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Tubbo was furious.
No, no, no. That's an understatement.
Tubbo was going to smash Ranboo's stupid head on the fucking pavement and make carbs out of his insides.
Yeah, that's more like it.
"C'mon mate" Tommy patted him on his back. "It's not... that bad. We still could fix it!"
"It IS that bad!" Tubbo shouted, gesticulating rapidly around his garden. What does he mean, not that bad?? Dirt got on everything - that alone is a whole day of cleaning - grass was mismatched, ripped out and placed elsewhere and he clearly saw some flowers missing. "And he stole some! For fucks sake, what does the bastard even need them for?? Why would Ranboo, out of all people, need my fucking petunias?!".
"Tubbo, get down." Tommy spoke expectantly. Tubbo rolled his eyes, his wings buzzed in response. "With that attitude you're going to give yourself an aneurysm and that's at best."
"Geez!" Tubbo lowered himself to the ground and looked up to the blonde, who was now smirking. Dickhead. Tubbo pouted, upset. "What got into you, you sappy twig? Too much time around Phil?".
Tommy promptly ignored his remark, instead jumping his way. His feathers puffed as he-
"Fuck the garden Tubbo! Yeah, it sucks - we'll deal with it later, let's go confront Ranboo first!"
Tommy screamed and yeah, that sounded more like Tommy. Tubbo glanced over the garden; Tommy was right. He did not want to take care of all of that now. Too much of time and effort he didn't have just yet.
"Alright. But remember to hold me back if he suddenly stops moving. I don't want to deal with jail."
"Don't worry, I'll help you hide the body."
They chuckled and Tubbo felt some tension leaving his body. But still, his mind was running twenty per hour and he couldn't help but to feel a bit hurt when looking at his broken garden. He spent quite some time to make it nice, everyone on the server knows that he doesn't like anyone entering it without his knowledge and it's really crystal clear that he's a bee! He needs those flowers to regenerate! Hell, Ranboo kept similar rules regarding his base, why did he just disrespect Tubbo like that? There was no mistake, it only could've been him. The claw marks, dirt misplaced in a way only silk touch can do, but with familiar hand marks underneath.
And on top of that, he and Tommy found a gold earing, laying somewhere in dirt. And guess who's the prick that won't let anyone even come near his jewelry?
"I just don't understand why." Tubbo frowned.
"Because he's a dickhead, that's why."
"Yeah, but he's mostly been only sassy. And that" he once again swung his arm, pointing lazily to the garden. "is just plain mean."
"Ranboo is just plain mean." Tommy deadpanned. "Let's see what he has to say for himself, then!"
"Okay." He piped down and after few seconds of contemplation, spoke again. "I was really starting to trust him."
"Aw man, it's alright. We'll deal with it, alright?"
"Okay. We'll deal with him."
[...]
They left the garden shortly, heading straight to the pub. Tubbo didn't speak much, already tired and pissed off, but Tommy tried his best to crack some jokes. Make him feel a bit better. Tubbo appreciated it a lot.
They went up (Tubbo flied and Tommy clung up the ladder, helping himself with his short-spanned wings, not wanting to 'look like a wet chicken' after going up the water elevator) and even before they've entered the pub, they've heard conversations beaming from inside.
Tubbo stopped right before the doors to prepare himself mentally.
Tommy didn't. Instead, he patted Tubbo on the back and barged in through the door, wailing obnoxiously, "RANBOOO!'
He might as well.
Tubbo close the doors shut, a loud THUD! shook the pub, many eyes turned their way. Phil was there, sending them an amused, concerned look; Niki, trying to see through her glass window, Wilbur, flashing out and into existence and of course, the bastard himself.
They've spotted Ranboo at the same time. Sitting in the corner like a fucking creep, in his usual self, with jewelry stacked onto him, one missing earing; Tubbo clutched the second one in his pocket. But otherwise, the guy looked harsh. His hair messily tied up in in the back into a tangled braid, tied with unusual rubber band instead of the golden ribbon they always made fun of him for. The white poet shirt not ironed, folding in on his chest.
