of his face. “Are you a coffee person?” He then asked, gesturing to the coffee machine that was on the counter. 

Ranboo cringed backwards at the word, seemingly strikend awake as he shakes his head. It’s like the simple word had formed a blade and ran itself through his heart. “No!” He yells out, flinching again at the volume. The room falls silent, Wilbur setting down his drink as his eyes scan him. He couldn’t help but let out a warble like sound as his tail wrapped around his leg.

“S-sorry.” He says in almost a whisper, hands shaking in front of him. “I-I don’t know w-why I yelled-“ before he can finish his sentence Wilbur is shaking his head, eyes darting from him to the other three in the room.

“It’s fine, you don’t need to apologize.” He hurries to say, assertive in the way he didn’t know a guy like Wilbur could be. It’s stupid really, it’s really really stupid, but the fire that he lost his family in was caused by the coffee machine verheating. At least that’s what the people who had to find the cause said, that it was just a freak accident. That his parents died to a fucking coffee machine .

He didn’t register when it happened, when that confused and worried look in Wilbur’s eyes depended. But he could feel tears sliding down his face, the shaking of his limbs and the need to just hide . He’s showing them all his weaknesses, that’s it coffee . How pathetic was that? “Ranboo.” Phil reaches out, butting into the conversation.

Ranboo recoils like he had been burned by the simple touch, causing Phil to do the same. “I-I’m going t-to my room.” He announces, voice quivering as he stands up, chair screeching against the floor. He can hear protests from the others but he shoves past the voices and practically sprints upstairs into his room.

The moment he sets a foot into the safety of his room he collapses to the ground, searing pain flares up from his knees as he curls up into a ball on the floor. He covers his mouth with his hands as he cries, body wracking and shivering with sobs. It doesn’t make sense why he was crying, he’s known what caused the fire since his first foster home.

Yet it feels wrong to think about it, it causes his body to jolt and a sickening feeling to fall upon his heart. It wasn’t right, it wasn’t the full story yet it’s all he’s ever been given. Except for the screams and the brunt smell of flesh. Ranboo was there when the fire happened and it didn’t start in the kitchen, yet that’s what everyone tells him, they call him a liar.

Everyone blames his words on having memory problems of that night, like his head was just one giant glitch filled with static. It was the coffee machine, he had to remember that.

☽ ★ ☾

It’s not even two hours later in the day that Phil comes back, knocking softly on his door. He knows it’s Phil because he’s the only one that has been knocking on his door for the whole time he has been here. Ranboo glances over at it, fingers tightening on his pencil crayon. He was writing about the morning's events. If he’s being honest it was mostly him just bashing himself.

“Ranboo, I’ve come to see how you're doing.” Phil said, confirming his recent thought process. Ranboo quickly slides his book and pencil under the bed before standing up and heading over to the door. Just like hours before he creaked the door open, Phil once again surprised that he did so.

“I’m fine.” He says, looking over at the man. Phil levels him with a look, showing that he’s not at all convinced with that statement.

The other looked to take a few seconds to think before replying. “It’s okay if you're not.” He starts off with, making Ranboo already regret opening the door. Foster families had a habit of trying to fix things, he really hopes Phil wasn’t part of that group. “And you don’t need to say anything now but I would like to know what triggered you, so we can avoid it in the future.”

“I’ll…think about it.” He says, going to close the door and spend the rest of the door there wallowing on his bed. He doesn’t get the chance to as Phil puts up his hands for him to wait.

“I also wanted to see if you’d like to come out shopping today. I know foster care doesn’t leave you with much so I thought it would be a good idea to take today to get some stuff for you and your room.” Your room , it’s said so easily. And—what’s the word?— genuinely . Which was very weird for someone like him. He doesn’t know the last time he had gotten new clothes before.

It was past the time he should have gotten a new wardrobe. His shirts go above his belly button when he raises his arms too high and his pants are too short, leaving his ankles exposed at all times. Maybe Phil didn’t want to be seen with him like this? It would definitely be a first that a foster parent cared about how he looked.

“When are we going?” He asks after a beat of deliberation. If Ranboo’s being honest he was sick of his too small clothes. And he’s partially sure if he said no to the offer he’d be dragged out of his room eventually, so now was as perfect a time as any.

Phil’s ever there smile grew bigger as he took a step away from the door. “In around an hour, leaving everyone time to get ready. Plus Techno probably lost his keys again so I’ll have to tell him to go find them.” He said before saying a quick later and leaving down the hall.

Ranboo stands there for all of five seconds before regretting his decision. Techno was coming along, it wasn’t just going to be him and Phil. He’s doomed.

☽ ★ ☾

Turns out the Craft family’s bathroom was pretty decent. Ranboo had taken a quick shower to wake up and get last night's sweat off his body. The warm water kept his mind off of his still sore limbs, which was very much appreciated. The only trouble that rose up was the fact he forgot he didn’t actually have his own body wash and towel.

The smart decision was to just ask what towel he could use or if there were any spares, but he had never really been a direct person when it came to asking things of other people. So instead of doing the smart option Ranboo used a random body wash—hoping whoever’s it was didn’t mind—and committed to just…air drying.

By the time he was mostly dry half his time was already up. So Ranboo quickly put on the clothes he brought in with him and brushed his teeth. The same problem arose when he didn’t actually have toothpaste, choosing to just use one and hope for the best. After he was all done he left the bathroom to put his pyjamas away before heading downtown.

The moment he got downstairs he was met with the noise of chatter. Ranboo peaked around the corner and looked into the living room, both Wilbur and Techno turning couch pillows over. “Why don’t you just leave it on the kitchen counter?” He hears Wilbur groan as he bends down to look under the couch.

Techno waves a hand dismissively as he two bends down to look near the floor, this time it was the love seat. “Why would I put keys in the kitchen?”

“Why would you not if you keep losing them!?” The other shoots back, looking up from his search. “Why do we even trust you with the keys- oh hi Ranboo.” Wilbur stops mid sentence as he looks over. He startles at the sudden greeting. He raises his hand and waves at the other, who just goes back to their conversation. “You always lose them.”

Techno at makes a grunt noise as he stands, a smug smile on his face as he holds up a pair of red backed keys. “Found them, and also it’s literally my car. Why wouldn’t I be in charge of its own keys?” He deadpans before turning to face him. “Are you ready to go soon?”

“Oh uh, ya.” He nods, walking into the living room.”Yep, all ready. Definitely ready.” He crosses his arms over his chest, looking over at the other. It’s then that he realizes Phil wasn’t here. “Where’s Phil?”

“Probably just looking for his wallet. He puts it in a locked box in his closet behind a whole bunch of boxes. Don’t tell him I said this but I think he’s a hoarder-“ Wilbur stops talking as a sigh rings out from behind him. Ranboo turns to see Phil standing in the doorway.

“I’m not a hoarder, I’m just sentimental about some things.” He argues.

Techno leans closer to him, stage whispering as he does so. “Don’t trust what he says Ranboo, Phil’s a total hoarder.” He couldn’t help but laugh at that, hands quietly going up to his mouth to try and stifle it.

Phil rolls his eyes as he gestures down the hall. “Alright that’s enough of making fun of me, let’s head out before lunch rush.” With that Ranboo gets shuffled out of the living room and towards the garage. Wilbur stayed back, meaning it was just going to be him, Phil and Techno. Which thank goodness , he doesn’t think he can handle another person coming with.

When they enter the garage Ranboo’s met with a lot . It’s obvious that a lot of stuff has ended up here over the years. Boxes upon boxes were in one corner of the room, a dark blue and light blue bike stood near it with a table filled with random items near the middle of the wall, away from the car. Which he had to say was a frickin minivan . Who needs a minivan!?

“Told you Phil was a hoarder.” Techno says as he turns the car on.

Phil whips around, pointing at his brother with a glare. “Shut it, I am not a hoarder.” Techno raises his hands in mock surrender. As the two begin arguing about Phil’s collecting habits, Ranboo walks over to the table, looking over at the random things sitting there. He’s about to walk away and get into the car when something familiar catches his eyes

Near some other junk sat a pretty basic pair of goggles. They were wider than the ones you could buy at the store, going a bit over the nose bridge but still keeping its shape. It was mostly black but had a white wing symbol on the sides… “Ranboo we’re ready to leave-“

“These are Halo’s goggles.” He says out loud, cutting Phil off as he picks them up carefully. There was no mistaking it, the craftsmanship was way above average and it wasn’t plastic, it was clearly metal with soft padding where it touched your face. And the wing symbols weren’t painted on, they were engraved with steady hands. Ranboo looked up at the two. “Why do you have this?” He asked, a bit stunned.

Halo was one of the only hero’s Ranboo actually considered good, great even. He respected the man for more than just the justice he brought to the streets of their city. But also for his messages. Halo ignored the news and reporters for the most part, but when he was forced to make an appearance he took control, not letting his words be twisted for what there not.

He even remembers something the hero said once, it was his last appearance on the news before he announced his retirement. ‘Anyone can have fancy or strong powers, but if you rely on that you’ll never be a hero. You have to want to make a difference, want to save people without a thank you afterwards to be a good hero. And I believe if you are an honest and good person, powers are not going to stop you from being a hero.’

Ranboo wasn’t embarrassed to say he was a fan, so he knows this is Halo’s goggles, or at least a very good replica. “Oh that old thing.” Phil says, a little hesitantly. Ranboo watches as the two look at each other for a few seconds before Phil chuckles, putting up his hands. “You caught me, I am kinda a hoarder. Got a friend to make them for me a couple months ago because I thought the goggles were cool. Never used them, I guess I just forgot to throw them away.”

And he guesses that makes sense. Halo wasn’t in the top ten for hero’s for no reason, he was popular. A lot of people have his hero merch, Ranboo just never seen such a good replica before. “Must have cost you a fortune.” He says as he hands the goggles over. Phil hums in agreement as he places them back on the table, he pauses when he spots something there.

Ranboo goes to turn to see what he had seen but before he can his shoulders are being gripped. He jolted, looking forward to see Techno standing there, looking a bit frazzled. “How about we get going? A lot of shopping to do.” He nods, looking at the hands on his shoulders. Techno follows his gaze before quickly letting go. “Sorry.” He apologizes, taking a step back.

He shakes his head. “It’s fine.” He didn’t care for physical touch, but he could handle it. Plus Techno didn’t hurt him, he takes that as a win.

The other frowns, Phil walking over as well and away from the table. “No it’s not right, I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that. And I’m sorry, that was my fault.” Ranboo stares for a few seconds aww struck. He really shouldn’t be apologizing, not for something as simple as getting his attention.

He nods anyway, saying a quick “Okay.” Before they head over to the car. Ranboo spares one last glance at the goggles which sat on the table, so perfect and in good condition before climbing into the back seat and buckling himself in. The ride for the most part was quiet, well except for the music Phil put on from his phone. But other than that they sat in silence.

There was an odd feeling between the three now, with the two sending each other looks as Techno drove. It must be a sibling thing, with how easy it looked like they could understand each other while Ranboo was left out of the loop. He didn’t mind it as he looked out the window, watching the new area sink in.

It didn’t take long before they pulled into a big shopping centre, Phil shutting the music off and Techno parking the car close to the curb. Ranboo just stared with wide eyes at how big everything looked. “Ready?” Phil asked as he turned around in his seat. He couldn’t find his words so he just nodded, unbuckling his seatbelt.

The three of them got out with ease, Techno pocketing his keys and Phil making sure he had everything on him. Ranboo himself had his phone with him, cracked screen and all. “We’ll get you some new clothes first then everything else afterwards.” Techno said as they walked over to the doors.

“O-okay.” He said, walking behind Techno as they entered the store. Even if it was a weekday and mid day the store was crowded, chattering background noise for no one to pay attention to. Phil and Techno seemed to know where to go as they headed forward, Ranboo scrambling to follow and keep up.

Soon enough they came up to a store and went inside, clothes options all over the place. Ranboo sucked in a quick breath as he looked across all the rose. “Welp, let’s see if we can get your size checked.” Techno muttered as he looked around for a store helper.

Ranboo stood frozen at all the different options. There had to be a twist to this, he couldn’t possibly have his pick. But then a couple minutes go by, Ranboo getting sized by a worker before being pointed into a direction. And then he’s in front of a row of shirts, with Phil and Techno making suggestions every now and then.

He really could pick what he wanted, couldn’t he? Well, this was a definite first…

Chapter Text

He wasn’t ashamed to say most of his shirts ended up being some kind of button up Hawaiian print. Ranboo had always liked the designs of them, the outlandish colour patterns and the plants depicted on them. And if he’s being honest most of the shirts able to fit him were very boring and flat coloured.

So yes Ranboo now had three more shirts and all of them were Hawaiian print but he didn’t really care. He was quite happy with himself really. “What about this one?” Phil said, lifting up a light grey shirt. It was plain like all the other ones but he guesses he needed some kind of normal looking shirt.

“Sure.” He shrugged, Phil nodding along as he passed it onto Techno. Who had the unlucky job of holding everything. He didn’t seem too bothered though, holding four shirts and two pairs of pants. One of which was jeans. It wasn’t much and it was obvious the two wanted him to have more but…

Ranboo didn’t really trust it. He’s pretty sure the two wouldn’t try starving him, there was no reason to when you're not starving yourself. But clothes and items were a whole other story. They can take things away from him, like his phone or his journal. So he didn't want many clothes that they could rip away from him, just what he needed to have clean clothes on his back.

