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“So, are we actually doing this? He’s not just gonna let it happen.” Phil rolls his eyes, “Of course he’s not,” he holds up the small tracking device, “we just need to plant this somewhere then follow him.”
Techno groans from his left, “Does that mean we have to stake-out too?” Phil nods again, “Or we could just wait back home then go out when he stops moving.” Wilbur’s eyes light up, Phil imagining a lightbulb appear over his head, chuckles at his childlike excitement.
“No but listen to this. What if we put the tracker on him, one of us chases him away and the other two wait?” “And wait for him to get back to his apartment?” Wilbur nods enthusiastically, “Then next time we see him, someone chases him while the others go to his place?”
Techno scratches his head, “Well for one, that sounds way too complicated and two, what if he has roommates?” Wilbur’s face drops a bit before perking back up, “You said that you saw someone in the flashes, where was Sparky and this person in it?”
Techno thinks back, he saw a really tall kid and a shorter kid. The tall one had split black and white hair, the other one had short brown hair. They looked like they were in a living room of sorts, he looked back up at Wilbur, “Yea, I think they’re roommates. Safe bet is that they are gonna be there.”
Phil nods while Wilbur fist pumps the air, “So Will, would you be up to chase Sparky around for a bit?” His expression drops, “Awww, Philll! Why can’t I break in too?” Techno snorts, “You have better endurance than we do. Plus-” “Fine, whatever. I just want in a say with what we do with the brats when you’re done.”
“Deal,” Wilbur’s face breaking into a grin. “So, are we doing this tonight or tomorrow?” Phil looks out into the city, the bustle below adds to the chaos that’s brewing. He turns back towards his sons, “Tomorrow, sunrise is in a couple hours.” Will nods, a dangerous smile etching across his face, “Sparky won’t see us coming.” They laugh, taking off into the night, anxiously waiting for tomorrow.
Not a worrying anxious, no no no. It was an excited anxious, one that feels your body with so much excitement you think you might burst. Tomorrow night will definitely be a night to remember.
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Tommy is a bit wary of going out after last night. The pit in his stomach agreed with him. He’s at the window, rubbing his hands together. A hand is placed on his shoulder, he flinches, the hand immediately disappearing.
“Hey, it’s just me,” Ranboo walks in front of him, blocking his view of the window, “everything ok, you seem really stressed.” Tommy explains to them how nervous he was, how he just had a bad feeling about tonight.
“Well, the solution seems simple. Stay home, we’ll do a movie night instead.” Tommy shakes his head and starts to pace the room, he wrings his hands together, “I can’t just stay home Ran boob . There is a city that needs me.” Ranboo crosses their arms and rolls their eyes, “I think the city will be fine without you for ONE night. Take a mental health day.”
He groans, “Mmm, fine!” Ranboo nods satisfied and turns to walk away, “BUT, I want to go out for a couple of hours. Just to check up and for my peace of mind.” They huff, “2 hours.”
He stares down Ranboo, “3”
They stare at each other for a while, Tubbo walking into the room and just staring at the both of them in confusion, “You guys good?” Tommy huffs, “Boob boy here is trying to get me to stay home.” “Yes but I tried to compromise.”
“Yea, by compromising you mean cutting back my patrolling hours!” “Tommy, literally 10 minutes ago you were standing at the window wringing your hands together, anxious out of your mind.”
Tommy knew they were right and by looking at Tubbo’s face, he wasn’t gonna win this fight. He huffs, “Fine, I’ll go and come back in 2 hours,” he looks at Ranboo, “then we’ll have a movie night.”
“Promise?”
He nods, “Promise” Ranboo opens their arms, Tommy huffing fondly before walking into their open arms. Tommy lets himself relax in Ranboo’s arms, content with the small moment of peace it created.
Tommy could feel Tubbo join the two of them, “Clingy” Tubbo scoffs, removing himself from the hug, “Fine, I guess you just won’t get my affection.” Tommy looks up at Ranboo, they both shrug, “Ok, see ya.”
Tubbo makes an offended sound as Ranboo and Tommy start laughing, Tommy eventually having to ruin the moment and say that he had to go patrol. He left the apartment, expecting a quiet and easy patrol.
-----------------------------------
“Well, I hate to say I told you so buuut-” “Oh congratu-fucking-lations, you were right! You can make fun of me all you want once you get me out of this.” Tommy glances behind him, SBI following behind him, seemingly getting closer with every second.