He was still wearing his mask, hiding all features under his eyes, yet Tubbo still noticed eyebags underneath them. Ranboo looked his way. Tubbo didn't dare to look away.
Ranboo didn't even look guilty. It sickened him.
"What's your deal, man?!" Tommy screamed. Tubbo put a hand on his arm, stopping him in his tracks right before the table. "You're a fucking prick, why'd you that to Tubbo?! You well know how much it meant to him!"
"What?"
"Don't fucking what me now-"
"Tommy, shut the fuck up." Tubbo butt in. His attention turned to Ranboo, who's eyes were jumping between them, with clear confusion visible even despite most of his face staying hidden. "We've seen the garden already, don't play dumb with me, Ranboo. We know it was you, it's so fucking obvious you might've as well written your name there and it wouldn't have made a difference."
Ranboo's eyes widened in a sudden realization and filled with something Tubbo couldn't quite name. His ears dropped down though, now pointing down like a beat up dog.
Unusual. Strange. Where's the snarky attitude?
"Cat got your tongue?" Tommy taunted, slamming his hands on the table before sitting down.
"You've already seen it, what else is there to say?" Ranboo bit back, voice bitter and hoarse.
"Geez man, at least show some remorse." Tommy was starting to sound serious, his voice going dangerously down. A bad sign for anyone involved. Tubbo has known him long enough to know that quiet meant trouble. Loud meant normal. And Tommy was getting quiet.
Now it was Tubbo who intervened. Ranboo's eyes switched his way and he felt the anger once again rushing to his veins.
"No, we're not doing it like that. Why the fuck did you do it?" he screamed, wings buzzed along. "We all know you're a dickhead, we all know you did it, why aren't you saying shit? Speak up, for fucks sake! At least say why! Explain yourself, Ranboo!"
"Girls, stop fighting" Wilbur shouted, watching them calmly. Probably deciding if he should intervene, Tubbo assumed. Ranboo flinched at that remark.
Ranboo was weirdly silent. His eyes were all over the room, landing once in a while on one of them, but never setting anywhere for long. Now he glanced at Tubbo and scrunched his eyebrows. Tommy threw in:
"You're a fucking moron! At least answer him, bitch!"
"There's nothing to add!" Ranboo raised his voice, throwing his hands and stopping himself midway. "Yes, I fucking destroyed your garden, yes, it's broken, yes, you can be mad at me. What else do you want me to say?""
"Sorry would be enough. Or a reason, goddamit!"
"There's no reason."
He moved uncomfortably saying that. His tail was now swinging nervously behind him in a weird manner, so out of character for him. Tubbo would be worried if he wasn't so hurt himself.
"Liar!"
Tommy screeched.
And then jumped forward.
Ranboo flinched in his seat, shielding himself with his arms.
Not enough.
Tommy swung angrily, punching the hybrid straight in the face. Tubbo pulled him back, Wilbur appeared right beside them. Tubbo instinctively got his own fists up, ready to fight back, but Ranboo only held his own face, pain visible in his eyes.
And Tubbo hated to say it, but oh, what a sight for sore eyes!
Wilbur was screaming something to Tommy, holding him by arms.
"Take them somewhere else" Phil commanded Wilbur, patting Tommy's back, going to examine Ranboo. Ranboo, sitting still in the corner, not making any sound. Phil's movements were cautious, as if approaching a wild animal.
Tubbo clearly remembered the first time Ranboo appeared in the pub. Phil treated him the same way then. Carefully. With a knife to his back, gently and kindly, like he always welcomed people in, but watching Ranboo's every movement.
Tubbo remembers asking him about this. "He's dangerous" Phil answered him then, and warned him. "Enderians are really dangerous when provoked, okay? I'm not trying to raise paranoia, but promise me you'll be careful around him."
Tubbo promised. He talked with Tommy later. Apparently they all got the talk. They all watched Ranboo a bit more distantly the next day, shared the same hidden glares. Ranboo never tried anything, but it was established; don't provoke Ranboo.