He’s ignoring the fact he had three Hawaiian shirts for the fact it’s a treat to himself. “I think a couple more shirts and pants, maybe a few shorts as summer is kicking in now and then were done with this part.” Phil muttered, lifting up a turtleneck shirt. Ranboo instantly grimaced, Techno catching the look and chucking.

“That’s a no to turtlenecks then.” He said, maneuvering the clothes in his hand. Phil put the shirt back. It went like that for a few more minutes until he had a handful of shirts and pants, a couple shorts to go with the on coming summer heat. The next part was easy enough, they just grabbed a pack of boxers and socks. Techno of course being forced to carry everything.

He’s starting to think Phil’s getting back at him for calling him a hoarder. Ranboo thought that would have been it, but of course the Craft brothers had something else for him. Phil paid for his new clothes and they left to another store, this one with a broader selection of things sold here.

To cut it short, Ranboo had totally forgotten they planned on getting things for his room. He only really remembered when he was faced with different bed sets. “Just pick whatever one you like.” Techno said, eyes scanning the aisle. And of course he picked the creepiest one he could find, which Phil didn’t seem really ready to buy.

They moved on however and it went on like that. Ranboo was faced with choices and he picked the creepiest one. Not because he particularly cared for Phil’s wallet but because he didn’t want to get attached to anything given to him. Soon enough the shopping started to…change.

Instead of must needs he was put in front of stuffed animals, sunglass options, flip flops and even swimsuits . “…why?” He found himself asking once Phil showed him a pair. He looked over at the man, who just looked as confused as him.

“To swim in?” He replied. “All the community pools are opened up now and we live pretty close to one. We go from time to time.” He added on almost like an afterthought. Ranboo just frowned as he eyed them.

He wasn’t dumb, he knew of the busies on his knees and the many more to come. He can’t wear very revealing clothing. “It doesn’t cover a lot.” He notes. Phil looks down at the swim shorts then over at Techno.

“We can find something else.” The other said. Phil hummed along as he put them back before coming up with a longer pair. It still wasn’t ideal, not if he gets hit in the chest.

“Are there any swim shirts?” He asked, looking at the selection. He was less concerned with the fact it wasn’t really necessary anymore and more concerned about the fact if they do get him a swimsuit that it’ll show too much. Phil paused for a second—probably thinking if there were any—before backing up a bit.

“I believe so.” Ranboo relaxed once the man brought out a long sleeved swim shirt, shoulders dropping to his sides. Okay, crisis averted.

☽ ★ ☾

Ranboo was in a crisis . He was completely done for, in the red zone, in danger —

“Oh come on Lethe! It’ll be fun!” Rover yelled, his metal bat swinging into the night air lazily. “It’s only district eighteen.” He states, like that makes a difference at all. At the moment the three of them were on a rooftop in their vigilante gear. Rover stood in front of him and if it weren’t for her mask he would have been seeing a smile.

Mellohi was leaning against the rails, looking bored out of his mind. It was supposed to be a normal patrol, meet up with the team at their meeting spot and split up across seventeenth. If anyone needed backup they would call in, it was routine . Even after a month of being out Ranboo knew the schuel well.

Of course that’s not what happened, as they were still up on the roof. “Exactly, it’s district eighteen ! Why would you want to start patrolling there when we already have our hands full here!?” He shoots back, hands raising in the air.

Mellohi and Rover had practically jumped him when he got here, stating that they were going to start moving into district eighteen as well. Ranboo’s lived in eighteen before and he knows the crime rates there. If seventeen was bad then eighteen was so much worse . “Plus Nobility patrols there.”

“So? It’s not like they'll mind a few new vigilantes coming in to help around.” Mellohi piped it, watching out towards the streets down below them.

“See, even Mellohi agrees with me! If we start covering two districts between the three of us we can do so much more good. Plus we’re not well known, it isn’t like we’re going to be hunted or some shit. It isn’t like seventeenth is a big district anyways . We’re wasting our talent.” Rover adds on, putting the end of her bat in the ground as she leans forward on it.

Ranboo sighs, looking between the two. Distract seventeen was the smallest district in L’manburg. It’s why they chose to patrol it, no matter where they are it wouldn’t take too long if backup is needed. Eighteen on the other hand is a lot bigger, crime rates are higher and it has a lot more guns .

Along with the normal zone four criminal activity eighteen had drugs, trafficking and robbery’s. It was heightened, not as much as district twenty but they would be in a whole new environment. “We’ve only been vigilantes for a few months.” He tries wearily. “And going to eighteen is like starting with the tutorial and then jumping to the mid boss.”

Mellohi snorts at the video game reference as Rover rolls her eyes. “How about we go as a group instead of splitting up?” Mellohi says, leaving his position from the rails. “We spend the first few hours in district seventeen, meet back here and then move into eighteen as a group. Boom, mid boss problem solved!”

“That doesn’t actually solve the problem-“ Rover claps her hand, bat falling to the group with a soft clang.

The two look over to her as she bends down to pick it back up. “That’s perfect!” She yells as she puts the bat in the small bag she has on her back. “And since it’s two on one we're doing it.” She declares right after, her hands going up to cross over her chest, staring up at him and practically daring him to refuse.

Maybe in a different world he would have, but that wasn’t the world he was living in. “…fine.” He groans, shoving his head into the palms of hands. “We can start patrolling the other district.”

“Yes!” Rover shouts, jumping up to wrap her hands around him.

“Fucking finally.” Mellohi breaths out, his heels clicking against the roof as he walks over to the two. Ranboo’s left in the middle of the two as he’s shoved over to the fire escape. “Welp come on lads! The night is still young and we have a new patrol route to take on!” He’s pushed to the fire escape stairs at the edge of the building.

Ranboo takes a second however to look up, eyes scanning over the horizon of L’manburg, or what he's ever known. And he should have felt a lovely fluttery feeling, some kind of joy in the fact he protects all do this, that he saves this and the people who live here. He should smile, be in the moment. But instead of all that he frowns, hands going into fists.

The magic squeezes around his limbs, telling him to move, to fight, to save . Ranboo knows he should be grateful, but all he feels is a somber feeling deep in his chest. Why did it take years after the fire for him to be able to do anything of value? “Lethe, you ready?” Rover’s voice comes from behind him, a hand on his arm.

He takes a deep breath, gaze turning downwards to the stairs. “Yea.” He nods, Mellohi already heading down underneath then. “I’m ready.” Ranboo’s not going to let what happened to him happen to anyone else, and maybe patrolling district eighteen is the start to doing just that.

☽ ★ ☾

The night was still young by the time Ranboo actually started his patrol. The air was still filled with the undertone of smoke and grime, but this time it was kind of welcoming. He would be lying if patrolling more parts of the city wasn’t tariffing. He’s only just started to recognize the street signs and shops littered across the place. But at the same time it felt so…nice?

He had the power to help, so obviously helping more people was a good thing, was an amazing thing. But he didn’t like the prospect of having to learn new alleyway routes or hiding places when they travel to the new district. It can’t be helped now however, he already agreed to their very not thought out plan.

It didn’t take long to find an idiot with a lock pick in the dead of night, and surprisingly it didn’t take too long to stop them from trying to steal a motorcycle. Sometimes people just have a lapse in judgment and think they could get away with things. Ranboo ignored the fact that both Rover and Mellohi fit into that category.

“Come on lady, I didn't mean any harm! How about you just untie me and I can, uh, give you a free coupon for the local burger place?” Ranboo looked over at the guy currently tied to a bicycle rack and frowned.

“You pulled a knife on me and called me a whore, so no? I don’t think I will let you go.” He says as he takes out his notifier, staring as the guy tries to wiggle free. He looks down at his notifier as he starts to type in why the guy was tied up and that he’s put the knife next to the garbled can nearby for the police to get. Ranboo pauses, fingers hovering over the screen.

He looks over at the still tied up guy, him now shouting profanities. But he wasn’t paying attention to him, instead to the movement in the corner of his eye. Ranboo slightly looked downwards, pretending to keep typing out his message. He was focused on the darkness the movement came from.

After a couple seconds it moved again, slinking a bit closer to the street. Like it was watching him, he has no doubt that whoever it is was. Ranboo presses send on the notifier, reaching up to click on his com. “I’m done here.” He starts, walking away from the criminal.

“Already? That was fast.” Rover chimes in, sounds a bit out of breath. He just hummed, facing the alleyway a bit. He kept his eyes off of whoever was there as he angled his hand away. He could feel his magic buzz through his palm as he grabbed at the shadows like slime, pulling them back slowly.

The figure hasn’t noticed yet, the shadows of their body retracting. “Lethe your com is still on.” Mellohi speaks up. He doesn’t bother answering as he swiftly tugs at the shadows, head whipping up to stare at the lurker. It’s only a split second glance he gets before the figure darts back into the alley.

But it’s enough to take in the mask of the person. It was white and covered their whole face, two dots and a curled line on it. It looked distinctly like a smiley face. “Someone’s spying on me.” He blurts as he rushes forward to follow them. Ranboo slightly registers the yells of both confusion and worry as he crosses the street.

He lets go of the shadows as he runs into the alleyway. He snaps his head to anywhere he could in hopes of finding a trace of the person that was here seconds ago. But there was nothing, just an empty alley. “Lethe are you okay!? Answer us!” Rover yells, making Ranboo slow down in his steps.

He lets out a breath as he eyes the brick walls and fire escape. “I’m fine.” He huffs, ignoring the chill of unease down his spine and the panic in his lung. “They're gone now.” He adds on, turning back to exit the enclosed space.

“Don’t fucking scare us like that!” Mellohi yells through the com, sounding out of breath himself. “Creep or not.”

“…sorry.” He apologizes quickly, sending one last glance at where the masked person ran off in.

▫ ◾️ ☽ ★ ☾ ◾️ ▫

Wilbur sighed, gaze turning away from his computer and to his phone that sat ringing its head off. He could guess three people that would be calling him this late and none of them were relatively pleasant. He picked up the device and looked at the caller ID, groaning at seeing the words Job staring back at him.

He clicked the answer button before the noise could wake anyone up and lifted it to his ear, leaning back in his chair as he did so. “This is Wilbur Craft, what is it?” He said harshly, eyes going back to stare at what was on his screen. Incident reports of zone four were pulled up, the folder having almost nothing in it.

“It’s Rachel, I’m calling to inform you that the committee has denied your request to start patrolling in zone four and that you’ll be returning to work along with Techno Craft tomorrow night.” Wilbur’s grip tightened around his phone, his jaw setting as he stared at a particular sentence on his screen. Crime up by ten percent in recent months .

What the hell do they mean he’s denied ? He sits up in his seat, his other hand gripping his pyjama pants. “We had two weeks off patrol. What do you mean we're returning tomorrow ?” He hisses out. He can’t help but be ticked off, first they say he can’t patrol in zone four and now they're demanding his return? And not just his but Techno's too. “We agreed that both of us will have two weeks so our new foster-“

“The plan has changed.” Rachel cuts him off, calm and collected. He breathes through his nose, not trusting to reply and not swear at the woman. “A hero has left due to maternity leave, two are out of commission and crime rates are going up. We need you two out-“

“Then why not call someone else!” He can’t help but yell into the phone, standing up from his chair quickly and sending it rolling backwards. “You have us on paper duty, send someone who's willing.” He says a bit quieter, eyes darting towards the door. He has to remember not to yell so much in the house. Ranboo didn’t need to wake up in the middle of the night to screaming, not with his foster record.

Rachel sighed, like she was fucking board . “If you have a problem, take it up with your organizer, or the committee themselves.” With that she hangs up, beeping ringing out as the call ends. Wilbur turns off his phone and tosses it onto his bed, walking across the room to grab his chair.

He rolls it back over to his desk before collapsing into it. He runs his hands through his hair, taking deep breaths to try and calm himself. He’s going to have to tell Techno about the change, also Phil. God he’s going to have to tell Tommy . He’s not going to hear the end of it from any one of them. Wilbur took one final breath, grabbing his desk and scooting closer to his computer.

He clicked off of the incident reports on screen, moving his mouse over to the search bar. He types in a website he’s memorized months ago, one that he’s pretty sure not many people know about. He sure knows Phil doesn’t, Techno having shown him it. Wilbur presses enter, a blog coming up onto the screen. The word Archive was written at the top in simple block letters.

Wilbur signs into his account and scrolls, posts littering the website from want to be reporters. He spends a few minutes just scrolling, eyes darting across the screen. He stops at a picture, eyes farrowing as he clicks on the post. It was by anonymous—of course it was—with a short description. Wilbur scanned it for a few seconds, reading the words carefully.

He sat back in his seat, fingers now tapping his legs in a broken rhythm. “…New vigilante spotted in district sixteen.” He mumbles the words, looking at the blurry picture of what he assumes is the vigilante in question. She had a long flowy skirt, black and white skin and purple eyes. But that’s all he could see, the picture too dark and too blurry to make anything else out.

He stared at the photo, a thought coming to mind. The vigilante was in sixteenth, bordering the fourth zone. No doubt more photos are going to come out, the media loves to talk shit about vigilantes. A hero was going to have to be forced to take the vigilante into custody. A smile crept up to his face as he clicked off the blog and opened his email, fingers already flying across the keyboard as he wrote to his organizer.

Chapter Text

“It looks like a lizard.” Mellohi says, head held back in what Ranboo thinks is a grimace.