A hand brushes his hair, he pushes jolts through it, a deep voice hissing, laughing he says, “Take that fucker!” Tommy’s joy is short-lived though, a hand actually grabbing him and throwing him to the ground. Jubilee throws himself on top of Tommy, Tommy kicking him off.
He gets up again, fighting off Ichor while Kali helps Jubilee up, jacket smoking. Ichor lands a solid kick to his chest leaving him stumbling back, gasping and coughing. “Tommy? You ok, what’s happening?”
Tommy ignores them, Ichor landing a few more hits Tommy landing a few on his own before Tommy is on the ground. He grabs his chest, gasping for the air that isn’t there. Ichor grabs his shirt collar, suspending him in the air. “Now what, Sparky?”
Tommy actually doesn’t know, he’s winded. The wind blows through his hair, the cool air feeling good in his lungs. Tommy is still at a loss for words. Kali moves a bit closer.
His mouth starts moving, Tommy realizing that he can’t hear him. Tommy shakes his head, Kali is still talking but it sounds like he’s mumbling now. Tommy blinks, eyes widening when he sees Kali where he was standing before, as if he was never right next to Ichor.
Shit
Is he going crazy?
No, Puffy would have caught it
Anyway, he takes note of the changes. Kali was? standing next to Ichor but now is back. He also notices the shift in Ichor’s hair, an emerald earring hanging from his ear. Tommy sees a glint and his heart leaps, metal!
Hopefully
Fingers snap in his face,“Sparky? Hello? What’s wrong with him?,” Jubilee shrugs, “That just made things easier.” Kali nods, gesturing to Tommy before he’s dropped. “Well, it’s been fun kid,” Ichor turns, Tommy still sending a jolt to his earring.
Tommy watches the bolt catch onto the small metal bit, taking off running when the side of Ichor’s head explodes in a small ball of blue electricity. Ichor growls, turning back to where Tommy was but he’s gone, laughing all the way home.
He gets back home and retells the story to Tubbo and Ranboo. There is a bit of dramatics thrown into it but they both humor him and laugh at the outlandish claims he makes.
They’re all sat down, movie starting when Tommy speaks up again, “Oh yea, he just dropped me and they all started to leave. They finally realized they couldn’t beat the great and almighty Thor.” Ranboo sends a confused and/or worried look to Tubbo.
“They just let you go? Did they say anything to you?” Tommy shakes his head, “If they did, I don’t remember. I dissociated, I think, a bit too, so yea.”
Tubbo places a hand on Tommy’s arm, “You with us, right? You're lucid?” Tommy nods, “Yep! Totally and completely lucid.” He looks away, Tubbo nodding but not entirely satisfied but trusts his friend would tell him if something was bothering him.
Ranboo takes his hand, “I’m just happy you came back an hour early. I was dying in here.” Tommy laughs, Tubbo is telling him how dramatic Ranboo was being and lets himself relax. He’s surrounded by the people he loves, why should he be concerned?
They watch the movie, a comedy, Tubbo’s pick of course. He laughs until his sides hurt, not a bad way to end the nigh t, he thinks. Ranboo already talked him into cutting his time out tomorrow so he’s excited for whatever “bonding night” they have planned.
Tommy leans against Ranboo, the last bit of his adrenaline leaving his body, his body grows heavy. Ranboo huffs fondly, letting Tommy fall asleep on them. Not even 10 minutes later, Tubbo’s out so it’s just Ranboo watching the movie.
They let themselves relax, the movie playing in the background, their friends sleeping peacefully beside them, they fall asleep too.
Plink
The small object rolls onto the floor having emerged from Tommy's short pocket, drifting its way under the couch. Ranboo stirs but doesn’t wake. A red light flashes on the device, across the city three villains smile down at a device.
They're ready
-----------------------------------
Tommy has just left, Ranboo is starting on dinner, chicken quesadillas. Tommy's favorite They had tried to bribe him with it but he only promised Ranboo 2 hours before he’d come back then left. Tubbo is currently talking to him and keeping track of his location.
He turns towards them, “Tommy wants to know how long until the quesadillas are done.” They perk up, “He’s coming home early?” Tubbo laughs, “Yea, right. Tommy? Coming home early, you’re funny Boo” They shrug, “Can’t blame me for trying, tell him about 15 minutes,” they turn back to the stove listening to Tubbo talk to Tommy.
