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Things were going well so far. Techno had gotten Dream out with relative ease and totally owned those prison guards.
Sure, Techno was technically here for Dream. But it was nothing more than repaying a favor. There was something much more important here. Someone much more important here.
"Techno! We need to go!" Dream shouted, clearly antsy.
Techno supposed Dream's feelings made sense. The man had spent the past 11 months in that wretched cell, being tortured for several of those months. He was afraid of failing now, being stuck in this prison for the rest of his days.
But Techno really didn't care. A part of him knew Dream deserved it. The part of him that had noticed Tommy's total fear of the man. The part of him he tried to avoid before chat gave him a headache over it.
"No, Dream. You know we need Ranboo."
"I don't care about Ranboo! He can figure things out himself!"
"Then go and get out yourself. See how long you last."
Dream didn't respond to that. He reluctantly followed Techno as the piglin pulled out the blueprints.
"The other cells should be right here."
Dream spoke again, "Why do you even care so much about Ranboo anyways? I thought you only cared about Phil."
"This is gonna take some tactical mining," Techno said, ignoring Dream's question.
Techno pulled out some milk and his trusty pickaxe. Here goes nothing.
"Hey guys."
That wasn't Ranboo.
"Thanks for coming to get me, I really appreciate it. I do not wanna be here anymore," Techno recognized the voice as ConnorEatsPants.
"Oh my god…" Techno could hear Dream's frustrated sighs.
Dream was starting to get on Techno's nerves. Mr. "Attachment is Weakness" couldn't understand that other people actually meant something to Techno and couldn't bear waiting five minutes to save them.
"Why are you even here?" Techno found himself very confused.
"Stolen valor. A fake military ID at a Chick-Fil-A is not a good idea," Connor admitted.
Every moment in this interaction was making Techno more and more confused.
"Alright then, Connor you're coming with us!" Techno placed a lever and pushed down on it, setting Connor free after who knows how long.
After leaving Connor's cell, Techno set his eyes on the cell he would never admit out loud that he actually wanted to break into. Ranboo's.
The boy sat in the corner of his cell. So deep in thought that he hadn't yet noticed the chaos around him. He seemed… content? Yet afraid? Techno didn't have time to further think about his expression as he noticed the hideous prison uniform that Ranboo was in. It was like the stereotypical ones you'd always see, a standard short sleeved orange jumpsuit. It was very weird seeing Ranboo like this, the hybrid would have never been caught dead in short sleeves. Techno always assumed it was due to the arctic's brutally cold climate, but the burn marks that littered Ranboo's arms suggested a different reason.
What the hell were those doing there? They'd have to talk about that later. But right now he just needed to get the kid out first.
"Ranboo! Ranboo, we're here to break you out." Techno's voice jolted Ranboo out of his thoughts. The kid looked up, now wide eyes briefly meeting Techno's before darting away.
"Oh, hey Technooooo," Ranboo spoke slowly, processing the scene in front of him.
"Techno! We don't have time for this! We gotta g-"
"Shut up, Dream!"
The yelling made Ranboo flinch. Techno death glared Dream before crouching down to appear less threatening when speaking to the kid.
"So, why are you here, Techno?" Ranboo seemed far too calm given the situation.
"To break you out?" Techno thought it seemed obvious enough why he was here.
"But-"
"Come on, I've got gear for you."
"Techno I-"
"Come on guys, we need to hurry up if we want to get out here without much trouble."
"Please I can't-"
"They're all probably out there by now. We gotta b-"
"I'm not leaving!"
Ranboo's sudden loudness surprised Techno. Ranboo had always been so soft spoken and polite, it felt wrong to hear him shout.
"Alright then, let's go!" Dream was incredibly impatient, brushing over the fact that there was definitely something wrong with Ranboo right now.
"Dream, calm down for two seconds or I'll send you right back to that cell. Now what do you mean, Ranboo?" Techno's tone quickly changed depending on who he was talking to. He was no Phil, but he was forced to learn a few things about comforting a child from his time with a certain unspoken blond.
"I- I need to stay here, Techno. Please? It's better for everyone this way. Now please leave, before I waste more of your time. You're clearly in a rush," Ranboo's words frightened the seemingly unshakable Techno. What did he mean he needed to stay here? How in the world was it better?
Why did kind, awkward, Ranboo need to be here? Techno deserved to be here more than Ranboo ever had.