The boy in question stared seemingly into nowhere. Vision clouded with an uncertain emotion Tubbo couldn't quite name.
And Tubbo? Tubbo was shaking. With fury, anger, hurt.
"Come on" Wilbur said to him, pulling at his arm. "Let's go to the next room, okay? Get hot chocolate. Relax, sounds good, king?"
Yeah. It did sound good.
"Your earing" he uttered to Ranboo, who's gaze now seemed to tunnel focus on him. And for some reason, it gave him goosebumps. Tubbo took the thing out of his pocket and slid it across the table. "I found it in the mud."
He turned back on his heel. 'King', Wilbur stole that from Tubbo. Funny how that was the thing he focused on right now.
Ignoring Phil's hushed voice, trying to figure out what happened. Tommy's shouts, covered by Wilbur's attempts to get them both out. Ranboo's aggravating silence.
"Yeah" he said blithely, following Wilbur's footsteps. "It does sound nice."
[...]
Phil finally walked into the room.
They've been sitting there for quite some time now, hot chocolates in hands, blabbering about different methods of punching people with Wilbur in lead. Tommy seemed to be keen on it. Tubbo was listening too, rarely tuning in, but his mind was still in the second room. He was waiting for Phil in hopes that maybe Ranboo said anything to him.
This whole thing was so unnatural. Something was off and Tubbo couldn't quite put his mind on it, but it all was so out of character for Ranboo, always full of energy, snarky and generally quite a harmless menace. But he's never done anything actually harmful before.
Or maybe he just didn't really know Ranboo and made up in mind his own picture of how he wanted him to be.
"He went home" said Phil. "And told me that he apologizes to Tubbo for what he's done."
"Great" drawled Tommy, arms crossed on his chest. "And after all of that, he couldn't even say it to your face."
"You shouldn't have punched him."
Phil stated, scolding. Tommy huffed, his feathers puffed up with him. Wilbur smirked slightly.
"Have you seen what he's done to Tubbo's garden, though? And didn't say sorry, or even why!"
"I haven't, actually" Phil agreed, "But you shouldn't go around punching people anyway. What did he do?"
"Left my garden in shambles. Dirt everywhere, misplaced, ruined. It will take at least two days to bring it back. Stole some flowers, don't know what for. Phil, did he mention anything else?"
"No." Phil shook his head, voice clearly surprised. "Just said he's going home to treat the bruise. I didn't want to stop him."
"Why did he do it?" asked Wilbur.
"No clue! That's the thing! He did it for no good reason! It's plain mean!"
Tommy screamed again.
"I'll try to talk to him when he comes back, alright?" Phil promised. Tubbo nodded his head, the tension left him already.
"We'll fix the garden together, alright?" The same couldn't be said about Tommy, still jumpy in his seat. Just as mad as Tubbo, if not more.
Tubbo smiled. He was so glad to have Tommy on his side.
They stayed at pub for the rest of the day, let go of the conflict for the time given.
Waited for Ranboo to come back.
He never did.
It wasn't until the first star showed up that Tubbo's gone home, utterly exhausted. And noticed something right on his doorstep, he squinted, flying from afar, trying to recognize the object.
Only to land in front of fresh, colorful flowers, settled in different clay pots.
...Huh?
[...]
And yet, he decided to ignore them and simply went to bed. Sleep came to him naturally; it felt blissful to be able to simply close your eyes and fade away. Lay relaxed till the morning comes, forget your pains in stars, lay right with moon. Especially after a long day, sleep welcomed him with opened arms. But today clearly wasn't Tubbo's day.
Apparently, today's night wasn't either.
He awoke with a semi-loud thud in his room. Obnoxious enough to wake him, probably not enough to even be heard outside the room. A quiet vwooop followed and he felt a familiar pair of eyes watching him.