They let themselves fall into the motions of cooking, faintly hearing Tubbo cracking jokes is nice to hear. So once they hear a curse then Tubbo falling silent, Ranboo gets a tad worried. “Everything ok?” He doesn’t turn towards them just huffing, “They’re chasing him again. Can’t they leave him alone for one night?”
“Is he ok?” “Yea, it’s just Jubilee.” Ranboo rolls his eyes, “Out of all them, they sent him.” Tubbo laughs, “Yea, I know. At least give Tommy a fight.” Ranboo laughs, Tubbo putting a finger to his lips, “He’s hiding.” “Why do we have to be quiet?” “I don’t fucking know, it’s Tommy.”
Tubbo starts laughing, hands around his stomach he wheezes out, “T-tommy just called him a, here wait,” he hands Ranboo the extra earpiece, “Alright, tell them Tom.” “Ah, so one punched him, two shocked him then said he looked like one of those trolls with their hair sticking up, you know the ones.”
Ranboo laughs as well, “Yes I do. Was all of his hair sticking up?” Tommy lets out a joyous woop, “You bet it was! It really wasn’t that funny but still funny. Anyway, I think I’m gonna come back now, I’m craving the quesadillas.” “Well, they’re ready for when you get here.”
Crash
Tubbo looks up at Ranboo with confusion, another sound emerging from within the apartment
Thud
Tubbo looks up at Ranboo, “You hear that?” They nod, “Hey Tommy, did something fall on your end?”
Many buildings away, Tommy is sitting on the ledge of a building.
A bank he thinks
“Nope! Not me big man, I’m sitting down right now and I’m alone. Jubilee passed out from shock, haha get it?” He doesn’t receive any laughter back, “Look, I know my jokes suck but you could at least chuckle.”
Silence
“Alright, I’m coming home. You better not be playing a trick on me.” He gets up and heads towards his building, an uneasy feeling forming in his stomach.
They take out their earpieces, both Tubbo and Ranboo straining their ears to see if he could hear anything.
Nothing
“I don’t like this.” Ranboo shakes their head, “Neither do I. I’ll check out here and you check the bedrooms, start with mine since it’s closer.” Tubbo goes to check the bedrooms in case something fell. Ranboo was currently checking the living room when Tubbo shouts. He takes two steps towards the hallway before Tubbo barrels out of his room and down the small hallway.
Tubbo’s frantic when he gets to Ranboo comes in, “We gotta go!”
“What-?” He pushes Ranboo towards the window, unlocking and opening it. Tubbo is pushing Ranboo out when they remember, “Wait! Tommy, our earpieces!” Tubbo looks back, loud and heavy footsteps slowly making their way towards them, “No time!”
Ranboo’s chest gets tight, “Boo, you ok?” Ranboo nods, clutching their chest through their shirt and getting all the way out then starts to turn to reach a hand out for Tubbo to take. “Come on, we can flag him down.” The footsteps quicken then Tubbo yells. Ranboo turns to see Ichor dragging him back, Ranboo dives back into the window.
They have a loose hold on one of Tubbo’s hands, half hanging in the window. “Come on kid, don’t make it harder than it needs to be.” He looks Ranboo in the eyes, “Go, find Tommy.” Ranboo shakes their head, “Not without you.”
Tubbo sends him a sad but fond look,“Sorry, bossman. Go find Tommy, ok?” Tubbo lets go of Ranboo, the momentum pushing him forward to puch Ichor across the face. “Tubbo!”
“Get off!” He releases him and Tubbo tries for the window, Ichor wrapping his arms around his small body, pressing Tubbo’s back against his chest. Ranboo is frozen, torn between helping his friend or escaping. Tubbo’s eyes are now closed, tears running down his face, Ranboo’s chest getting tighter.
“You should come, y’know in case he doesn’t make it.”
Tubbo passes out in the kitchen, blood staining his once green shirt. The torn stitches poke from underneath his shirt, “Tubbo!”
Ranboo forces his eyes open, Tubbo’s are still closed, Ichor’s eyes bright red. He looks up at them, “Kali!” Ranboo panics, pushing themself back out the window. They hear a small scuffle behind them then a hand grabs at their wrist, pulling them back.
Ichor’s face peers over, “Hey there, where do you think you’re going.” They swallow, “What did you do to Tubbo?” He shrugs, “Nothing yet. Depends on you,” he steps back and pulls Ranboo the rest of the way back in.