Rover leans closer to the wall however, waving her hand around as she scrutinises whatever it was they were looking at. “I’ll put money down that it’s a dinosaur.” She pipes up, pointing at its teeth.

Ranboo shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “It's obviously a crocodile.” He points out, head tilting. “…maybe.” He adds after a few seconds. It was green, it had to be a crocodile.

“It’s a fucking cat you assholes!” The griefer shouts from behind them, startling him out of his thoughts. The three vigilantes turn to face the man tied up behind them, all wearing faces of disbelief.

His two friends look at him, both shaking their heads. “So sad.” Mellohi starts, putting his hand to his chest. “Doesn’t even know what the hell he spray painted.”

“What’s happened to this city, do people not know how to draw anymore?” Rover adds on, faking sadness as she falls backwards.

Ranboo scrambles forward to catch her, arms wrapping around the brunettes' waist. If it wasn’t their hobby that was going to get them killed it was their dramatics. “Roger you don’t even know how to draw-“

“Not the point!” She shouts, looking up at him as he tries to push her back up onto her feet. “The point is this man can’t draw for shit. If he’s going to be spray painting walls he can at least be good at it.”

Ranboo sighs, taking out his notifier to get the police here. “She has a point.” Mellohi points out as he keeps an eye on the criminal. He ignores the two as he writes why the man was tied up. He doesn’t bother to write a long note, only a short one that’s straight to the point. The police here in district eighteen are slower than the ones in seventeen.

After he was done he looked back up to his teammates. “What the hell are you two doing?” He asks, watching as they spray painted over the crude drawing of the cat. 

Rover doesn’t hear him, continuing to run toxic green lines of spray paint over what was there as Mellohi turns to him. “If he’s going to be arrested at least it can be for something good, we’re fixing it for him.” It was said with some much seriousness Ranboo couldn’t help fight back. Mellohi just turned around with his own red paint.

Now the more responsible thing to do is to drag his friends away and get out of here before the police come. But then again they were very slow, and wouldn’t believe the word to a tied up man if the criminal tried to rat them out. He rolls his eyes at the two and picks up a bright purple can and starts shaking it.

☽ ★ ☾

“The vigilantes did it! I fucking watched them, they called my cat a crocodile!” Ranboo stifled a laugh as he and his two friends ran across the building tops and away from the cops as they arrested the screaming criminal. Like he thought before, no one would believe him.

“It’s getting late.” Rover said as they stopped after a bit. “We should probably head back soon.” She gestures to where the moon held in the sky, a little lower then he would have liked given where they were.

“What!?” Mellohi yelled, turning to face the brunette. “We haven’t even gotten half way through the district! How are you tired already?” He looks at Rover, shoulders held high. Ranboo decides not to touch that on coming fight with a ten foot pole as he walks over to the edge of the building.

He could hear them arguing, but he ignores it and instead keeps watch. This district was more dense in buildings and shops then the other one he’s used to, even more than the district he’s living in now. It’s hard to see anything here, the darkness covering up almost everything.

It’s been a couple days since they started patrolling, tomorrow being the last day of school for Tommy. That means late nights for the other teen and suspenseful sneaking outs for him. Ranboo doesn’t know how long he can stay out in eighteen now that his foster brother was going to be out and about at night more times than before.

“Lethe, don’t you think we should stay out for at least another hour?” Mellohi pops up beside him, Rover coming on the other side.

“I don’t want to be a part of your fight.” He pleads, resting his cheek in his palms.

“Too bad! We all know we don’t live in district eighteen, so it’ll take at least thirty minutes to get out and then we have all of seventeen. I’m not saying we don’t go deeper into the district but we need more time management between the two patrol areas!” So he was definitely being dragged into this argument, okay.

Ranboo backs up from the two, hands on his hips like a raging mother shouting at their rude kids. “I think-“

The sounds of gunshots stop him, his mouth snapping shut as he freezes in place. The other two have frozen in their spots too, looking between each other. All of their eyes were wide as they stood there. After a few seconds even more gun shots went off. “There’s a gang fight.” Mellohi says, feet already moving to the edge.

“Wait!” He calls, Rover already running right after him. Ranboo groans as he’s moving forward too. “We hardly got out of the last gun fight! And it wasn’t even a gun fight, just a pathetic break in! We can’t just rush in!” He states, hands moving forward and planting themselves on the edge of the building.

Ranboo swings his legs over the edge and onto the ratty fire escape. It wavered under his and the others two weight but stayed strong and they raced downwards. “Well duh !” Rover spits, looking back at him. “We find where this is going down and make a game plan, now hurry .”

He doesn’t reply as he uses the bars to swing himself faster around the iron corners, Mellohi leading them down and into the alley’s. They haven’t fought people with guns really, none of their abilities stop flying bullets. Which sucks when you're running head first into what there pretty sure is some gang fight.

He takes in a deep breath as they get closer to the noise, the sound of yelling and bullets flying was loud in his ears. Mellohi ducked down right before the alley entrance, Rover and him following suit as they crouched down. “We have to disarm them.” Rover states, hand tightening around her bat.

“I can use my shadows to grab their wrists and their fingers would still be on the triggers, and it sounds like a lot of them. I don’t think I have enough in me to still everyone.” Ranboo supplies as he shuffles to the corner of where they were hiding. He reaches his hand out, curling shadows over their forms to keep them out of sight as he peers out.

“I can distract them.” Mellohi says, pointing to their throat. “Make them shoot at something that isn’t there while you two restrain them.” Ranboo ignores the shiver down his spine at the thought of Mellohi singing. The guy had a lovely voice but the images he conjures up are pure nightmare fuel.

“You don’t have that good of control.” Rover replies as he looks out to see what’s happening. He can hear the two start talking back and forth as they try and make a plan that won’t get them shot, yet he hardly hears it as his eyes widen. There were at least seven people, guns drawn as they shot back and forth, yelling about nonsense. But it wasn’t them who he was looking at, it was the cape wearing vigilante that was running out towards the fight.

“Uh guy.” He whispers, the two stopping in their chat as they look over at him. “We have backup?” Mellohi and Rover shuffle closer to him and pop their heads out, gasps ringing out across the two.

“Nobility.” Mellohi says, standing up. “Okay new plan, Nobility’s the distraction and all three of us go in there and kick ass.” Before Ranboo could comment that that wasn’t a real plan at all Rover’s standing up and following Mellohi out into the street.

“…crap.” He hisses, releasing the shadows as he shoots out from the alleyway. What happened to not going in without a real plan!? It’s a surprise no one has spotted them yet as they run into the fray. Nobility was in the middle between the shoot out, skin a shiny gold as he took bullet after bullet with no sign of injury. Rover and Mellohi headed left so he headed over to the right, hand stretching out as his shadows curl around a shooters hand.

The guy jolts in his spot as Ranboo rushes him, raising a fist and landing it right into the back of the guy's head. He shouts, turning around with his hands still outstretched in front of him. Ranboo only sees the barrel of the gun for a second before a golden hand blacks his view, the gun going off right after.

Nobility only spares him a glance before they are sweeping their feet underneath the guy, tripping him. Another shooter turns towards them, Nobility jumping in front as they grab their cape, it turning to a full sheet of gold as a barrage of bullets fire out. “You're new.” He comments, his skin turning back to normal as they focus their powers on making a shield.

Ranboo hurry’s forward as he kicks the gun out of the guy's hand who was still on the floor, it sliding out across the pavement. His shadows lock the man in place as he gets out a zip tie. “Yea, kinda my first shoot out.” He replies, a bit nervous as he ties up the screaming criminal. The older vigilante hums, like this was an everyday conversation.

“They're rushing us, can you stop them like you did with that guy?” Ranboo nods, getting up as he gets close to the shield. He peeks out from it, shadows falling to his whim as he stops one of them in place. Nobility runs forward, Cape turning back to fabric as it waves in the wind behind them. His skin turns to gold as he takes the brunt of two guns with ease.

Ranboo winces at the sound of metal against bone as Nobility punches the captured gunman right in the nose. He runs alongside the other as he bends out of the way just in time not to get shot. Ranboo twists his shadows up the guy's arm, stopping him from moving as he rip’s the gun out of his hand, throwing it to the side.

He looks up to see Nobility pointing a captured gun at his own criminal, the other putting his hands up as he kneels to the floor. It doesn’t take long after that for him to get the two into zip ties, the older vigilante covering him as he does so. Ranboo stands up after he’s done his work, another gunshot making him flinch.

It’s then he remembers about Rover and Mellohi.

Ranboo whirls around, eyes shooting to the other side of the street as sparks, bullets and punches are being shot out. “Shit!” He curses, bolting out towards his friends. He hears footsteps behind himself but he doesn’t care to look, drawing his shadows closer and shooting them outwards. A wisp of thick shadows curls around a woman’s ankle and he pulls back on it, tripping her.

Rover acts fast as she kicks the gun out of the other woman’s hand, eyes a toxic green as she shouts orders to Mellohi. Ranboo joins Rover as he covers her, using his shadows to make it harder to see them. “Glad you could make it.” She drawls, whistling with the woman to get her into zip ties.

“Always happy to be here.” He shoots back. He sees someone spot them, but thankfully no gun was in sight as they ran over. Not so thankfully the guy had a knife. “I’ll be right back.” He says, running to stop the other. With his shadows already covering Rover Ranboo resorts to hand to hand as he dodges a swipe of the glistening knife.

“Didn’t mommy ever tell you not to play hero?” The criminal says, landing a punch against Ranboo’s lower jaw. That was definitely going to hurt in the morning.

Ranboo ducked as they swiped the knife across in the air, throwing his own punch and landing it in the guy's gut. “Didn’t daddy ever tell you to not play with knifes?” He growls back, tail thrashing behind him in irritation. He runs to the left, dodging another swing as he glances back at Rover. She’s tightening the zip ties on her opponent.

The brief distraction is enough for the other to get the upper hand as suddenly Ranboo’s being flung backwards by an invisible force. He lets out a startled yelp as he lands on his back, his tail getting crammed between himself and the concrete. It flares with pain, Ranboo pushing himself off it with unsteady arms. A laugh rings out in front as the guy runs towards him, hands outstretched.

He only has enough time to block his face before he’s being flung back once again, head slamming against a wall. Pain erupts deep in the back of his skull as his vision blurs. He thinks he screams, but he isn’t sure as he peeks out from his arms, body shaking at his spot on the floor. “What happened to all that sass?” The criminal laughs, raising their knife into the air.

He tries to get up but the ringing in his ears and the jelliness from his limbs cause him to slump back against the wall. Ranboo coughs, tasting blood on his tongue from where he’d bitten down on it. He struggles against the grogginess, eyes widening as the blade comes down towards him. Closer and closer and closer -

“Get the fuck away from her!” Rover shouts, foot swinging out and kicking between the persons legs. A startled scream and a punch to the back of the head later and the guy was face first into concrete, Rover kicking down onto him. Ranboo heaves a sigh of relief as Rover quickly shoves the knife out of his hand and ties him up.

It’s after the fourth kick to the side does Ranboo get up, leaning against the wall for support. “I think you got them.” He says, in no way telling her to stop. Rover growls underneath her breath, looking up at him as she walks over.

“Are you okay?” She says, face morphing to concern as her eyes return back to their original brown. He nods slowly, tail hanging limp as his head bangs with a headache.

“I’m not shot.” He shrugs, which was really the best case scenario here.

Rover hums, taking his arm despite his silent protest as they walk over to Mellohi, Nobility also there as he calls this in. “Oh shit, you okay?” Mellohi asks, rushing forward. He just nods, ignoring the pain running through him. “…good, that’s good.”

It’s quiet for a moment, the three just staring at each other. Like they were all making sure no one was about to drop to the floor with a bullet wound suddenly appearing. Ranboo was actually surprised he was just left with aching limbs and a headache and not something more.

“You guys should probably head out.” Nobility says, causing them all to turn to her. She looked different now that there was no gold in sight, her powers having shut off, leaving her in her normal vigilante outfit. It was a bit surreal, he’s heard of Nobility countless times before. She was an amazing vigilante and one of the more older ones, having shown up seven years ago.

The authorities hated them like any vigilante, but they had worked together on a few occasions in the past. One of the more well known ones being a bank robbery in fifth, where Nobility helped release and cover the hostages as the cops got the robbers. It was all over the news a few years back. It’s probably why no hero has been assigned to arrest them since.

And now Nobility was standing in front of them, having just fought side by side. “What about the criminals?” He can’t help but ask, they were all shouting across the street, zip tied and without their weapons. Which might he add were scattered all around the place.

Nobility just smiled, the lower part of their mask not there, showing off their lower face. “I can handle it, you three get out of here. The cops may be lenient with me but three newbies are fair game.”

“Bye then.” Mellohi waves, already ducking into the closet alley out. Rover snorts as she finally lets him go, following after their teammate. 

Ranboo stays there for a second, just staring at the other. “…Thanks for covering me back there.” He says, hands going up to hold his forearms for comfort.

The other just nods, resting his hands on his hips. “Of course, it’s always good to see more vigilantes down in eighteenth… And be careful, okay? A golden shield isn’t always going to be there to cover a barrage of bullets for you.” He chuckles at that, humming in agreement. Ranboo waves goodbye to the other as he heads into the alleyway.

Mellohi and Rover are waiting for him as he enters, both looking pretty fine for the fight they just had. “Ready to head home now?” Rover asks, shooting Mellohi a playful look.