Tubbo sat up, annoyed, ready to go out even in the middle of the night, despite his sleepiness. They had a rule, everyone was supposed to knock on everyone's doors before entering. They set it up mostly since some people flashed through walls and some teleported. And apparently the latter disrespected it. Not the first time today, apparently.
"What are you doing here, Ranboo?" he mustered, rubbing his eyes. No response. He turned his head up.
Only to see Ranboo, standing in front of him, clutching a blanket in his hands like his life depended on it; knuckles white, shaking so hard he could barely stand.
"Oh, wow." Tubbo let out, anxiety rushing slowly through him, waking him up immediately. "Uh, yeah, yeah, you're alright, big man? I mean... Whatchu 're here for?"
Ranboo didn't respond. Only lowered his gaze to the floor, eyes flickering, not able to pinpoint on one spot. Tubbo breathed out quietly and went to get up. Ranboo flinched visibly. Tubbo stopped midway.
"It's okay", gosh, he was so awkward. Why was Ranboo here? Did something happen? Or was he just... like this? If so, he should've gone to Tommy. He was better with feelings. Or to Wilbur, the most eloquent of them all, amazing with words. Goddamit, go wake up Phil! Tubbo wasn't good at cheering people up! Once he and Tommy accidentally killed a small bunny, crashing into it's hole while on a flying session. Tommy cried for a week straight. Tubbo, being the great friend he was, anxiously muttered then that 'at least the bunny will be tasty'. Phil told him of Technoblade later that day. Wilbur still sometimes reminds him.
No time for reminiscing now. Tubbo, cautiously this time, stood up. Ranboo's head shot up at the sudden movement. His tail was swinging furiously and Tubbo just realized the boy wasn't wearing his mask. Fear was written clearly on his face, almost cartoonishly expressively. Tubbo profusely averted his gaze, taken aback by the abrupt realization. No time for that either.
"Hey, it's alright. It's okay. Let's calm you down first, okay? It's okay, we'll talk later, okay? It's okay."
"I-" Ranboo stuttered out, gasping loudly. Like even talking was painful.
"Yeah?" Tubbo answered, softly. Trying to hide how terrified he was, helping someone he didn't know how to help.
"..."
Hyperventilating, Ranboo closed and opened his mouth a few times, in the end giving no real response beside few Enderian chirps. Visibly frustrated, he once again lowered his head.
"Take your time. I'm with you."
"Tubbo,"
Ranboo finally managed out.
"I'm with you."
"I-I have a quest- question. A re, request."
It sounded painful too. Like he was barking out words, stuttering over them and barely catching a breath in between. Should Tubbo stop him? Let him calm himself down first, worry about that later?
Curiosity won.
"Yeah?"
"Can I stay with you?"
Ranboo whispered, barely louder than his own breath. For a moment, Tubbo had to analyze each word, to put them together before understanding them as a whole.
"...Like, here?"
"Ten minutes". Ranboo was shaking. "For- just for ten minutes, can we- could we pretend that I'm- that you all don't hate me? Can I stay with you, ten minutes, and I'll leave then, but please, please-"
"It's okay Ranboo, you can stay with me."
Tubbo reached out, slowly walking his way. Ranboo took a step back, inhaling air with a loud vwoop, some particles shot up. Was he averted to...?
"Ranboo" he started. Ranboo didn't react at all. "Can I touch you?"
Silence grew over them, only sometimes broken by soft humming of particles - a sign of his enderpearl going off - tiny warbles and air, disturbed by swinging tail. Tubbo thought of getting his wings out. Decided not to in the end.
"I suppose" he muttered out after a long while. Should Tubbo jest take that for a yes? It didn't seem like a full yes.
"You sure?"
"Sure." Ranboo repeated. For god's sake.
Tubbo reached out again. Ranboo didn't move that time. Resting a hand on his arm, a sudden thought raced through his mind. Dangerous, he remember Phil saying. With that expression on his face boy looked nothing like danger. He never did. Ranboo's plain mean, Tommy said earlier that day. Sure, he was rude, he was tacky, but never actually wronged anyone before.