He drops them at Kali’s feet whose holding Tubbo, tear tracks on his face. Ranboo watches Ichor shut and lock the window, their only easy escape. Kali drops Tubbo slumping against Ranboo, he grips onto their shirt.
The two villains huddle together and talk to each other before tapping on an earpiece. It dawns on Ranboo why Jubilee was the only one chasing Tommy; he was the distraction .
How did they find where you live though?
Ranboo shakes that thought away when Tubbo shifts in their arms, looking up at them, Ranboo’s never seen a look that held this much anger yet so much fear. He glances at the Ichor and Kali, backs stupidly to them. The two teens shift, ready to move.
Ranboo’s terrified but they know that this is not a time to just sit. Tubbo slowly stands inching to the hallway, Kali shifts his stance, Ranboo inhales.
He doesn’t turn around, Tubbo visibly relaxes then continues, he disappears around the corner, Ranboo exhales.
Ranboo’s next
They start standing, “Hey!” Hands grab their arms, Kali glaring at them. They glare back, “Call him back.” “No, go to hell.”
Kali stands, “Hey kid, we won’t kill your friend if you come back.” Ranboo pushes Ichor back, “Don’t you dare, Tubbo!” Ichor rips their mask off and clamps a hand over their mouth. They fight Ichor, pulling his hand away before swiping his feet from underneath him.
They turn towards Kali and is met with a blade. They take a step back, Kali putting the tip of the sword under their chin, “Really wish it didn’t come to this, mate.”
He tips the sword up, Ranboo’s head having to go with it to avoid getting stabbed. “Now, Tubbo was it?” He looks at Ranboo who with the encouragement of the sword at their neck nods, “We will kill. . . what’s your name again?”
“Ranboo,” they wince at the smirk that forms across Kali’s face, “we will kill them if you don’t come back. We wouldn’t want that now would we? This sword we found in what I guess is your room is pretty sharp.”
Tubbo doesn’t respond or seem to make any movements closer, Ranboo internally praising him. Kali hums, “Fine, guess you need a bit more encouragement.” Kali pushes the sword forward, Ranboo stepping back away from it.
Kali advances towards him, swinging the sword in their direction. They can tell he’s getting frustrated and it’s only a matter of time before-
“Tommy? I’m coming in, ok?” Ranboo opens the door, Tubbo close behind them. The room is ransacked, books torn and thrown around. Furniture turned over, ripped in some places.
In the middle of it all, Tommy, wrapped in blankets on the floor. Henry is missing from his spot so Ranboo assumes he’s wrapped in the blanket horde with Tommy.
Ranboo opens their eyes, moving just as the blade strikes where their arm would have been. It’s all they do before it comes back up, slicing their cheek, hands grab their wrists and pull them back before their plunged back into the memory
Tommy is full on sobbing now, clutching onto Tubbo with a vice-like grip, “Please don’t go. P-please” Tubbo just gently shushes him, Ranboo running hand through his hair
“We’re not going anywhere, Tom. We’ll be here the whole time.” They sleep on the floor tonight and if Tommy’s room is tidy by the time he wakes up, nobody mentions it.
A burning pain flares through their arms, opening their eyes, hands tied behind their back, resting on their knees as they look down at Kali’s feet. “Look up.” They don’t look up, in fact they ignore him, even when the blade repositions itself under their chin.
“Don’t make me do this, mate. You’re making this harder on yourselves.” “Hey, wait a minute. Jubilee is here.” They hear someone land behind them then gasp in excitement. “Move Kali, I wanna say hello.”
A hand cards through their hair and yanks . They grit their teeth, scalp burning. Jubilee’s wild yellow eyes meet their mixed ones, “Well hello there, so I’ve heard you’re the one causing problems,” they flinch, the hand tightening.
“Yea, I’d just go get, what’s his face, uhh, Tubbo?” Kali nods, “But apparently they’re both stronger than they look so we’re using tall one here to lure him-” “If you knew what was good for you, you’d fuck off!” Tubbo’s voice barks from the hallway, Ranboo chuckling. Jubilee pulls their head back farther, Ranboo having to stand up on their knees to compensate.
“So you think this is funny. Yea, you won’t be laughing by the end of the night, will you?” Despite the position they’re in, they shrug “Depends, are you actually gonna do anything or just make threats all night.”