The other just groans, throwing his hands up. “Alright I’m done! You don’t have to make a whole thing about me wanting to stay out longer!” Ranboo laughs at the twos display, patting both their shoulders and shoving them forward.

“Come on, we have a long way back to seventeenth.” He gets curses back for his troubles.

☽ ★ ☾

Ranboo groans into his pillow as the house comes alive around him, his foster family buzzing around to get ready for the day ahead. The only reason he hasn’t murdered Tommy’s alarm clock yet is because it’s Friday, the last day of school for the blonde. Which also means it’s been around a week since he’s come here, but he’s going to ignore that part.

Like he’s ignoring his body screaming at him for getting slammed into a brick wall. With the promise of breakfast in the air he slowly gets up, back yelling at him not to move. He pushes past the pain however and kicks the blankets off of himself. His morning routine consists of finding an outfit that could hide his injuries and staring in the bathroom mirror for ten minutes.

Underneath his eyes were dark splotches, the change in how much he’s sleeping starting to creep up on him. Ranboo frowned at his own reflection, tail mocking uneasily behind him. He hisses as a jolt of pain flare up in the limb, eyes darting down towards the multi coloured tail.

There was a decent sized bruise on it, right where his body slammed against it last night. Ranboo couldn’t help the scowl on his face as he lifted it up slowly, prodding at it. It was probably sprained, which wasn’t really a good sign to his future endeavours. Maybe he can get Rover to create a flexible band he can use to protect it in the future?

With his self prodding done and nothing left to do he heads downstairs. Everyone was in the kitchen, plates being set on the table as pancakes were being flipped. “Good morning.” Tommy yawns, passing him to get to his seat. Ranboo mumbles a tired good morning himself as he goes to sit across from the blonde.

The smell of tea was heavy in the air as Wilbur lounged on the kitchen counter. He kinda looked like a cat up there as he took periodic sips from his mug. Techno was nowhere to be seen as Phil set a play in front of him.

“Rough night you two?” He asks, a small frown coming on his face. Tommy and him look over to the older, both shaking their heads. Phil hummed in thought as he went back to the stove. Breakfast went by quickly, Ranboo trying his hardest not to fall asleep at the table as he ate.

Soon enough the plates were in the sink and Tommy was grabbing his school bag from where he set it at his feet. “Ready to go Will?” Tommy asked, Wilbur turning to face his younger brother.

“Actually I can’t drive you today.” He says. Ranboo’s ears tilt up in interest, him looking over to the older man.

“What!? Why?” Wilbur sighs, scratching the back of his neck as he sends the other a look Ranboo was way too tired to look into.

“I have to head into work early today. Just take your bus pass.” Tommy grumbles, crossing his hands over his chest.

Ranboo goes to leave back up to his room, hoping to get a few more hours of sleep when Phil suddenly speaks up. “Why not take Ranboo with you? I’m sure getting out of the house will do you boys some good.” He stops mid step, turning to Phil. He goes to complain and say that he really wants to go back to his room when he’s stopped by Tommy.

“Fine, come on boob boy.” Tommy says nonchalantly as he heads out of the kitchen. His brain lags for a few seconds before he understands what has just become of his fate. Ranboo can’t even muster up the energy to say anything as he follows Tommy towards the front door.

Today was not a day he wanted to be outside .

Chapter Text

Tommy ended up paying for his bus ticket, practically dragging him to the back as the two sat down. Ranboo wanted to object, knowing he had a few coins in his wallet but the other wasn’t having it. So he was sealed to be indebted to Tommy for the foreseeable future, all because Phil wanted him to get some French air.

If having it go outside while almost every joint in your body hurts then Ranboo thinks fresh air is a load of bull. “What’s your favourite colour?” Tommy suddenly asks, causing him to jolt. He whirls around to face the blonde, who had taken the ile seat. Tommy was staring right at him, eyes that unnatural blue hue.

“Wa-what?” He stutters, sleep still crawling around his brain.

Tommy huffed, rolling his hands in the air. “What’s your favourite colour?” He asks once more, turning so he was looking out of the window. “Don’t tell me you don’t have one.” He adds, like the thought just occurred to him.

“I have a favourite colour!” He yells, immediately getting stares from the other people on the bus. Ranboo whispers a quick sorry as he ducks his head. “It’s dark blue, why?”

“No reason.” The other shrugs, looking back at him. A tired smile crosses his face, the teen leaning back in his seat. “Mines red, by the way. What about your favourite food? I think the best is mud personally, earth's best soup-“

“You can’t be serious.” Ranboo cuts him off, leaning forward on his elbows, which sat on his knees. A couple wild thoughts flooded his brain then, most of which consisted of the fact you can’t eat mud. But of course the one he asks is the worst out of the few. “…What does mud even taste like?”

The question was more for himself but Tommy caught it nonetheless, his tired smiling widening. “Like the best thing you’ve ever eaten my friend! Honestly people shit on it way more than they should.”

When Ranboo woke up that morning he didn’t think he’d learn all about the advantages of mud. Down to skin health and the fact that it’s not that bad to eat. Honest to god it was kinda scary how Tommy went off, listing things about it. How much time did this boy have to research mud? Ranboo only hopes it was for a school project.

The more Tommy talked the more natural things started to feel. His muscles relaxed, his thoughts didn’t roam and he felt actually in place. Not like an outsider residing in a stranger's house or a kid who’s only friend is his mum's friend's child. “-cause science actually proves it you know- oh we’re here.” Tommy frowns, looking out the window.

Ranboo blinks, snapping out of his dazz as he turns to the window. There was indeed a school coming into view, a bus stop sat at the front of it. It was near the parking lot, school buses rolling in as kids of different ages pushed their way through the crowds. It was a large school, from what little of it he could see as they made their way to the stop. In the lower districts school’s were… smaller. Less full of sleepy kids and more filled with starving ones.

“Come on Ranboo, this is our stop.” Tommy says from beside him, standing up and pulling on the cord to alert the driver that they want off. He nods as he moves to get up, staying behind the blonde as they make their way to the doors. Tommy, like he would expect, just pushes his way through, the doors opening swiftly for them.

Ranboo steps off of the bus, ears flinching at the noise that’s brought to them. There’s a lot of students here. “I guess this is where we split off?” He questions, looking as the bus moves away. That goes his escape plan.

Tommy makes a confused sound in the back of his throat before turning around to face him. His brows are furrowed, lips thin. Ranboo thinks he looks like a cat trying to figure out if it’s worth jumping into a lake if it means it gets to eat fish. “Oh my god.” He then groans, running at his eyes with the palms of his head. “Literally everyone forgot you don’t have a car like Will. The next bus home isn’t for another hour.”

The realization sinks in as slow as a bowling ball in water, smashing against Ranboo’s head with record speed. “I’m going to have to wait here for an hour.” He says, more so for himself than for the other boy. “ Great .” He adds, rolling his eyes. “The best Friday morning, waiting for a bus.”

He hears Tommy snort at that, his footsteps drawing away as he goes to lean against the chain fence. “You could always walk around, you know. Adventure and all that.” Ranboo shrugs, looking across the street at the houses. “Here, let me make this easier for you.”

Ranboo jolts at the feeling of Tommy’s hand on his, whipping his head downwards to see what the other was doing. Tommy’s holding him by the wrist, his other hand digging into his pocket. Of course the first thing he thinks of is getting stabbed, because there can’t be anything other than a pocket knife in his foster brother's pocket.

His tail thrashes to the side nervously. A pang of hot pain burns across it as he flinches, the memory of hurting somehow having slipped his mind. Tommy doesn’t seem to notice as he takes out his hand, his fist curled around something. Ranboo eyes the road behind him, wondering if it would be worth it trying to make a run for it. What had he done to piss Tommy off?

“There.” At the voice Ranboo pauses, his wrist being let go. Slowly his hand curls around a thin rectangular object as he goes to face the other, who’s just looking up at him with narrowed eyes. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes, his eyes are not as big and bright as before. Something happened, didn’t it? Why did the air suddenly feel so tense? What did he do?

Ranboo hesitantly looks down at the thing in his hand, wondering what it was. He can’t help the small gasp that leaves him as he looks down at a debit card. “Tommy what-“

“Don’t think I did notice that bruise on your tail.” Tommy cuts him off, voice conveying nothing in its coldness. Ranboo takes a step back, his heart leaping high into his throat. He noticed? When did he notice, why hadn’t he said anything before this!? Oh god, did Wilbur and Phil notice?

Tommy takes a step back, narrowed eyes leaving his features. “You know I was a foster once.” Ranboo’s breath hitches, hand clamping around the card.

“Y-you were a foster?” He asks, like he hadn’t heard the words a second before.

The other just smiles, nodding his head. “I was young, a newborn actually, when I was put in the hands of the government. I uh… know how hard it is to trust strangers. I also know what it’s like to hide injuries.” His eyes meet his, a blaze of emotions in his gaze. Ranboo thinks he might be drowning, clawing for breath as the blues in Tommy’s eyes acted like crashing waves.

There was something there, deep under the water. Familiarity, he thinks. Another drowning, another person hoping to stay afloat. The only difference was that Tommy had a life jacket stapled to his chest and Ranboo had stones. “I’m not hurt.” He lies, the words like sludge on his tongue.

Tommy just nods, taking a step back. “Alright man, say what you want to say. I left you the code to the card, don’t go making me broke. If you're going to be lying, at least hide the bruise, there’s a store down the road from here with concealer and makeup.” Another step back, another wave of the hand, another dangerous smile. “I’ll see you at home, ya?”

And with that the blond turns around bolts, swinging his backpack onto his shoulders. Ranboo’s left standing there, mouth open like a gaping goldfish. “…crap.” He curses, shoving the credit card into his pocket where his phone is. Tommy just exposed him like that, tarred off a layer of lies and patched it up with a medical bandage.

Was Ranboo that readable? Or was this all because Tommy apparently knew the life of a foster child? It makes sense, Ranboo couldn’t possibly have been Phil’s first foster child. It also makes sense in the way Techno and Phil clearly weren’t related by blood, yet called each other brother.

Ranboo sighed, watching as Tommy turned and crossed his school parking lot, not even taking a second to peer back at him. Tommy was familiar, he guesses he knows why now. He ignores the fact the blond handed to him his life savings after a week of knowing him and turned around to head to this shop the other was talking about.

Ignorant was bliss, after all.

☽ ★ ☾

He found the shop pretty easily, which is to say he looked it up on google maps. Either way he was inside now, gaze twisting and turning around the shelves. He was looking in the kids makeup section for something to cover up the blossoming bruises on his tail. He knew the black and white colour of his tail wouldn’t actually be in the makeup section.

He thinks he remembers his mother complaining about it once. Her enderian colouring didn’t stop on the tail, which made it hard to shop for concealers and whatever else she used. She mentioned it plenty of times for him to know not to waste his time looking around and headed right for what he was after.

The ile was pretty bare, gag gifts and little trinkets lining it. It was like a prison for parents with small children. Ranboo ignored the eye catching trinkets and toys and headed right for what he was looking for. He frowned at the clown on the small packet, it was designed for face paints and colourful skin safe drawings, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a bit weird.

It’s like the world ignores the fact that there are enderian’s who need foundations too, but oh well. He wasn’t here to start up a conversation about equality, he was here to hide the bruises littering his tail and abdomen. He quickly grabs the packet and heads over to the end of the ile. Ranboo turns around the corner, running right into something else.

Of course with his luck Ranboo goes staggering back, knocking his back and tail into a rack behind him. The rack wasn’t secure as it too went toppling down, Ranboo landing on the bumpy surface as he and whatever was on the rack hit the ground. “Ughhh.” He groans, pain lighting up through his limbs and tail.

He blinks open his eyes slowly, the fluorescent lights stinging them to hell and back. He covers his eyes from the bright lights above him as he tries to move himself into an upright position. “Oww- oh shit.” He hears a voice, sounding just as grouchy as he feels. Ranboo looks across from himself, eyes widening a bit as they catch onto someone else.

Who’s also now sitting on the ground with things littering them. He has a white face mask on, green eyes scrunched up as he pushes himself up like he had just done. The pieces line up quickly together as he sits there. He totally just ran into a stranger and knocked them both over. “I’m so sorry!” He rushes out, pushing himself onto wobbly legs as he heads towards the other.

The man looks up at him a bit confused, but before long he seems to understand what had happened. Ranboo puts out his hand to help the other up, him taking it in a strong grip. He pulls the other up back onto his feet, the man matching his height, if a bit taller. “No worries.” He says, dusting himself off. “…Are you okay though?” He then adds, looking him over.

He’s taken aback by the question, metaly trying to check himself over. Despite his sore body and very painful new bruise that’s forming on his tail he’s fine. “Yea I’m fine.” Ranboo then gestures behind him to the rack that he can now see was filled with holiday and birthday cards. “I don’t think that is though.”

The other looks over, seeming to whence at the sight. “Now that must have hurt.” He comments, more so a whisper. He was talking to himself, looking between Ranboo and the rack. The man shoves his hands into his pockets as he looks at his own stuff littering the floor. Ranboo furrowed his brow at the action, way too familiar with the movements.

It’s what he does when he doesn’t want someone to look at him, he ignores what’s in front of himself. Focussing on something else in the room, hands tucked away either in pockets or behind his back. Ranboo looks away from him at the thought, eyes roaming to the floor. “I’ll uh, tell the front.” He says, bending down to grab his packet. The man nods, moving to the side so he can pass. “Sorry again.”

