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“You’re such a fucking idiot.” Tommy said, dabbing potions of healing onto his Enderian friend’s skin as purple eyes rolled at his comment. Once he was healed they would go back to red and green but for now they were stuck purple.
“I don’t call you a fucking idiot when you try to use your little chicken wings to fly.” Ranboo said and Tommy huffed.
“I’m going to forgive you because you’re hurt and you’re always a dick when your eyes get all Purple.” Tommy said, “but I will be kicking your ass later.”
“Right,” The Enderian chuckled, “with your little chicken legs.”
Tommy sighed, “Take your crown off so I can check your head for injuries please. I know you covered your head with your arms but please let me look.”
“Why don’t you just take it off yourself?” Ranboo asked and grabbed the beautiful crown off his head, holding it in his lap while Tommy checked his thick black hair.
“Because I’m not allowed to.” Tommy said. He seemed irritated at Ranboo for bringing such a question into play. “When you’re your normal self you get all dodgy whenever someone asks you about it better yet goes near it. You nearly broke Phil’s hand off for tying to pat your head.”
Ranboo looked at the ground, his eye brows pinching together, “really?”
Tommy backed away to set the rag down on one of Ranboo’s chests. “Are you that out of it right now?”
“Probably.” Ranboo said and Tommy could see his eyes starting to change back to normal.
“You can put your crown back on and I’ll tell Sneeg he can come check up on you in a minute since you’ll be normal again and won’t try to kill him. Or anyone else.” Tommy gave a smile, “Glad your instincts don’t kick in with me around so I can help you.”
“Wait, you’re leaving?” Ranboo looked out at the pouring rain outside the cave. He knew everyone else was at the Pub.
“Yeah, Big Guy. Everyone was worried sick when you messaged me about the rain. I have to go tell them that you’re okay. But Sneeg will be in to keep you company.”
“Oh.. right. Yeah. Have fun!” Ranboo smiled, showing off his canines while gripping the crown in his hand.
Tommy waved a bit and made his way out of the cave and towards the Pub. Ranboo just looked down at the stunning piece of jewelry. It was golden with diamonds kissing the base. Along the peaks of the crown were otherworldly purple stones that looked straight from the stars.
Ranboo set the crown on a chest and put a hand on his head making sure nothing was poking through. His eyes were normal now as he checked his head.
Tommy had commented on anything abnormal so maybe he was alright.
“Woah! Ranboo with no crown?” Sneeg said in surprise, standing on a chest.
Ranboo jumped a bit, “oh Jesus, you scared me.” Ranboo chuckled, “but yeah Tommy needed to check my head for burns.”
“You look different without the crown.” Sneeg said, “you look happier.”
Ranboo rolled his eyes, “what movie did you hear that from?”
“I’m not joking, Ranboo.” Sneeg said and Ranboo put the crown carefully back on his head and rolled his shoulders back a bit.
“Right well the rain has cleared and I have to run somewhere.” Ranboo teleported to the edge of his cave.
“I know you can’t trust any of us,” Sneeg started, “you weren’t raised to trust easy.. but trust him . He cares about you. Don’t lose him.”
Ranboo hesitated before teleporting away to his portal.
-
“You can’t tell me I’m crazy.” Sneeg said as he and Tommy entered the Pub. Sneeg was on his shoulder.
“I’m not saying that you are, I'm just saying it’s not our business. You know how reserved he is. Especially about that stuff.” Tommy looked ready to flick the Inchling into the sky.
“Hey Mates!” Phil greeted, “what are you talking about?” Phil took Sneeg from Tommy before Tommy killed him.
“Nothing that is Sneeg’s business.” Tommy said and Sneeg rolled his eyes.
“I saw Ranboo, normal Ranboo, without his crown on and Phil, he looked so happy. Then he put the fucking thing back on his head and became cold again. He almost made a joke too. And not a snarky or sarcastic one. I could have got him to. When was the last time he's told a genuine joke?”
“Never.” Phil said. “At least to everyone but Tommy and maybe Tubbo.”
“Right and he only smiles happily with Tommy.” Sneeg said. “Because he can’t trust easily.”
“And we can’t make him trust us any faster,” Phil said, “But if he’s warming up to the idea then I think it’s a win.”
“I hate that you guys are seriously having this conversation right now.” Tommy said. “Just be glad he’s not here to hear it because he would never trust you guys.” Tommy left the Pub and went to Ranboo’s cave to wait for him to return.
-
In the stronghold Ranboo wasn’t too happy. He had thrown his crown on the ground more than once, denting the crown out of shape, the only thing not breaking being the gems from his kingdom. But his head wasn’t empty.
Two large horns had appeared on his head, they were pure black along with spikes that circled his head like a crown with purple accents. The spikes weren’t repulsing or sharp looking, they were like icicles. They were a beautiful crown with purple dots littering them and small white ‘stars’ (if you looked close enough but no one would ever be that close to him to see that). He looked properly like an Ender prince.
He had been there to throw his crown and yell at it, or maybe his moms or maybe himself. He wasn’t sure who he hated right now if anyone.
He eventually relaxed himself and got his crown and horns to go away. Those would scare his.. friends (he would never call them that) away. And he only just got them.
Ranboo grabbed his crown and went back home earning a gasp from Tommy.
“What happened!? Are you okay!?” Tommy ran over to grab him and check up on him but he chuckled a sweet and lightweight laugh. ?????????
“Toms, I’m okay. I promise. I had a little incident but I’ll see if Scott can take a look at it.” Ranboo spoke lightly like he hadn’t just said he was going to let someone he didn’t trust take his crown, the last thing he had from his home, for an undetermined amount of time.