“Kali, sword.” He hands it over, Jubilee letting go of Ranboo’s hair, grabbing the sword with two hands bringing it down on Ranboo’s leg. Ranboo screams in agony, blood already spilling out of their leg.
Jubilee yanks the sword out again, Ranboo gritting their teeth as pain they can only describe as fire spreads through their body. They bend farther over, forehead touching the leg without blood running out of it.
Blood flows from their leg now, Jubilee laughing at their discomfort. Tears flow from their eyes as they shake in fear. Glancing up at Jubilee, eyes wild with excitement they only think
What will he do next?
Hands find their way into Ranboo's hair, the returning feeling of burning in their scalp only adds to the tears forming in their eyes.
The blade of the sword is resting against their exposed neck, bits of blood dripping off of it. It stains their neck, Ranboo praying that the stinging feeling in his neck isn't from a cut but from their leg.
"Last chance, kid. I will kill them right now if you don't come back." With blood flowing out of their leg, Ranboo shouts, "Tubbo, get the fuck out of here! I mean it, don't you dare come down that hallway."
The sword is pressed further, Ranboo tensing at the small sting it brings, Jubilee hissing at them to shut up but Ranboo doesn't listen.Their head feels heavy like it weighs too much to hold.
The hand notices their small drops, pulling it back every couple seconds, "Listen kid, you're friend is in bad shape. Come out and maybe we'll let you fix them up."
Ranboo hears a creak from the hallway or maybe beside them. Almost everything seems like it's underwater now, maybe a side effect of blood loss. Their eyes flutter shut, a hand taps the side of their face, "-ay up. We're not done with you yet."
Ranboo just blinks at him, too tired to say anything. If they make it out of this, Ranboo is taking one hell of a nap.
There's murmuring above them, Jubilee is talking to them. They blink, flinching at him snapping in front of their face. “-ot it, play dead.” Ranboo starts shaking again, not looking forward to what's next.
––––––––––––
Tubbo is conflicted for some reason and is frozen by the front door. He heard Ranboo's scream of pain god would that will haunt his dreams.
Jubilee is laughing at them and telling them to stay awake. Tubbo can only imagine the damage he could have done to Ranboo's leg. He wants to go, to help his friend but he can't.
Why won't you move?
Your friend needs you
Tubbo shakes his head, ignoring the villains in his living room. Why can't he just move ?
Tubbo is scared of what will happen if he does.
Scared for not only himself but Ranboo and Tommy. Oh. Tommy
He has to have known something is wrong and it on his way back. Tubbo takes a deep breath and with letting go of the door handle, he seals his fate.
He takes two steps before Ranboo groans out, "Tubbo, I will kill you if you come out here." The sound of an object hitting somethings rings through his ears, a small thump registering as well.
It’s silent before someone curses, “Shit, are they dead?” Tubbo doesn’t hesitate to run to the bathroom, throwing open cabinets to find the first aid kit. He can hear someone enter the room but he doesn’t care. Blood runs through his ears as hands try to grab him. He finds the kit, pushing past whoever it was, he doesn’t care.
He turns the small corner, nearly dropping the kit. He grabs the wall for balance, trying to steel himself from the sight in front of him. Ranboo is seemingly passed out in a pool of their own blood, hands still tied behind their back. The pool grows larger as the open wound spills blood.
Tubbo can see their chest moving, faintly. A hand claps down on his shoulder, the feeling of relief leaving his body, he turns. Kali presses the sword, still covered in Ranboo’s blood, to Tubbo's stomach. He grabs the blade, ignoring the stinging of it cutting his hand.
Kali's eyes are dark, “You will not fight us,” he grips the kit tighter, wanting to bring it up on his head, “if you fight us, they will suffer.” Tubbo looks over at Ranboo, eyes fluttering open then widening at the sight of Tubbo. “Fine, just let me help them.”
He can hear Ranboo faintly protesting, Jubilee just kicking their ribs, Tubbo flinching. He slowly walks towards Jubilee who smiles darkly at his arrival. He looks towards Ranboo, throat closing at how much blood there actually is.
Jubilee places his hands on Tubbo’s shoulder, “Better be quick, Ranboo here is losing a bit of blood,” he grabs Tubbo’s chin, pulling his head to look at him, “we wouldn’t want anything else to happen to them, would we?” Tubbo shakes his head, Jubilee releasing him to kneel next to Ranboo, “Hey Boo, it’s gonna be ok. You’re gonna be ok.”