The man waves him off, bending down to pick up his stuff. “No harm done.” Ranboo nods as he turns to head to the front. He tucks his tail between his legs, curling it around his ankle. A shiver runs down his back, the feeling of eyes on him forcing his feet faster. He gets to the cashier in no time, dropping his item in front of them to scan.

He takes a quick glance behind himself, eyes connecting with vibrant green ones. The man looks away then, continuing to clean up. When Ranboo faces the front, the feeling of staring returns.

☽ ★ ☾

It’s later that day that Ranboo’s sat on the side of the bathtub, black and white split makeup in hands. His tail was laid across his lap unlessly. He grimaced looking at the ugly purple bruise that covers the white side of his tail. It’s so noticeable, a good size. He wonders now how the hell the adults in the household haven’t even noticed yet.

He uncaps it and takes the small sponge that came with it, dragging it into the white paste. Sucking in a breath he presses softly onto his tail. Pain erupts in it immediately, Ranboo having to clench his jaw as he spreads it. He makes quick work in covering up the injury. After he is done he puts the sponge back and caps the container.

Ranboo then not so subtly flushes the toilet to make it look like he was in here for another reason before existing. He makes it to his room and closes the door behind himself, heading to shove this with the rest of his stuff under the bed. It’s worked this far, it’s clearly the best spot to hide things.

While there he drags out his notebook and pencil crayons, moving to a bare page. He’s written every time before patrol so far and he doesn’t really want to break his streak. Ranboo’s also written when he goes out and when everyone seems to head in for the night. It’s all information he uses from day to day.

Like how Wilbur’s steps are feather light and how Techn seems to thunder down the halls the few times he’s come upstairs. Both Phil and Tommy are not too loud or too quiet, it’s hard to split the two up. But he found a way by counting their steps, as Tommy’s taller and has fewer than Phil’s. He also kept note on how the last one asleep is Wilbur, as he does hear the man typing on the computer late into the evening.

Now though, Ranboo writes about Tommy’s school and the shops he visited that day. Which buses to take back here and there leaving times. Google can only help so much after all. He makes sure to make a note about the makeup and how much money it was, so he would be ready for the future. After a while of note taking though boredom starts to seep in.

He could easily play on his phone, waste the rest of the day on the internet and scroll past posts after post. But it’s been kinda suffocating in his room, hiding out in here everyday all day. Plus Phil was the only one here right now, it shouldn’t be that bad to hang around the other.

With a decision made he shoves his notebook and pencil crayons in their hiding place and heads out of his room. The moment his door opens Ranboo catches onto some noise. Following it down the hall and stairs he’s met with a woman’s voice coming from the living room. Ranboo shuffles over to the room's opening, peering inside to see what it was.

The tv was on, a news station playing out. “Hey Ranboo.” Ranboo suppresses a jolt of surprise as he turns, meeting Phil’s eyes from the doorway. He has the remote in hand, back pressed against the couch. After seconds of staring Phil gestures over to the tv, a small smile on his face. “Would you like to watch the news with me?”

“…Sure.” He agrees, making his way over to the loveseat and sitting down. Ranboo sinks into the cushions, turning to face the television. Phil turns up the volume, something about the upcoming Heros Day playing out. The two sit in silence as the reporter talks about the day a couple weeks away.

It’s after that segment that anything interesting comes on. It starts off with a helicopter view of people being dragged off into police cars, cuffs around their wrists before the camera changes to a reporter. Now Ranboo wasn’t saying the reporter wasn’t interesting, but the person next to her caught his attention.

“We are coming in live from district three after an attempted bank robbery just took place. Luckily two heroes were in the area and took out the powered robbers. I’m here with one of them now actually. A member of SBI, Ichor.” The camera turns more to the tall hero, dressed in his summer suit and all.

Ranboo can’t help but lean forward as the hero is shown, his chest moving faster as he was clearly out of breath. It wouldn’t be so jarring if it wasn’t for the fact the hero’s routes aren’t in district three. “So Ichor, can you tell us how this went down from your perspective?”

“Well I’ve handled plenty of bank robberies before, this one was just… More complicated.” Ichor then started to explain how this was harder than his others, that this was more organized. Ranboo’s eyes stayed on the tv the whole time, racking over every inch of the hero. His hands were covered in blue, goggles cracked and brown hair disheveled.

After Ichor was done talking the reporter moved back into frame, a very fake but large smile crossing her face. “Wow, that must be scary! Correct me if I’m wrong but all the robbers came from zone four, correct?”

“Yes, they did. What does-“ Ichor’s interrupted by the reporter, the camera physically turning over to her more.

“You hear it here, people from zone four were the ones doing this. And after last week's incident at the gas station too.” He frowns at the comment, the woman going on to explain more of the situation. A few times Ichor pipes in with a comment or two, agreeing and disagreeing at different parts.

He already knows this is going to be posted all over social media by the days end. “Crime rates really are going up.” Phil comments, causing him to turn to face him. He had completely forgotten he was even there .

“What?” He questions, looking between Phil and the tv.

The older man gestures generally to it, a furrow to his brows. “I’ve heard that crime rates in zone four and three have risen. It’s going to become a problem if nothing is done about it, surely.” Phil says, eyes on the news channel. And maybe it was Ranboo looking too far into it, but he couldn’t help but have his own thoughts on the matter.

“That’s not fair.” He blurts, hands fidgeting with his sleeves. Phil makes a confused sound in his throat as he looks away from the television and over to him. His face matches his tone as he looks at Ranboo like he had started talking with barks instead of words. At the look he straightens up in his seat, frown deepening. “You can’t just generalize that.”

“Generalize what mate?” Okay, so Phil clearly didn’t understand the bias there.

That’s concerning. “It isn’t zone four’s and three’s fault there’s been higher crime.” He points out. It’s not the people's faults heros refuse to help .

“Ranboo.” Phil says as he puts down the remot. “Crimes have been the highest in those areas. It’s always had been-“

“It’s not our fault!?” He yells, standing up. Something pulses around the room, the lights flickering. But he doesn’t care , anger rising up. He’s heard it plenty of times before, that zone four and three are filled with bad people. People who deserve the poor excuse of homes and apartments they live in.

That he as a little child deserved the fire that spread through his home. That licked his skin like a hundred burning fireflies. “Villains are bred there, with no hope to see the title of hero! Tell me Phil, how is a child meant to grow up in a home without food? Without their mom and dad going out to rob a store for bread!?”

He takes a deep breath in, the light returning to normal. Phil’s left there with his eyes slightly wide, staring at him like he’d killed a man. “Mate-“

“I’m going to my room.” He rushes out, turning to head towards the door. “Thanks for letting me watch the news with you.” Ranboo ignores the older man’s call to stay as he runs down the hall and up the stairs, slamming the door behind himself as he enters his room. He should have known better than to think these people understood anything about the lower districts.

He should have known that these people wouldn’t be any different then the last.

Chapter Text

The house was quiet, like it had been day after day. Phil usually worked out in the backyard in his mysterious shed, Ranboo being left to his own devices. By the time lunch came around the older man was still outside. He didn’t particularly care. He liked his peace and quiet, thank you very much.

It’s just…

Well, Ranboo was bored. Which is to say he starts to think of stupid things to do. At first it was just a small inclination, a bubble in an ocean full of water. It was nothing, really. Only a thought. But then he got up and walked over to his mirror, eyes gazing downwards at the choker around his neck.

His tail swayed behind him, pain shooting up every once in a while. He ignored it, fingers grazing the slick black jewelry around his neck. It seemed a bit tighter, a bit more suffocating. His legs itched to move, his hands fisted to do something. He read the words, curse of binding on it as the words glowed a deep purple.

The more he looked the more that small thought bubble grew. It expanded into something uncontrollable by the time he even thought that maybe what he was thinking was a bad idea. Phil was sure to come back inside, asking if he wanted sandwiches for lunch. Like he’s had done everyday. But Ranboo didn’t really want to be here when he came inside.

He couldn’t face the man after yelling in his face and storming up stairs. So with hasty steps Ranboo got out a black sweater, grey joggers and put them on, leaving his room with his phone and wallet in his pockets. He padded down the stairs with sock covered feet and marched his way into the kitchen. Ranboo remembers that they had a notepad and pen on the counter, something about a grossers list? Maybe?

He didn’t really care for its use at the moment as he grabbed both items and started scribbling on the pad of sticky paper. I’m going out for a few hours. Will be back in time for dinner. He wasn’t going to lie and say he wanted to actually come back before dinner, but he knew he’s already pushing his luck with just leaving the house without telling anyone.

With his note done Ranboo peeled it off and stuck it to the glass sliding doors. He looked past the note and into the backyard, eyes roaming the grass until he looked over at the large shed. There was a window but it was too small and too high up for him to see anything through it. It was probably meant for air flow, not to actually see out of. “Bye.” He whispers, turning around and heading out the door.

☽ ★ ☾

If he’s being honest he doesn’t know where he’s going, just that he’s heading away from home. Ranboo zones out as he walks, eyes facing downwards as he keeps his hood up. He passes honking cars and loud crowds. People bump into him from the full streets. He ignores it, lost in the void that he’s found himself in. His choker seems to tighten, yet he can still breathe.

It’s only when silence hits his ears does he jolt out of his numbness state, head moving up to look around. The streets were dirty, trash blowing in the breeze. It wasn’t as bad as zone four but it wasn’t as good as zone two either. Ranboo’s in zone three. He sighs, picking up his pace as he carries on. He needs to get away for a while and for some reason being here just felt so right.

He had no idea where his feet were bringing him or how he knew his way around the streets. He never worked or lived here long enough to know where to go. Maybe he didn’t and he was actually just fooling himself into thinking he was. It wouldn’t be the first time he faked it until he made it. And in this case he was faking that he knew where he was going.

Again, like before, he doesn’t know how long he’s been walking for. Ranboo’s pretty sure he’s gone in a couple circles. He stops at a crosswalk, hand sticking themselves into his pockets as he looks around. Then he paused, eyes widening. At the opposite corner stood a café, pink and coral coloured lights dimmed in the evening light. Its walls were a light grey, graffiti of a middle finger was painted on the side without the door.

He stifles a laugh as he looks both ways before crossing the road. The closer he got to the small shop the more he realized that maybe leaving home without lunch wasn’t the best idea. His stomach gurgled, throwing an almost silent tantrum for some food. Ranboo quickly made it over to the café, looking around for a few seconds before heading inside. The smell of fresh pastries met him as he closed the door behind himself, making him even hungrier.

He walked over to the counter. He couldn’t help himself as he looked around, gaze roaming to everything interesting he could find. The tables were far and few between, posters of deals and specials plastered all over the brick walls. LEDs crackled as some didn’t even bother to light up. He even noticed a beat up wooden bat behind the counter and a bottle of pepper spray.

It felt inviting to stand here amongst the grime. A noise from the back room made Ranboo turn his head, hands falling out of his pockets. It’s customary in the lower zones to keep your hands where others can see them. The back door opened with a groan, a woman with pink fading to yellow hair stepping out. She stopped mid-step when she spotted him waiting at the counter. “Oh, hello!” She greets, a smile forming on her face.

“Hello.” He greets back, the woman walking over to her side of the counter.

She hastily wipes her hands on a rag before facing him fully. She has to crane her neck up to meet his eyes. He can’t help but notice the lack of red eyes, meaning her pink hair isn’t natural like Techno’s was. “Welcome to Nihachu café, my names Niki. What can I get you today?” Ranboo hummed in thought, looking up at the hanging menu.

Mostly everything was in his price range, just he’ll be absolutely broke if he gets anything. Niki seems to see his hesitation as she pulls up a smaller menu, placing it down. He looks down at it, eyes scanning over the words cheapskates and deals. He locks his jaw, trying not to laugh at the mini picture of a stick figure some little kid must have drawn on it with black marker.

“Can I get a small hot chocolate and a chocolate muffin?” He asks, looking back up at the worker. Probably owner, if he thinks about how no one else seems to be here.

Niki nods, taking back the small menu. “How would you like your hot chocolate?” She asks, walking over to the back.

“As dark as my soul.” He jokes, leaning over to watch as the other works.

Niki chuckles, a loud and charming thing. “I can’t get you straight milk.” She shoots back, turning her head to look over her shoulder. Ranboo splutters, taken aback by the comment. She laughs again as she grabs a cup and starts up the machine. “How about four shots of milk?” She then says, shoving the cup underneath the machine as she presses a button.”

“Sure.” He agrees as he recovers. Niki moves about the place with ease, her steps calculated. Each one holds a meaning, each action not wasted on stumbles or forgetfulness. It’s weird to see this again, even if it’s only been around a week since he left the group home. “Say, how long have you been here? I haven’t seen you around before.” He asks, fingers tapping on the wood counter.

Niki shrugs, it being the only movement without a real purpose to her work. “A month or so. But I’ve lived here all my life. What about you? I feel like I would remember a face like yours.” She turns, looking him up and down before carrying on with her work.

“I don’t come to zone three often, I live up in…” He drifts off, lips thinning. Niki makes a questioning noise but doesn’t turn around. “I live in zone four.” He finishes off, turning to look out the windows and onto the almost empty street. “Down near the bridges.” Niki’s breath hitches at that. He ignores it, a moment later the clicking of glasses is heard.