He thought back to when Ranboo first moved into the arctic:
The kid was so scared and confused. He thought about the fine axe in his hands. A gift from Ranboo, the kid had evidently worked incredibly hard on it. Though Techno would never admit it, the kid's "rent" had meant the world to him.
Ranboo had always given Techno gifts, he always magically knew when Techno was low on supplies and took care of the arctic when Techno and Phil were away.
Ranboo had risked himself to ensure Techno's safety when Bad had tried to rope Techno into the Eggpire.
Techno and Ranboo had been on many adventures together. They had discovered the extent of Ranboo's powers together. Ranboo had let Techno keep the first spawner without hesitation. They feasted on infinite cake.
Techno smiled fondly when he thought of that day.
...
Techno was going to murder Sam later for whatever he had put into this kid's head.
"Kid, whatever Sam told you earlier isn't true. Let's get you out of here and we can talk about this later."
Ranboo chuckled, "Techno, you don't understand. Sam didn't tell me anything. Quite the opposite, actually. I told Sam to put me in here. Months ago, actually. It just took a bit of convincing, and here we are."
Ranboo stood up and grinned fondly as he told Techno these things.
"So please leave now. It's better for everyone." Ranboo repeated what he said earlier, but it didn't make any more sense to Techno.
"Why would you possibly need to be here, Ranboo?"
"I've been keeping many secrets, Techno. I've been doing terrible things without knowing it. I can't even tell you what they are, Techno. I'm a dangerous monster. I could hurt everyone I care about and I won't be able to do anything to stop it. Except for this."
Ranboo said the last sentence with excitement. Like when you finally find the answer to the problem that's been bugging you for ages. Like he'd finally found a solution. But Techno knew that Ranboo's imprisonment would only bring more problems.
"Ranboo, I can assure you that you aren't dangerous," Techno said in an attempt to comfort the teen.
"I can assure you that what you just said could not be any further from the truth," Ranboo replied coldly. How in the world could Ranboo think he was dangerous?
"I've been experimenting, Techno. I've learned terrible things about myself. I've learned about what I'm truly capable of, Techno. It terrifies me. Every minute of my life it haunts me. But now, everyone is safe!"
That was a lot to unpack. Experimenting? What had this poor kid gone through without Techno knowing? What had this poor kid done to himself without Techno knowing?
"You know, at first, I really didn't want to be in prison, Techno." The kid continued. Techno could faintly hear Dream's frantic yelling and begging to leave already in the background, but he could only focus on Ranboo right now.
"I went to such drastic measures to try and fix it all without coming here. I've done it all; I've forced myself into the state where it all happens, I've dunked myself in water. Nothing worked, not even death!" Techno could hear Ranboo's frustration, still present after who knows how long it had been since these things happened. And Techno would have never known. How had Techno never seen the signs that the kid clearly wasn't alright?
"Hold on. Death?"
"I- it was nothing, really."
"Ranboo, did you kill yourself?"
"I had three lives, it was fine-"
"Ranboo, you killed yourself! That is not fine!
"Anywaysss, now I don't have to live in fear of myself anymore!" Ranboo desperately tried to change the subject.
"Can't you please just let me have this, Techno?" Ranboo's voice wavered as he begged him to do something he could never do in good conscience. Techno didn't care if the teen thought this would make him happier, the piglin knew this wasn't true.
"You don't deserve this, Ranboo."
"Did you not listen to anything I just said?"
"You're wrong, kid."
Ranboo was clearly caught off guard by Techno's response. Techno couldn't tell if it was due to the belief that everyone agreed with him, or if Techno had done such a bad job at being Ranboo's friend that the kid believed he would let him rot in the prison.
"You aren't a monster, Ranboo. You aren't willfully doing these things, so how am I supposed to blame you for whatever it is you're doing?" Technoblade spoke gently, with a rare show of care for his student.
Ranboo seemed shocked by Techno, and he violently shook his head. "B-But it's still me doing these things!"
"You don't want to be doing them, though. You aren't a bad person, kid. Let's please just get out of here, we can figure this all out together when we get home."
"No can do."
"Ranboo, please."
"Why should you care anyways? I've always just been your waste of space and resources."
"Ranboo, that isn't true."
"Techno, there's no need to try and shield me from the truth. I know you only really care about Phil, and it's o-"
"RANBOO, I CARE ABOUT YOU DAMMIT!"
Oops. Techno knew he shouldn't have raised his voice at the teen. "Let's get out of here, now," He spoke softer but sternly, it wasn't up for debate.
Ranboo stayed silent, but didn't object. Techno helped him put on armor and the group left the prison.