“Your hand.” Tubbo looks down at it, blood covering his hand. He shakes his head, “Let’s get you fixed up first.” He wraps Ranboo’s leg, gently apologizing everytime Ranboo flinches. He can feel the three villains gaze on him, anxiously waiting for when he’s done.
“You done yet?” Tubbo scoffs, “If you fuckers didn’t stab them, then yea I would be.” Jubilee chuckles, Tubbo freezing at the feeling of cold metal touching the back of his neck. He can feel liquid run down his neck into his shirt.
“Now you’re done. Ichor.” Tubbo doesn’t fight Ichor as he ties his hands behind his back, Ranboo knocking their forehead against Tubbo’s leg in reassurance. Tubbo hisses once he’s finished, the ropes biting into his skin. Jubilee grabs Ranboo, moving him to lean against the couch, Tubbo following.
Tubbo looks down at Ranboo’s leg, it’s not fully wrapped and Ranboo looks uncomfortable. The three villains huddle together again, this time not all turning their backs on the two tied up teens. Tubbo is flexing his fingers when he hits something metal.
He grabs it and pushes it in front of them, Tubbo’s heart dropping. It’s a little device, light flashing red he hears Kali clear his throat. He looks up, watching as Kali waves a little device around, “How do you think we found you?”
That moment there's a knock at the door, all three of them tensing. Jubilee nods, walking down the hall, taking off some of his disguise. The door opens, “Hello?” “Hi, I’m Puffy and this is Sam. We just wanted to make sure everything was ok. We got a call that someone heard screaming here.”
Tubbo looks at Ranboo who shakes their head. Tubbo opens his mouth to yell for Sam, “Sa-” Ichor quickly pressing a hand over his mouth, squashing his chance. He listens to Jubilee lie his way through it, telling them that they got too loud watching a movie.
Sam and Puffy say goodbye and once the door shuts, Ichor removes his hand. Tubbo closes his eyes, resting his head on his knees. He feels Ranboo lay their head down on his shoulder.
Time passes slowly it feels like, Tommy is still not back. A foot nudges his leg, “Hey, where’s Sparky?” Tubbo shrugs, not lifting his head. He feels another nudge from his left, lifting his head slightly, Ranboo gestures towards the window.
Blonde hair pokes out from the side, Tubbo’s heart jumps. Tommy
Tubbo lets himself relax, things are gonna be ok. But then he remembers the villains behind him. He turns, hoping that they didn’t see him, Jubilee’s face lighting up squashes those hopes, “Is he here? Is Sparky finally here?” Tubbo looks over at Ranboo, “Hey! Don’t look away, answer me.”
Tubbo doesn’t, Jubilee huffing behind him. Ranboo is pulled away from Tubbo’s side, “Hey! What the fuck are you-” Ichor kicks his nose, a crack ringing through the room, Tubbo falling back. Blood runs from his now broken nose.
Glass breaks above him, hands gently moving him to sit. They unbind his hands, Tubbo puts a hand over his nose. Ranboo lets out a noise of pain, Tommy practically growling at Jubilee.
Tubbo looks over, Ranboo’s eyes are squeezed shut, kneeling once again. There’s blood soaking the bandage on their leg, Tubbo taking a step forward. Tommy grabs his forearm as Ichor places the sword at his throat, Tubbo hearing Ranboo faintly inhale, “Again, really?”
Jubilee steps forward, “Here’s how this is gonna work. You,” he points to Tommy, “will put these on.” He holds up a pair of power-suppressing cuffs, Tommy gripping Tubbo’s arm a bit tighter. “Absolutely not. He’s not putting those on.” The sword is pressed further against their throat, Ranboo gritting their teeth.
“You don’t have a choice. We’ll kill them,” Jubilee then points at Tubbo, “then him.” Tubbo turns to Tommy, Tommy’s eyes wide and full of fear. He nervously licks his lips, “You’ll let Ranboo go?” Kali nods, Tommy stepping forward.
Tubbo grabs his arm, pulling him, “You idiot,” he hisses, “what the fuck are you doing?” Tommy doesn’t answer, moving Tubbo’s hand then stepping around the pool of blood. He holds out his wrists, Jubilee happily starting to place the cuffs on him. Tubbo feels his chest hollow out they’ve lost .