It wasn’t every day he found someone that knew what that meant. It was quite refreshing actually. The ‘bridges’ was code for being homeless or taken by the city. As most people only went to the ones in zone four when they weren’t happy with their lives, seeing it as a last resort. It was dark, he knows. But it was how you told other people your life wasn’t in your control, it’s how zone four and three takes care of its own people.

“The nice ones?” He hears Niki ask. He knows what she really means and he feels warmth in his chest at the question. She was asking if he was okay, if he was homeless or not. Which he wasn’t. So he replied as such.

Ranboo hums, turning from the windows back to the store owner. “For quite a while actually.” He carries on. She nods, placing down a steaming cup of hot chocolate on the counter as she goes behind the display case for a muffin. She hands him the warm treat, a smile on her face. The display case must have heating in it. 

He looks down to pick up his drink, pausing when he sees the multi coloured sweats flooding on top. “I didn’t buy marshmallows.” He points out, taking the hot glass in his other hand.

Niki waves him off, a nonchalant smile on her face. “Think of it as a bribe to get you to come back, bridge boy.” With that she turns and goes to clean up her station. Ranboo turns to his drink, watching as the different coloured marshmallows swirl around. Bridge boy, wow, it’s been a while since he’s been called that. He guesses Niki’s really had been here her whole life if she knows the term.

He lifts the drink up to his mouth, sipping at it. It was good, like really good. He thinks even without the marshmallows he’d come back. He hums in satisfaction as he heads over to a table in the corner of the place, setting down his treats and cup before picking a spot for himself. It was cozy, refreshingly so. Ranboo’s been with the Craft’s for a week now, he needed some time out of his room. 

And especially away from them. Don’t get him wrong, they were nice people. Techno could cook like a master chef, Phil was all too nice, Tommy gave him his debit card and Wilbur was just a wonderful, confusing person. But they were not what he was used to. Not like Niki and her café. He let the day's anxieties wash away as he picked back up his hot chocolate, ripping it towards his mouth.

The marshmallows were amazing, he might pay for them next time he comes. Ranboo drinks his hot chocolate in relative silence, it only being broken by a noise or two coming from the owner as she moves about. He gets the feeling he caught her on a slow day. He doesn’t think a place as good as this would be empty like this all day around. His drink is gone all too quickly and Ranboo spends a couple seconds morning then fact.

Then he remembers his still warm muffin and quickly puts his drink down, licking his lips as he picks up the treat. Ranboo bites into his muffin, warm chocolate hitting his tongue. He trills happily at the taste, taking another and bigger bite. Niki’s a great baker, really. He’s about to take another bite when the door opens, catching his attention. He looks up to see two people walk in. They head right to the counter, eyes set on Niki as she wiped down something with a cloth.

He goes back to eating his muffin when his stomach growls for more. Plus, it was weird to stare at people after all. No need to be analysing them when he could be enjoying this muffin. He takes another bite, tail swaying back and forth as he does so. Does he have enough money to buy one and bring it back home for later? He’ll have to check. “Open the cash register.” The words send a shiver down his spine, his whole body flicking at the demanding tone.

Ranboo looks up in time to see the shorter person pull out a gun, pointing it right at Niki. Her hands up, eyes wide and afraid. “Now!” She demanded, turning the safety off with a terrifying click. Okay, crap. This is a robbery, this was a goddamn robbery. Before he could even think to do anything the taller person turns to him, a mask on their face to hide their identity. “Shit, there’s someone else here.” They say, shoving at the gun woman. The person looks over at him for a split second before facing Niki once more.

“The kid won’t do jack all.” She says nonchalantly. “Just keep an eye on em.” The other nodded, keeping an eye in his direction. Ranboo didn’t know what to do as he stared back, completely frozen. What was with people and guns this week!? Why not bats or pepper spray!? Those were much easier to deal with. He takes a deep breath, watching as this all unfolds in front of him.

Niki opens up the cash register, eyes snapping over to the gun woman in front of her and him. She’s shaking, he notes. Crap, this is really bad. If he was in his vigilante gear then this wouldn’t be as bad, except for the fact Niki would still have had a gun to her head. But then he would have been able to use his powers. Ranboo grits his teeth, looking over at the pool of shadows underneath the robber's feet.

He wills them to move, to bend to his will as easily as they have done time and time before. But they do nothing, not even an inch towards his direction. His choker burns to activate, burning for him to utter the words that would let him be able to control something that seemed like second nature to him. But he keeps his mouth shut and he moves his eyes back up to the attacks. He needed to do something right now, because the robbers were looking way to trigger happy.

What could he do though? What would Rover do? Ranboo looks down to the muffin in his hand, then over to the guy. He wasn’t staring at him anymore, instead he was yelling at Niki to hurry up. That was his opening. Ranboo stands, chair screeching against the floor. He rushes forward as it topples to the ground. The gun woman peers over but keeps the gun locked onto Niki.

The other though, whips over towards him. A knife glees in the LED lit café, showing his hand. Ranboo brings his arm up and whips his muffin right into the robber's face. It hits straight on, drums flying everywhere as chocolate smushes all over his eyes. Hand moving up to rub off the mess in his eyes. “What the fuck-“

Ranboo cuts the guy off with a well aimed punch to the nose, knuckles getting covered in chocolate. With the force he falls back and hits into his partner, a loud boom sounding out. Niki ducks just in time as the bullet flies above her and hits the brick walls behind her. He swallows his wince as the two fall to the ground. The runs over kicks at the robber who’s still holding the now smoking gun.

The weapon goes sliding against the floor, only being stopped by a black boot. Ranboo looks over quickly, throbbing fists raised to defend off whoever had snuck up behind him. Only to stop at seeing Niki, huffing and puffing as she bends down picks it up with shaky hands. She holds it up, aiming it at the two now would-be robbers. Ranboo quickly runs to her side, turning his attention to the two scrambling people on the floor.

“Get out of my bakery.” Niki albeit growls, finger testing the trigger. The two people scramble to their feet, pushing each other as they run out the door. Pathetic, he thinks. Didn’t even have the guts to look back at them. They stay like that for a few moments more, watching as the two run and disappear down the street. Once out of sight Ranboo relaxes his shoulders, letting out a loud and shaky breath.

“Are- are you okay?” He huff’s, turning towards the owner of the café. Now with his adrenaline disappearing fear curls around his stomach as his knuckles hurt. Without his powers and heightened strength the punch really hurt. Especially with how much weight he put behind it.

“Yes, are you?” Niki sighs, putting the gun on safety as she leaves it on the counter. Money was scattered all over the place, bills left on the counter as coins rolled all over the floor. Ranboo nods, taking a deep breath in. “Good, that’s good.” She nods, running her hands through her hair. “That was… thank you.” Niki settles on, fully turning towards him. “You saved my life there.”

At the words a hot blush rose to his cheeks. “I didn’t really do anything.” He waves her off, shaking his head. “I just threw a muffin at the guy…”

“And punched him, and got the gun away from them.” She points out with a smile. “You're a hero, Ranboo. At least to me.” He clasps his mouth shut then, his pointed ears flicking up and down in embarrassment. He hasn’t gotten a thank you before, not from someone he’s saved. His tail curls around his leg as he takes the appreciation. “You should get out of here though before the cops come.” She speaks up after the short silence, leaning over the counter as she takes out a tissue from the other side.

“What?” His eyes widened, looking over to the window. There were no sounds of sirens, how would she know cops were coming?

“There’s a built-in safety feature in the register in case the place gets robbed.” She explains, walking back over as she pushes the tissues onto his knuckles. He takes them with a whispered thanks before rubbing the chocolate off of them. “All I have to do is press a button and they get notified.” She adds on, fixing up her rattled hair. “So if you don’t want to be questioned, I suggest getting a move on, bridge boy.”

Ranboo nods, taking one last look around the place. “Are you sure you're going to be okay?” He asks then, inching towards the door.

Niki waves him off with a smile, turning around to pick up the gun left on the counter. She holds it up towards the ceiling, finger safely off of the trigger. “I think I can handle myself.” He smiles, nodding as he turns around and exits the place. Then he runs, going back the way he came down the street and across the crosswalk. He takes out his cracked phone, staring down at it. His eyes widened in horror at seeing what time it was, his feet quickening in his pace.

He’s sure if the others had his phone number there would be many missed messages. Phil was going to kill him, and he really hoped it wasn’t literally.

Chapter Text

The sun was burning an orange to pink hue, casting the streets in its golden glory. It would have been beautiful in better circumstances. Ranboo ran, heart pounding in his chest as his legs burned from the exercise. He wasn’t used to running so much out of his Lethe alter ego. When he transforms it’s like everything physically gets turned up a notch. He’s faster, stronger. His stamina wasn’t like this.

He was going to die, he was totally going to get ripped to shreds. Phil had been an amazing foster parent, A plus and all that. But now? Now he's sure the man’s true colours are going to show. He’s going to be in so much trouble. Ranboo can practically feel the anger to come across his limbs, burning and aching from hits yet to be laid out. “Crap, crap, crap!” He hisses, having to slow down once he reaches another corner.

He sucks in a large breath as he leans his hand on the building next to him, air stinging his lungs. The adrenaline from fighting off people without a disguise and the realization that it’s past sunset has worn off now. Leaving him a tired mess. He’s sure he smells like sweat and pastries. Not a good combination, let him tell you.

Ranboo looks around then, trying to find out where he was. He had just chosen the direction he came from and followed it. But after remembering in the back of his head that he had made a couple turns while in his zoned out state he realized that he was totally lost. He tugs at his hoodie sleeves, wondering where in zone two he was in. Nothing pops up, leaving him groaning in frustration.

He clicks open his phone, checking the time once again. He’d be having dinner now, sitting around the table as he listened to his foster family talk about their days. Instead he’s lost out on the streets because of his stupidity. He had just wanted some air, that was it. He didn’t want to find himself in third or have the café he was in almost robbed. At least he doesn’t have any text messages from Charlotte yet. Meaning they haven’t reported him as a run away. Small victories. 

He pockets his phone as he starts up on his jogging once more, eyes looking for anything that is familiar. The clean streets and bus stations showed nothing of value to his situation and so he kept going. Maybe he should have looked up their street number before wandering off on his own. Google maps would have been very helpful at the moment. He continues to weave past corners and shops, the sun descending further and further down the sky.

Panic slowly creeps up high into his throat, causing him to speed up. His jogging turns to sprinting, his battered breaths turned into a war for air and during it all nothing seemed to look familiar. He doesn’t bother to check the time anymore as he weaves past people, who he’s started to push past now in his haste. They curse and huff, but he moves on. Running on past them before he can get any more insults thrown his way.

Time flys in a blur, panic flooding his senses. Even the world starts to blur around him as his chest restricts. Air stops flowing into his lungs. Ranboo turns yet another corner, tripping over something hard. The world shifts as he falls forward, his ears pinning back against his skull as he lands on the hard and cold concrete. He couldn’t think about anything other than the fact he’s late.  

Ranboo could survive on the streets, he’s done so before. He was born into the world only to be kicked out of homes one by one. But he liked it at Phil’s. He hasn’t raised his voice, hasn’t hit him, hasn’t threatened him. Phil was good, he was nice. And now he’s out on the streets alone, without having told him to his face that he was leaving. And now with hands we’re throbbing his chest ached with a pain only panic could bring.

His eyes water but he doesn’t dare let any tears fall. This was his fault, he’s going to have to suck it up. Ranboo sniffles, rubbing at his eyes. “Uh, are you okay?” A voice breaks through the panic, familiar and so very needed. It brings on memories of nights running across rooftops and legs swinging over edges.

He looks up into the brown eyes of one of his closest friends. “Rover?” He whispers, sniffing once more. The vigilante in question was staring down at him, her mask covering their whole face. In the day’s dusk he could see every uneven bit of the homemade gear. Rover had made all of their masks and clearly took great effort in making hers look like some kind of sci-fi creation. Or steampunk, if steampunk and sci-fi was ever made in modern times.

Where Ranboo’s kept to his colour scheme hers was steel with air circulation mechanisms. It was two parts, each she couldn’t take off. He remembers the first time Rover unclipped the bottom part of it to take a drink of water. He and Mellohi had freaked out, thinking she was taking off the whole thing. Rover had laughed at them after, all smiles. She was wearing the whole thing right now and staring up at it was a bit threatening.

The vigilante tilts her head to the side, reaching out a hand for him. “What was that?” She asks, a professional edge to her tone. It’s then that he remembers that he isn’t Lethe right now and that the other must have no clue who he is.

“N-nothing!” He squeaks, grabbing the hand offered. Rover heaves him up with some hesitancy. To which his knees immediately buckle underneath him from all his running around.

“Shit-“ River curses, hands moving before he could even realize they were. Ranboo’s shoulders are gripped tightly, his legs shaking underneath him like a thunderstorm. He takes a breath, holds, then releases as he looks down into startled eyes. There must be something on his face, or in his teeth, because what he sees isn’t his confident teammate. Rover’s eyes are looking his face over like it was a painting.

A vwoop leaves his lips before he could stop it as he backs away from the familiar hold. Resting his arm against the building next to them. “Sorry.” He rushes out, feeling an embarrassing heat rise in his cheeks. Was his voice too similar to his vigilante’s one? Does River realize who he was? Why was she looking at him like this—

“It’s… fine.” She replies, looking him up and down. “Are you okay?” She asks for the second time, hands playing with the hoister to one of her many partially working devices. It takes a moment to understand the words. Because between his past now fading fear of Phil’s wrath and this new fear of being recognized, there’s confusion. Are you okay? It caught him off guard.