Mean, dangerous people didn't look like that. There usually wasn't that much fear on their faces. They usually don't come to others in the middle of a night, with only a blanket and a glimpse of hope.
Pulling him softly, Tubbo muttered:
"It's okay, it's alright. Let's get you to sit, okay?"
Embracing his back awkwardly with his other hand, he leaded him to the bed. Only under his touch, Tubbo realized how badly he was actually shaking. Mustering something under his nose, trying to fill up the silence comfortingly, he helped him sit down.
Ranboo moved like a puppet. Not protesting under his touch, but also not doing anything out his own will. Gaze flickering around. Tubbo assumed that his mind wasn't really with them anymore.
He patted the boy on his back. Ranboo stiffened uncomfortably, visibly coming back from wherever he was beforehand. Tubbo didn't do it again after that.
"I'm sorry."
Ranboo whispered softly, in a tone didn't suit him at all.
"It's okay" Tubbo said instinctively, but added, a bit embarrassed. "... What for?"
Ranboo looked at him perplexed for a second, and then averted his eyes again.
"Bothering you. Des- the garden."
"Don't worry about it. It wasn't that important. I'm not mad anymore."
"But it was!" Ranboo stressed out, cutting right through his lie. Yes, it was important, of course it was. But not that important to have crying sessions over it. "It was- it was important, it was important to youu and I should've done something, I could've- but I didn't know how to- and, and-"
"Hey, calm down" he stepped in, fidgeting nervously with his hands. "It's alright. I'm really not that mad anymore, okay? We need you to calm down first. Yeah, I liked the garden, but it's not something we can't repair, okay? Just breathe. Count in to five breathing in, count to seven breathing out. Follow me. One..."
He held his hand, massaging it softly, counting. In, and out. And Ranboo breathed, slowly relaxing with every breath. His pained expressions steadily decreased, replaced bit by bit by a tired face, the same Tubbo noticed today in the pub.
Once silence filled the room again, he decided to address the elephant in the room, not wanting the boy to blame himself any more.
"I should say sorry to you too. Tommy shouldn't have punched you, that was shitty."
"But you've got all the rights to be upset. You worked hard for it."
"Told you, it wasn't that important!" Tubbo shouted, instinctively. Well, that's hanging out with Tommy for you. Keeping his voice down not to scare Ranboo again, he continued. "I was more mad that you didn't tell me why you did it. Cause surely, there must've been a reason. I was upset, because it seemed like you did it for the sake of it. But I don't think you've done it just to be mean. Am I wrong? Can you tell me why did you do it?"
For a second, he worried that it came out a bit too harshly. But Ranboo only sighed and clutching the purple blanket, he closed his eyes, contemplating.
"I-" he started, but stopped himself quickly. Continued few seconds later, now speaking slowly and quietly, choosing words carefully. "Last night, I may have... panicked, a bit. I didn't mean to end up in your garden. I teleported by instinct and, well- Enderians have this, um, this instinct of picking up blocks, dirt, usually, and placing it somewhere else, you know? An instinct to hold, the um, stuff. It helps me calm down. And- it's usually grass that works best. Grass works best and flowers too, sometimes. So, yeah, I'm sorry, I wasn't really aware of what I was doing. I'm sorry."
"So you were having a panic attack and teleported to my garden by a mistake, and then your Ender side took over and you calmed down with flowers?"
Tubbo summarized. Ranboo looked away, flustered. "You could say so" he muttered out.
"And we jumped you over it?"
"You had all the right to be mad!" Ranboo butted in. "I should've had done something, tell you- I don't know, but-"
"Ranboo, can I hug you?"
"... Okay?"
He didn't sound sure, but Tubbo didn't ask again this time. Struggling his hands under Ranboo's arms, he held him firmly by the back, pulling in closely. Hiding his face somewhere between his chest and collarbones.
He stiffened visibly, returning the hug few moments later, awkwardly putting them around Tubbo's back.
"I'm sorry" Tubbo said, not letting go for a second.
"It's okay." Ranboo whispered back.