Tommy pulls his hands back at the last second, Jubilee’s face darkening, “I thought we had a deal, is there gonna be trouble.” Tommy’s posture relaxes, Tubbo’s confused. He shakes his head, “No, no trouble here.” “Then why did you pull back, that seems like trouble to me.”
Tommy’s foot shifts, his head turning slightly to the door, grinning he says, practically yelling, “The trouble ain’t that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain’t distributed right.” Jubilee looks confused, “The fuck-” “Now Sam!”
There’s a bang before the door comes flying down the hallway. It hits Jubilee who hits Kali, knocking them both to the ground. Tommy turns back to Tubbo, “Tubbo, now!” Tubbo surges forward, adrenaline now pumping through his veins.
Tommy grabs the sword while Tubbo punches Ichor, stumbling back he doesn’t stop. He watches Tommy untie Ranboo then guide them to Puffy, hands glowing orange almost immediately. Jubilee and Kali are up, joining Ichor. Tubbo licks his lips nervously, wiping some blood off his face.
Tommy joins him, Sam stalking down the hallway to join them carrying what looks like a powered up battering ram. He drops the battering ram, stands next to Tubbo offering a smile in reassurance. Tubbo can’t help but feel a bit of betrayal, so he turns away, focusing back on Jubilees who zeros on him.
He dodges a punch from Jubilee, jumping up and wrapping his arms around his neck, putting him in a chokehold. Jubilee tries to punch him off, Tubbo just wrapping his legs around Jubilee’s waist. Jubilee slams him into the wall, Tubbo’s arms loosening.
Jubilee spins around, Tubbo trying to hold on. He stops, stumbling Tubbo falls off. The room is spinning as Jubilee gets on top of him, Tubbo watches three? Jubilee’s place hands around his throat. Tubbo takes note of Jubilee still swaying when his vision slightly focuses. He pushes his hands away, climbing back onto Jubilee’s.
He puts him in a chokehold again, this time keeping his hold, Jubilee’s eyes start to close, Tubbo feeling his body start to sway again. Next thing he knows, Jubilee is falling over taking Tubbo with him.
After they’ve hit the ground, Tubbo stands up and takes in the silence around him. Sam and Kali are looking at him, Kali’s face holds horror while Sam’s shows a bit of pride. Tommy is currently holding his hands up, presumably ready to blast Ichor, the spark dying out.
Tubbo glares at the two remaining villains, “Get the FUCK out of my house.” Jubilee stirs at his feet, Tubbo heaving a hard kick to his ribs then bending to pick up the sword nearby. With no hesitation, he brings it up and pushes it down, “Stop!” Tubbo stops inches from Jubilee’s arm, Kali is extending a hand in his direction.
“We’ll leave, you’ve won.” Tubbo kicks Jubilee again, “Then pick up this trash and leave.” Ichor moves towards Tubbo, picking up Jubilee slinging an arm over his shoulder. The three stumble to the broken window, climbing out of it and disappearing.
It’s still silent as Tubbo turns to face everybody, Tommy breaking out into a huge grin, “Let’s go Tubb’s. Kicking some ass tonight, woo!” Tubbo nods, Puffy helping Ranboo limp back down the hallway. Tubbo starts towards them, stopping when Ranboo flinches.
Their eyes go wide when they realize what they did, “Tubbo, I’m so sorry. I-i don’t . . .” Tubbo shakes his head, “It’s ok bossman, I shouldn’t have approached you so fast.” Ranboo’s expression still holds worry as Puffy sits them down on the couch.
“Tubbo. . .” Sam starts walking forward, Tubbo ignores him pushing through and barreling into Tommy. Tommy looks surprised but returns the hug, Tubbo gripping on to Tommy’s shirt. “I didn’t think you’d come.” Tommy makes an offended noise, “And miss the opportunity to kick Ichor’s ass, never.”
Tommy ruffles Tubbo’s hair, Tubbo swatting at his hand then wiping his face to keep it together. He turns back towards Sam who takes a couple steps towards him, Tubbo meets him halfway and punches him across the face. Puffy gasps, Tommy yelling in protest. Sam’s head snaps to the side, stumbling as he holds his face and looks back up at Tubbo. Tubbo’s face is full of anger, sniffling as he wipes his eyes desperate to stop himself from crying.