His confusion must show on his face because Rover’s explaining herself before he could even utter another word. “Your tail is brused.” She points out, gesturing to his tail. Which was currently curled around his leg for comfort. “And your walking with a limp.” She adds, looking up into his eyes.

Ranboo has to look down to confirm that yes, the cover up he did on his tail was rubbing off to show a nasty purple. The limp could easily be chocked up to his exhaustion. “Oh.” He says, like an idiot. “I’m fine, just…” He tries to rack his brain for an acceptable answer. One that won’t lead to questions and him staying for longer then he needed to. Because even if he feels so incredibly safe near the other, he can’t help the fear of being in his civilian clothes.

“I’m out for a walk.” He settles on the half truth. The other doesn’t need to know he’s curently lost.

“You were faced down in the walkway.” Rover says bluntly, crossing her hands. “And crying.”

“I wasn’t crying!” He looks away from her, feeling even more embarrassment crawl up his face. “I got dirt in my eye when I tripped.” He lies, waving his hands around.

“Uh-huh.” Rover nods, making it a point to look like she doesn’t believe a word he’s said. 

A thought popped up in his head then, one that could get him out of this. “I tripped over my tail. It’s why it’s brused.” He adds.

Embarrassment be damned, Ranboo was getting home. Rover looks down at the appendage, then back at him. “That’s not what a new bruse looks like.” She says. “And the bruse is to high up to have been stepped on.”

Ranboo blinks at the other, Rover just staring right back. “Okay.” He says simply, pushing off of the wall. “I’m going to go now.” He points the way he was going, moving to walk around the vigilante. She lets him move past her, to which he picks up his pace. The sound of a second set of footsteps has him slowing down, looking over his shoulder. “Do you… need something?” He asks.

Rover picks up her pace, matching his strides. “Nope.” She pops the ‘P’ as she says the word. “Just waking you home. You know, to prevent further trips over your tail.”

“I don’t need to be walked home.” He grumbles.

“Probably. Going to do it anyways.” The girl practically sing songs. It’s a tone he knows all to well though. The one meaning she wouldn’t be talked out of this decision she’s made. Ranboo sighs, turning to face back in front of him. He walks like he knows where he’s going, which means he heads in a straight line like it was the only path home.

After around five minutes of silence, it seems like Rover couldn’t handle it anymore. “So where am I even dropping you off?” His teammate speaks up, looking up at him.

“Home?” He supplies, to which the other looks like he’s spoken another language. Well, as good as she could with the mask on.

“Address?” Another question he couldn’t reply truthfully to.

“I don’t think telling a random person my address is a smart decision.” He rolls his eyes, watching as Rover snorts in laughter. “But really, you don’t have to walk me to my house.” He waves a hand across the two of them. He was a vigilante for crying out loud, he faced guns and steel bats with nothing but his powers and his teammates. One of which seems to think he’s incompetent. “You probably have some cool vigilante things you need to do.” He adds halfheartedly.

Now that he’s thinking about it, it’s pretty early for Rover to start patrolling. They usually start a couple hours after dinner. It just reached dinner time a couple minutes ago. Why was Rover out in broad daylight? Ranboo looked around at the thought. No one even spared them a second glance. Which was weird. Vigilantes are illegal, there should be at least someone on their phone calling the cops.

But there was no one. They didn’t even care about him talking casually with an unknown person in a mask. “Not really?” Well, that sounded like a question. “Plus, helping out a civilian find their way home sounds like a heroic thing to do anyways.” Civilian? Heroic? Ranboo squinted down at his teammate, a bubble of confusion turning in his gut. When has Rover ever cared for heroics?

That was Mellohi’s thing, not Rover’s. The girl couldn’t care less if her work came across that way. She only cared that her work was done and people were saved. Doing it was swiftly and safely as a teenage vigilante could. “So, address?” Rover asked again. She looked up at him, waiting. He looked away from her, only to freeze in his spot. Down the road, just a few long strides ahead was Techno.  

The man was talking to someone, eyes darting all across the street and in front of them. He looked panicked. Ranboo felt more air be able to get into his lungs, his shoulders slack as his tail releases one of his legs. Techno was a few steps ahead, he was here. That must mean homes close by, right? Ranboo turns to tell Rover she doesn’t need to bother taking him home, as he’s fine by himself from here. And maybe this time she’ll listen.

He doesn’t get a chance before ruby-like eyes are turning to him. Ranboo’s own eyes widen as Techno’s whole body seems to freeze. He was facing him now, standing in the middle of the walkway. He could see the older man mouth his name before he’s off. Ranboo can’t even prepare himself as Techno speedwalks over, his legs doing long strides until he’s not even a foot from him.

“Are you hurt?” Is the first thing that comes out of Techno's mouth, hands reaching out to hover over him. Ranboo blinks, startled by the words. Hurt? Why would he care, when he broke the rules? Just uh, call or text if you're staying out late, okay mate? That’s what Phil said, that was a rule. And he broke it, so why was Techno worried about him? And not yelling about how he messed up?

“Ranboo? Are you hurt anywhere?” Techno repeats, a voice growing worry.

“I’m uh…” He hesitates, hands balling into fists at his sides. The robbery flashes through his mind, how Niki looked so scared with a gun pointed at her. It’s then that he realises how scared he was. He could have been shot, because he wasn’t Lethe. He was a civilian. “I-I’m okay.” He replies, voice tight as he looks anywhere but at the older man’s eyes. He clears his throat. “I’m not hurt.”

Techno sighs, letting his hands fall to his sides. “Okay, good.” He takes a deep breath in, taking a small step back. They stand there for a minute or two, just staring at each other. Then, like Techno had just remembered that he snuck out of the house, his eyes narrowed. “Were you running away?” Ranboo flinches at the accusatory tone, taking a step back.

He shakes his head, sneaking a peak at Techno’s face. He didn’t look angry, so if he was he was really good at hiding it. “I just… I just wanted some fresh air.”

“For hours?” Techo huffs, crossing his arms. “Where were you?” The question was easy to answer, like everything else in his life.

Yet he immediately started to think up lies to explain himself. “I went to a café.” The truth slips past every known barrier he has. Techno looks at him up and down, like he was looking for the lie. And even if he had, he wouldn’t have found it. Ranboo switches his weight between his feet, taking a deep breath in. “I got lost trying to find my way back, and I don’t have any of your numbers so I couldn’t call.”

The older hybrid looks away then, seemingly to think over the words. “And the bruise on your tail?” He doesn’t even try to hide the surprise on his face as he looks down, bruised as clear as day. He knew it was visible now, the other had seen it.

“I wasn’t looking where I was going and… I fell back on it.” The half truth was harder to do, switching between lies and truths. Ranboo wasn’t as good about lying and mixing up truths, he sometimes let things slip.

“I’m taking you home.” He states, turning around on his heels. “Come on.” Ranboo lets out a surprised squeak as he nods, hurrying after his foster uncle. Techno walks with long and determined strides, not even sparing him a glance. Ranboo keeps up with him, months of tailing after Mellohi comes in handy. He keeps up just enough to be right behind the other man. They don’t talk as Techno leads him down the clean city streets.

The other does however pull out his phone and dial a number. He doesn’t bother listening in, catching the words I found him easily enough. Techno talks in hushed tones over the phone for only around five minutes before hanging up. He doesn’t call anyone else after that. Ranboo only starts to feel nervous again when he spots the house ahead of him. He slows, his strides shortening as he spots who was now staring them down.

Well, many who’s, because the whole family was standing on the small porch. He saw the moment they were actually spotted, Tommy perking up as Phil and Wilbur started descending the stairs. “Ranboo!” Phil yells, somehow being the fastest and first to meet him and Techno on the sidewalk. He embraces himself for the shouting and pain, body teasing. Phil reaches them, getting up and close with him as his hands immediately grasp his shoulders. 

Techno only spares him one more look before he’s marching up the steps of the house. “Where did you go!? You can’t just leave like that, you almost gave me a heart attack!” 

Ranboo winces, ears drooping as he hunches his shoulders. “I’m sorry.” He ushers out. Maybe apologising would make his punishment less painful. Maybe he’d just get grounded or someone.

Phil’s eyes soften, his hands dropping from his shoulders. He takes a step back, taking a deep breath in. He looks him over, his eyes watering. It kinda reminded him of the mother bears he’s seen on nature documentaries. “You're hurt.” He states after a few seconds, gaze on his tail.

Ranboo hides his tail behind one of his legs, but it is too late. He saw. And even if he didn’t there was no doubt in his mind that Techno was going to tell him. “I fell on it.” He states, getting ahead of the conversation. “I was being clumsy.” He looks past Phil then, easily finding Tommy and Wilbur waiting for him. Tommy was talking with the other, yet was staring directly at him.

Wilbur kept giving him looks, as he was focused on the blonde. “Clumsy or not, that bruise is an old one. But for now I’m going to ignore the fact you hid an injury from me as it’s late and we have better things to talk about. Like the fact you left for hours without a simple phone call.” He locked his jaw, looking down at the concrete. “Let’s head inside, Ranboo, then we can talk.”

Phil sounded weird. As he was led up the steps of the house, keeping his head down despite the urge to see what expressions Tommy and Wilbur were wearing, he couldn’t help but think about the night he’s about to have. About how Phil was going to ring him out. Yet, he didn’t sound like it. He didn’t sound like past foster parents. Phil sounded worried, disappointed and most important releaved.  

And that’s something he’s never heard before and so he’s terrified.  

Chapter Text

Ranboo remembers his first time meeting Mellohi and Rover. The two were already friends, the best vigilante duo that no one knew of. Not even himself.

Mellohi was protective, Rover was smart. The two made an amazing team. They didn’t need him.

Yet here he was, standing with them over a couple of no good thieves. Cheap masks over their face and their voice pitched awkwardly so as to not get caught.

Ranboo loved every second of being Lethe.

▫ ◾️ ☽ ★ ☾ ◾️ ▫

“You can’t do that again.” Phil states from across the table. His voice commanded respect and his eyes denied any other option. Dark and cold, an icy storm meant to be listened to. But it wasn’t hurtful. The older man wasn’t raising a hand towards him nor was his voice too loud. It was calm, calculated. His posture told Ranboo that Phil was wound-up, not in an angry way. More like this kid might just bolt kinda way.

He had a shadow, two to be exact. Wilbur was perched on the countertop to his right while Techno was leaning on it on his left. Tommy had hidden himself away in the living room, the television on but the volume was too low for the other teen to actively be watching it. Ranboo hiked up his shoulders, eyes drifting anywhere that didn’t hold another’s gaze. He felt cornered in the large kitchen slash dinner.

A sick animal ready to be played with. Techno stood with the grace of someone who didn’t seem to care. Wilbur on the other hand sat with the aora from someone who cared maybe too much. Tommy no doubt was listening in. Maybe he suspected something was going to happen. Ranboo had only been here a week, maybe Phil had a wickedly dangerous temper. He’ll have to be respectful. He doesn’t want what happened last time to repeat itself.

Wilbur sighs, drawing the attention towards himself. “No one knew where you were.” He says, eyes trained on him. Ranboo felt like he was being eaten alive by the man’s gaze. “For all we know you could have gotten into… trouble.”

Phil nods, seemingly on the same thought. “No one here had your number. Something could have happened and we wouldn’t have been able to protect you.” Protect. Ranboo almost scoffs at the thought. What were the three going to do if he ran into trouble? He did, at the café. Had a gun pointed at a civilian and everything. They wouldn’t have been able to stop that. He could. Okay maybe Techno could land a hard punch or two, the guy looked like he strangled boulders to death in his free time.

But Phil and Wilbur? They didn’t seem like they could hurt a fly. Well, maybe Phil. He still doesn’t know what kind of foster father he was. The knives and pans were right behind him… “And even if we ignore the danger you put yourself in, you have a runaway attempt on your record. And I’m sorry but if Techno hadn’t found you when he did I would have had to call the police, or at least your social worker.”

His eyes widened, hands digging into his pant leg. He hadn’t thought about that. It was so unfamiliar to him. A foster parent calling the cops only a few hours after he’s gone missing? Even when he did run, it wasn’t until days after that the call was put out. The words were like a hose being sprayed against his back, staining his skin raw until there were only icy bones left to see. Why did they think to call the cops already?

Ranboo didn’t believe it was true. “I was only gone for a few hours.” He whispers aloud. He regrets it immediately as the three sets of eyes on him harden. He flinches, shifting in his seat to be angled towards the door. “Sorry—“ He tries to apologise for speaking out of turn, but is stopped with Phil raising his hand to stop him.

“What you did was very dangerous, Ranboo.” Phil’s eyes grew colder with each word. It’s not the deathly cold of drowning. No, it was a sad kind of cold. When the snow starts to fall and the wind burns your eyes. When you have to watch everyone else play in the snow while you're told to stay inside because having fun hurts you. It’s how the adults that watched after him during recess would look like.

Then the blonde takes a breath, running his hands through his hair. “Let’s say you were kidnapped.” He starts, startling him. “The first hour is the best at saving you. I didn’t even know you were gone. That window of opportunity is thrown out. The second hour still has good odds, but you could have gotten very hurt during that time. The third hour, and here is where everything goes to shit, is around when you could be put in a cell. A basement. A house three hours away.”  