"Well then, follow my lead, team!" Techno tried to shift the focus.
"Ugh, finally!" Dream rolled his eyes as everyone made their way back to the lava. Techno splashed the group with fire resistance and they vanished into the seemingly endless pool of hot death.
"So why is he out?" Ranboo sheepishly asked Techno.
"Shut up Ranboo." Dream butted in, "I could've left you here, y'know. You're lucky we're even getting you-" Dream was cut off.
"Dream, if you say one more wrong thing I will bash your head against these obsidian walls and leave you here to burn." Techno snapped.
Dream sighed and kept following Techno. After a bit of searching, they found the hole Techno had made.
As the team quietly made their way through the narrow path Techno had made through the stone, Techno noticed Ranboo never got very far behind him. The hybrid still seemed a bit shaken up by the previous confrontation. Techno's soft side regretted his little outburst. Chat still hadn't stopped reminding him of this.
Technosoft
Kill Dream
E
Technosoft
Blood for the blood god
Imagine if we were in a fanfic L
Wait
Techno sighed. Things were starting to calm down when suddenly they heard a very unwelcome voice.
"I figured you went under the prison! I knew it!"
They were met by Sam. Sam was probably the last person he wanted to see right now.
"Guys we gotta go!" Techno commanded his group of escapees.
Everyone quickly ran out of the mine and up into the water, awkwardly dodging Sam who was running towards them.
When they returned to the surface, they were met with what had to be half the server. That wasn't good.
"Let's get out of here!" Techno shouted, panicked. The withers that Niki had spawned were doing a pretty good job of distracting most of the SMP.
"Dream, get back here! I don't care about the rest of you," Sam shouted.
"No. I'm leaving. Bye!" Dream shouted, clearly excited as he quickly ran off, meeting Phil and grabbing a horse.
Techno turned to get Ranboo and Connor when he noticed that Sam had grabbed Ranboo. Uh oh.
Sam handed Ranboo what appeared to be a photograph and instructed him to take off his armor. He complied, much to Techno's frustration.
"Ranboo! What are you doing?! We gotta go!"
"He has Michael…" Ranboo quietly responded.
"Techno! Tell Dream he has to stay, or I'll kill Ranboo!" Sam called.
"Sam, you have the wrong hostage. Dream doesn't care!"
"I'm going to kill Ranboo!" Sam repeated.
"Like hell you are." A sudden new voice responded.
Techno turned and smiled as he saw Phil and Niki.
"You aren't doing anything, Sam." Niki smirked as she quickly prepared another wither.
While Niki and Phil distracted Sam, Techno rushed his way over to Ranboo.
"Are you okay, kid?" Techno asked, grabbing Ranboo's armor.
"Y-Yeah I think so," Ranboo stuttered.
Suddenly, Techno pulled Ranboo into a hug.
"Soft." Phil called out as he hit Sam with his sword.
"Shut up old man." Techno snarkily responded.
Just then, Phil successfully got another hit off on Sam, stabbing him as his body fell to the ground. Techno knew he'd respawn later, and when he did, he would have quite the earful from the Syndicate.
"We need to get out of here!" Niki saw the amount of people that would be coming for them shortly.
"Sounds good to me!" Connor, who for some reason hadn't fled yet, agreed.
"Wha-" Phil had a puzzled expression on his face.
"Honestly, I don't really know either." Techno admitted.
Phil shrugged it off and quickly helped everyone get situated with their horses, although Niki and Connor had to walk.
Ranboo's eyes were wide as Phil helped him get situated on his horse, still processing everything that had just happened.
"You good, kid?" Phil gently asked. Ranboo shrugged.
"Let's talk about this when we get home." Techno knew it wasn't going to be an easy conversation, but it was a necessary one.
They safely rode back to the Commune, meeting Niki and Connor shortly after.
"Welp. That could've gone worse." Techno tried to relax after a long, chaotic day.
"Ranboo almost died." Niki pointed out.
"But he didn't." Techno smiled and stretched.
"Now I know we've all had a long day. So, let's all talk tomorrow." Techno looked at Ranboo as he said that.
Once Phil, Niki, and Connor had all gotten themselves situated for the night, Techno found Ranboo in his basement. The teen was petting Enderchest to try and calm down.
"Hey kid," Ranboo jumped a little, startled.
"We're gonna get this all sorted out tomorrow, I promise you." Techno reassured Ranboo.
"It's all gonna be okay, kid."