He surges forward, throwing himself into Sam’s arms. Sam stumbles back, almost falling over, “You fucking idiot. Why did you leave?” “What do you mean? When?” “When Jubilee answered the door, he talked to you.” Sam looks up at Puffy putting a hand to her mouth.
“Tubbo, we’re so sorry. We didn’t know until Tommy called me again.” Tubbo’s shaking, “I tried to call for you, almost did. We needed you.” Tubbo sobs into Sam’s shoulder, the past hour and a half of pent up emotions finally coming out.
Tommy sits with Ranboo and Puffy, watching Sam whisper into Tubbo’s ear and Tubbo just clenching onto his shirt. Tubbo does pull back, looking at Ranboo whose head is lying on Tommy’s now. Tubbo shifts his weight from foot to foot, Ranboo noticing. With Tommy’s help, they stand and as soon as they open their arms, Tubbo is in them.
Ranboo takes a step back, hissing at the jostle of their leg. Tubbo starts to pull back, “Shit Boo, I’m-” Ranboo pulls him back in, Tubbo taking in how tight they were holding him. Tubbo starts crying again, “I’m so sorry Boo. I should have just listened to them-”
Ranboo takes Tubbo’s face in their hands, “Bo, you did everything you could.” Tubbo shakes his head, “If I just came out you wouldn’t have been hurt and-” Ranboo wraps Tubbo up again, cutting him short. Tommy joins them, wrapping his arms around Tubbo again.
Tubbo lets himself be guided through the motions of getting ready to move since y’know their apartment was destroyed and covered in blood. Tommy promised to start looking for places tomorrow. For now they go to Sam and Puffy’s, Ranboo shaking his head when offered Sam’s room.
Tubbo is glad they suggested staying in one room, he doesn’t know what he’d do if he had to sleep away from them. Ranboo got the bed, Tubbo and Tommy in an air mattress and blankets on the floor. Ranboo laughed at Tommy’s attempt to blow it up manually, Tubbo just sitting next to them. A tap on his shoulder, he turns Ranboos talking .
He turns away, his head racing with too many thoughts. A hand in their hair soothes his racing thoughts, leaning into the hand their eyes keep closing and opening. Somebody picks him up, laying him down on the mattress. If Tubbo’s head was clear enough, he’d fight to stay up, fight to watch over Ranboo.
He does try to get up, hands gently pushing his shoulders back down, “It’s ok Tubs, Sam offered to stay up.” Tubbo registers Ranboo’s voice, “Are you sure you want to sleep down there? I can sleep just as good there as up here.”
Tommy shakes his head, watching Tubbo’s body finally sags into the mattress, finally asleep. Ranboo sighs, letting their own body become relax. Tommy sighs in relief too, “I didn’t think he’d ever go to sleep.” Ranboo nods, “He wasn’t gonna go until he knew I was ok.”
Tommy takes in Ranboo, bandage on their leg, blood staining their skin despite scrubbing and the slight shake in their hands. “How are you holding up?” They shake their leg, “Puffy healed me up good, just need to wear a bandage for a couple days, maybe a week.”
“No, I meant mentally.” Ranboo ducks their head, “I- not good. Everytime I close my eyes, I see Jubilee’s as he . . . y’know,” they make a stabbing motion at their leg, “I will never forget the look in his eyes.” Tommy nods, the door opening Ranboo flinches back. Sam peeked in, “You guys going to bed?”
The two nod, Sam smiling, “If you need anything I’ll be out here ok?” He starts to shut the door, “Sam . . .” Ranboo stops him, standing up and hobbling to Sam. Sam reaches a hand out, Ranboo taking it and pulling Sam into a hug. Sam hugs back, letting Ranboo release a few tears into his shoulder.
They pull back, “Thank you for coming back for us. I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t.” Sam brushes the tears off their cheek, “I will always come back for you guys,” he looks over at Tommy who is now laying down looking at them, “you too.”
Tommy nods, “Yea yea whatever, go away. Come on Ranboob, I’m tired.” Ranboo chuckles, saying goodnight one more time before making their way back to bed. They lay down, listening to Tommy shuffle around before quieting.
Ranboo eventually drifts off, content with knowing that they're safe even if it’s for that night. They think back to the night’s events, scared for Tommy whenever he goes out again. But that's for later, now they just need to sleep and work through this. They have not only their friends but Sam and Puffy.
What could go wrong?