“I wouldn’t know where to start looking nor would the cops. We could have your phone traced but that could have been thrown out during hour one. Ranboo, do you understand why leaving without telling anyone where you were was a bad idea?“ It wasn't said with malice, despite how it was framed. It was glazed with worry. It scared him more than the attempted robbery at the café. 

He bit his lip, thinking it over. He wasn’t a child, he was old enough to take care of himself. He is literally a vigilante. But something in Phil’s tight and slow words caused fear to gnaw at his heart. Silence krept up between the four of them. The television wasn’t even on anymore. After what feels like forever Techno leans off of the counter. “Phil asked you a question.” He states, eyes looking away towards the living room.

Ranboo sucks in a deep breath, his thighs hurting from his nails. “I understand.” He says, not even pretending to not be looking away. His eyes dig into the wood of the table, wishing to be anywhere but here. “…I’m sorry I left without asking.” Appease him. Show respect, don’t upset. It’s how you survive. 

He hears all three adults collectively sigh. “I know. Just don't do that again, okay? No sneaking off like that-“ He can’t realistically promise that “-and if you go anywhere, tell one of us.” He nods his head, peeking up from his bangs.

Wilbur shifts to the edge of the countertop, resting his cheek in his hand, which was steadied by his knee. “And no more creepy notes.” He smiles, his brown eyes shifting off of him for what felt like for the first time since they’ve sat down at the table. He shrinks down in his seat even more at that, eyes going back to looking at anything else. He didn’t think his note was creepy…

“Are you three done?” Tommy’s voice startled him. Whipping his head away he was faced with the younger teen leaning against the doorway. His eyes set on his own. It looked like he wasn’t even paying attention to the adults in the room. “I want to steal Ranboo from you guys.” The way the words were said so casually soothed a distant part of him. Then he thinks about the actual words, shoulders stiffening. Steel him?

Techno makes a chuffing sound before pushing himself away from the counter. “Don’t break him.” Is all the older man says before leaving the kitchen. Ranboo blinks owlishly after him as the other two get up to leave. Break me? He thinks distantly.

Tommy just smiles as he waves for him to follow. Ranboo gets up from the table hesitantly. The other teen leads him towards the backyard. Which was under the glow of the setting sun. Shadows played across the backyard as he shits the door behind himself. He had to fight the urge to reach out for them, even though he knew his powers were locked while he wasn’t transformed.

“So.” Tommy starts, settling down on the back step. Ranboo shuffles closer, looking over his shoulder as the door behind him. The three adults were gone, not bothering with them at all. “Want to tell me where you went?” He asks.

Ranboo snaps his head towards the other, not thinking this was going to be another investigation or disappointment filled conversation. But instead of blue eyes he was met with the back of Tommy’s head. The boy was looking out across the green grass.

“…Not particularly.” He shruggings, despite the fact the other couldn’t see him.

“Alright.” Wait, that was it? No ordering him to spill his guts, no threats for telling Phil a lie to get him in trouble. Just, alright? “Want to tell me something else?”

He takes a deep breath in, settling down on the other side of the stairs. He looks down at his bruised tail, feeling a set of eyes move onto him. But when he looked up, Tommy hadn’t moved an inch. He frowns, turning to look across the yard. “There’s not much to say.” His eyes narrow on a patch of darkness underneath the tree in the corner, hand turning. Nothing moved, but it was worth a shot.

Tommy hums, head tilting as he sets his chin in his hand. Elbow relaxing on his knee. “Maybe why you left to begin with?” He asks.

Ranboo snorts, shaking his head. “It’s not important.” It really wasn’t, not to the other. He doesn’t need to know he has a gun pointed at him, or that it could have gone off any second. Or that he has powers, which is a whole other can of worms he doesn’t need to get into. “I just needed some air.” He lies. Lying was safe. Right.

“Those are two completely different reasons, man.” Tommy turns to face him, eyes narrowing. Ranboo shuffles a bit away from the other, eyes not meeting him. The air between them shifts as Tommy taps his fingers on his own chin. “What happened?” He adds after a few seconds, voice completely void of playfulness. 

He grabs his tail, fingers twirling the fluff at the end of it. An uncommon weight digs into his chest at the serious tone. But it wasn’t that that bothered him. It was the fact the eyes on him seemed to double when Tommy looked at him. The truth would get him to stop, right? Not all of it. Never all of it.  “Something came up on the news today. I overreacted.” He takes a deep breath, sighing. “The news reporter made the situation sound so targeted.”

“I’m guessing that’s not why you left though, is it?” Tommy splits his truth in two, digging into it and clawing at the core. It felt like an interrogation. Yet Ranboo couldn’t help but actually think of what to say that wasn’t a lie.

For the first time, he lets his heart bleed. “Phil seemed to believe her.” He shrugs, biting his lower lip. “He—I got upset, so I left to clear my head. I can’t blame him though, it’s not like he understands how it feels to live in the lower districts.” Waving his hand, he gestures towards where he thinks the edge of the district was. He wonders if Tommy knew what he was getting at.

He watched as the blonde took a deep breath in. He gives him a small smile before returning his people watching to the trees. “Just because he doesn’t understand doesn’t make it right if he still upset you.” He scrunches up his nose at that. Phil didn’t mean to, he knew that. It was his fault for overreacting. “Yes he probably didn’t mean it, but he hurt you. Didn’t he?”

The words were soft, questioning. Ranboo felt like he was going to pass out from how much faster his heart was beating in his chest. Because it hurt to hear Phil say those things. That the news reporter was right. “It’s nothing.” He spits, shaking his head. He can forget about it.

“It’s not nothing, Ranboo.” Tommy states, voice louder. He glances upwards. His face was set forward, eyes narrowed on the trees. He looked around like he was searching for something in the bushes. Tommy closes his eyes for a second, leaning onto the rails. He turns his body to face him more. “After being adopted, that was one of the first things I learned, you know. Nothing is just not nothing.”

“To you maybe…” He pitters off, flinching at the look Tommy gave him. Like whatever was coming out of his mouth was the most stupidest thing.

“How about this,” Tommy raises his pointer finger towards the sky. Like he was making a bub announcement to the hero council themselves. “If one of those three idiots upsets you, you come running to me. I’ll handle it.” Pointing to himself Tommy gives him a cocky grin.

Handle it? There’s no reason for Tommy to handle anything. Not when he’s the vigilante, the crime fighting night owl. “Why would you do that?” He asks. He hated how small he sounded. How hopeful.

The other just shrugs. “Because that’s what foster brothers are for?” He says, leaning closer. “We help each other when the adults can’t seem to understand.” That made sense in a way. But also didn’t, in its own way. Tommy shouldn’t be helping him. That’s not how it worked in the higher districts. 

But maybe Tommy wasn’t like every other kid in this district. “Okay.” Nodding, he accepted whatever foster bond was growing between them. It wouldn’t be long before it broke, anyways. “I’ll come to you next time there’s a problem.” The smile he gets back is blinding, full of life and sunlight. Ranboo has to force himself to look away so as to not get blinded. He never knew such simple words would get a reaction like that. Like he just made the other teens day.

“Great!” Tommy stands, stretching his arms above his head. He looks up at the sky, humming. “I think I’m going to head in early.” Sending him a quick wave, Tommy turns around and heads over towards the doors. Ranboo waves back, but remains seated. It was a nice evening, he wants to watch the sun set a bit more.

At least until it's time for him to patrol.

☽ ★ ☾

Sneaking out after an emotionally charged day has never failed to make him anxious. Beating up and fighting crime in a gothic looking magical girl outfit? Somehow more nerve racking. Ranboo couldn’t stop even if he wanted to though, it pumped his blood in a way nothing else would. “That’ll do it.” Pulling away from the trashing criminal in front of him he reaches up and clicks his coms on. “All done here.”

“That was fast.” Mellohi comes in, sounding out of breath. It would make sense. The streets were crawling with low level thugs tonight. “By the way have you seen Rover around? She hasn’t contacted me through the coms since I started patrolling.”

Ranboo runs across the street, ignoring the swears the tied up criminal tosses his way as he quickly gets out his notifier. “Nope. Do you think she’s skipping patrol tonight?” He types in a quick message to the cops before pressing send, leaving the scene as fast as she came.

“She better fucking not be! It’s hard as it is with just the two of us.” Ranboo snorts, shaking his head. That was true but he didn’t need to be so blunt about it. He wipes the sweat clinging to his brows as he turns to keep up his patrol. “I think I’m done here, how about we meet up and continue heading towards eighteenth—“ A loud sound cuts through the air, cutting him off from hearing whatever Mellohi had to say.

Snapping his attention up he just about catches a fire truck barreling past him and towards district sixteen. His eyes widen, red and blue lights flashing against the buildings. Even the screaming criminal shit uo to watch as the truck sped past them. Ranboo looked up towards the night sky. Nothing looked out of place, cloudy, but fine—

He sucks in a harsh breath, feet starting up before he could even think of what he was getting himself into. It wasn’t clouds. The sky was clear everywhere else. That was smoke, not clouds. “I think there’s a fire at the border of sixteen and seventeen!” He yells into the coms, chasing after the fire truck as it gets smaller and smaller into the distance.

“Wait really?? Shit, I’m at the border of eighteen.” Ranboo reached out with his hands, pulling at the inky shadows that took over in the night. He wrapped them around his own ankles and feet, anchoring himself down to the ground. With a strong pull he slides against the concrete, using the shadows as a sort of skating rink.

“If you're up high, look up into the sky. I don’t think you would miss it.” With the shadows helping him propel himself he doubles his speed as he follows the fire truck. It doesn’t take long for the smell of smoke to hit his nose. He rounds the corner, feet sliding as he lets go of his powers. He stumbles over, almost running into a building. He catches himself on the wall, eyes forward.

In front of him was a building on fire. “Mellohi.” The fire truck pulls up as close as it could, police littering the area as people are rushed out. It was a large building complex. Looking around he waits to see a family costume, but he comes up empty. “There’s no heroes here.” His voice shakes as he sneaks into an alleyway close up. “Mellohi there’s people in the building.”

“I’m going—Shit, I’m going as fast as I can!” Mellohi yells, sounding like he’s about to cough up a lung. But he hardly listens to the other. Eyes stuck on the roaring flames. His heart lurches, stomach threatening to pour over. It was warm, too warm. Was it just him or did the buildings feel closer? Alive?

The sound of flames roaring was the only noise in Ranboo’s head. Loud and dangerous, like the song of battle drums.

His bones were melting, he knew. As the fire grew closer and closer he didn’t dare look towards the kitchen. He saw stains there. Red stains.

His mother was cooking in the kitchen before everything grew too hot, to dangerous.

“Ma—mama…” He chokes on his words. Smog clogging up his lungs. “Mama?”

Ranboo shook as he watched as fire fighters stormed in the building, tail thrashing from side to side. Where were the hero’s? How come he was here before them? People were crying, screaming. And yet he stood there doing nothing but watching it burn. Why couldn’t he move!? And why did it feel so familiar!? Why did his mind tell him he was going to die if he ran in there?

“Lethe where did you go! You’ve gone quiet!” He whines, fingernails digging into the palms of his hand.

“I’m—I’m here.” He stutters out. Slowly he forced himself to move, foot stepping closer towards the blaze. Right now he didn’t matter. People were in trouble. He wasn’t Ranboo, he was Lethe. Lethe the best vigilante in district seventeen. And people needed his help. Biting his tongue he grabbed at the shadows once again and with one strong pull shot himself forward.

He ignored the shouting of the firefighters and the police who told him to turn back. He was a vigilante. This was his duty.

Chapter Text

Ello ello my lovely readers, some of you probably know where I’m going with this. 

This work is discontinued.  

I’m just slowly starting to get into different fandoms, and as I do, the idea of long-form stories in this fandom seems very daunting.  

I'm sorry for any of you who are upset by this, but it wouldn't be good writing if I forced myself to do stuff that didn’t make me happy anymore. 

I won't stop writing however, there will be other things! More spread out probably, cause I'm still in college but I'm not falling off the map completely. 

I hope the years I’ve spent writing for this fandom have improved your guy’s mental health as much as it had me. 

To answer some questions y’all might ask me if you follow me across platforms and fics; not all of my Dream smp fics are getting discontinued but the ones that are staying are having a re-write due to recent events I’d like to not get into. So it might take awhile for me to start where I left off, sorry about that. 

Aside from being in college for the first time I also have to focus on my physical health. 

Y’all don’t know this but I have a few things I need to keep in mind when it comes to my body, as I’ve gotten older I’ve realised spending all day writing on my ipad isn’t healthy (duh) and that if I don’t make an effort to be healthy now it’ll get harder for me in the future.  

So when I do write it might not be as often as I used to. Some of you have probably already noticed. 

So you don’t have to go digging, these are all the fics that are getting discontinued: 

Moving On From The Secrecy, It Was Never Once My Choice.

(This is getting deleted as it only had one chapter, you can still read it however in my bin of forgettables as I’m sending it there) 

My Oh So Little Champion. 

Everything That You Are, I Will See. 

The Final Pieces. 

The Crazed Trio Of Logstedshire. 

I am currently on the fence about A Second Go Around, Tommy’s Final Chance, so that’s just on pause for now. 

I’ll be making one more post on this fic explaining the plot and lore I had planned for those of you interested, might take a while for me to get everything. 

If you have any specific questions about this fic I can answer in the next update please ask, this will be your only chance. 

See y’all next chapter, for the final time on this story.