"Oh, how quickly the night changes."
Ranboo chuckled slightly and Tubbo smiled slightly, just glad that he wasn't panicking anymore.
"I thought you didn't like touch," he stated.
"I could say the same thing 'bout you."
"Yeah, but you say that even to Tommy and I have never seen only one of you present at the same time."
"Okay, dickhead. Enjoy the moment and stop complaining."
Tubbo patted his back softly. Ranboo finally relaxed his shoulders. Tubbo felt his breath on his hair.
"I should leave. Thank you for this."
He whispered at some point.
"You're not going anywhere."
"...Excuse me?"
"Can't you stay the night here?" Tubbo asked, finally stumbling out the hug.
"You don't want me to leave?"
"Ranboo, I just calmed you down from a panic attack. Of course I don't want to throw you out. "
Tubbo stated the obvious. By the state of Ranboo's confused face, it was not so obvious to him. Apparently.
"But I've been nothing but a problem-"
"You've been nothing but misunderstood. I think. Stop arguing and go lay down."
Ranboo went silent. His tail perked up.
"I still need to change."
"Okay, then change. I'll look away."
"I-" Ranboo moved uncomfortably. "You don't understand."
"Enlighten me."
"I'm binding."
"...Oh."
A silence grew over them. Ranboo stood up. Tubbo pulled him by his arm.
"Go change and come back. It's okay, bossman."
"It is?"
Tubbo never heard so much hope in anyone's tone before.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
Ranboo chuckled lightly and smiled sadly. "Well, it's not okay for some people."
"Some people are dickheads!" Tubbo huffed. "Do you want me to keep it a secret? I mean, not like anyone would care, but you know, it's your choice, really."
"Yeah, I'd prefer if you did."
"Okay." A sudden realization flashed through his mind, his heart dropped a bit by that thought. "Is that why you were having the panic attack? The night before, I mean?"
"What? No." Ranboo giggled. "I don't care about it that much anymore."
"Do you want to talk about why you were panicking?"
"Not much to talk about" he spoke reluctantly. "I missed home. That's all."
"It seems like a big reaction for missing home."
"I can't come back there. I was... banished.
He turned to whisper again. Tubbo didn't interrupt him.
"It was an accident, but a costly one. I would've been hanged, probably. But they banished me instead, because I am, in fact, the third heir to the throne. Told me it would be good for me to socialize in the Overworld."
"I'm sorry to hear that. You... Why were you banished?"
Ranboo didn't answer. Only whispered heart-breakingly, voice shaky. More to himself than to the world outside. "I really tried to stop him."
Tubbo patted him on the back, held him just a bit closer.
Silence wasn't that awkward anymore, when they stayed like that, hunched over, with no need for further words. Ranboo left closely after.
Tubbo let out a sigh, falling onto the mattress again.
...What a long, long night.
+ bonus
Tubbo didn't need an alarm clock, usually. Not because he was a morning bird, no no no, nothing like that. He didn't own an alarm clock, because one came over everyday just to obnoxiously strangle him out of bed, cussing him out like a sailor.
That's what awoke him today too. A scream, heard even through walls. He went to get up, only to realize he was being tightly held still in an embrace he didn't want to break.
Ranboo looked peaceful, for once. What a wonderful sight, yet so unnatural. They shared so many words yesterday, yet Tubbo didn't feel like he got to know him any better. Truly, an enigma.
A force bashed in through his doors, but before the boy could get out another scream, Tubbo spoke in a half-hushed, raised tone:
"Shut up, he's sleeping! Be mindful."
Tommy stopped halfway through, with a perplexed look on his face.
Tubbo, in real time, could see the moment he noticed Ranboo. For a few seconds, there were no real emotions on his face. Only a mindless, crestfallen grimace. Wide eyes turned to stare at Tubbo, an unspoken question visible on his face.
"I think we've missed few chapters?"
Tommy said, letting out a soft what the fuck under his nose right after.
Tubbo answered, barely holding in the laughter.
"A whole book, I'd say."