And he called Tommy, Toms.
“Right, I’ll go with you. He’s at the Pub with the others.” Tommy said and the two made their way there.
“Hello mates!” Phil greeted, not commenting on the crownless Prince. Everyone swore he slept in the thing, so it was odd to see him with the beautiful piece of art off his head.
“Hey Scott, can we talk outside?” Ranboo asked and Scott had a very shocked look on his face but didn’t hesitate to say yes and would be bragging to everyone about this later.
They went outside and Ranboo pulled how crown out from where it was hiding under his cloak and Scott gasped, “oh god! Are you okay!?”
Ranboo chuckled, “yeah, I’m fine. I was just wondering if you could take a look at it? And maybe fix it? I know you’re pretty good at this stuff and I can supply you with anything you need. I will just have to take the purple gems because they could hurt you.”
“I will for sure take a look, and do what you need.” Scott smiled and Ranboo took the purple gems out, holding them tightly in his hand, his face looking as miserable as it always usually was.
“Thank you.” Ranboo said shortly, putting the gems into his pocket and handing the crown to Scott.
Scott nodded and put the crown to his side. They walked back in and Ranboo hovered by Tommy looking as he always did.
His easy going joy seemed short lived to everyone’s disappointment.
Ranboo slipped something into Tommy’s palm. They felt like small stones and Tommy raised a brow but Ranboo only smiled at him, looking relaxed again.
Tommy chuckled and pocketed what Ranboo gave him before going to put music into the jukebox as everyone had easy conversations going.
Tommy returned to Ranboo and offered him a hand, “dance?”
Ranboo smiled and connected their hands, setting them up for a waltz. Tommy hadn’t done it nearly as much as the prince but Ranboo had danced with Tommy before in the private space of his cave but for some reason Tommy could cure his fears.
Both of them were pretty reserved when it came to their feelings. No one was as bad as Ranboo but Tommy hadn’t been too great at it. So to see them both comfortable enough to be dancing, especially Ranboo, it was a weird sight but no one wanted to bring attention to it.
Ranboo spun Tommy and giggled as Tommy nearly tripped and he had to catch him.
They looked happy.
Until Jack and Sneeg walked in and opened their mouths. They hadn’t bashed them, only made a joke about it forcing both apart awkwardly.
Ranboo could feel his horns start to grow in sheer embarrassment and grabbed the stones from Tommy before teleporting away.
Tommy just looked an angry beyond what anyone had seen before on the blonde.
“What the fuck?” Tommy asked. His voice was low and controlled and he wasn’t yelling.
Oh boy had they totally messed.
“It was just a joke.” Sneeg tried.
Tommy’s eye was twitching before he felt Phil put hands on his shoulders to calm him. “Mates, Tommy is upset right now because Ranboo looked happy and comfortable to be here. You better hope he doesn’t leave.”
Tommy’s face sunk at the idea of Ranboo leaving and Sneeg and Jack quickly realized what they had just done.
*
“Ranboo?” Tommy asked as he slowly entered the cave. Tommy had been going there for the last 3 days and there was no sign of the Enderian. He has been gone for three days and no one knows where he is. He also wasn’t answering his communicator.
Tommy sighed and walked over to his bed seeing something that wasn’t there before. It was a piece of cloth that was tied with Tommy’s name on it. He picked the cloth up and opened it to find 3 purple gems. The gems that were meant to be in Ranboo’s crown.
There was a note inside and Tommy read it;
Tommy,
I’ll be back soon. I’m ok. This has nothing to do with the Pub and I would love to dance with you forever if I could.
This has to do with the gems in your hand.
You see, I keep the crown on all the time because those stones are enchanted by my moms. They keep my true Enderian form from showing. But they hurt me in their own way. It’s hard to explain and maybe one day I will.
I do trust you. I really do. It’s just scary to talk about. But I need to stay away till my crown is done. Ive attached 2 coords. When my crown is done, bring it and the gems to me. I won’t be there when you get there, I’ll leave. Just set it on my bed and leave and keep the place a secret.
I won’t make you see me like this.
Have a good few days and stay safe.
-Boo
Tommy sighed and picketed the gems and the note, heading to his house.
This would be a long few days.
*
Tommy ended up in the strong hold with 3 magical gems and a crown. He looked around the place in amazement, taking everything in and how much time Ranboo must have spent on it.
He set the items on the bed and found another note.
Tommy,
I’ve thought a lot while isolating here. I know that I trust you. But I think I can start to trust Phil as well. And I think that despite being taught against love, I know what it is. And maybe I have some in me somewhere. I just hope that if you see what I really look like you won’t run away. I won’t blame you but I just hope..
-Boo
Tommy heard Ranboo teleport behind him and turned around gasping at the new features on the man he’s known for months.
Ranboo looked nervous to be there. Tommy had never seen him so scared of someone’s opinion but Tommy had nothing negative to say. Ranboo looked beautiful.
Tommy reached a hand up to cup Ranboo’s face. “You look beautiful, Ranboo.”
Ranboo tried to pull his eyes away from Tommy’s before they met but he wasn’t fast enough. Their eyes were locked and Tommy didn’t seem worried.
Ranboo grew confused when nothing happened.
“I’m glad you weren’t lying when you said you trusted me.” Tommy smiled and Ranboo hugged him.
Tommy hugged him back.
“I think I would cry right now if it wouldn’t hurt.” Ranboo said, his voice was shaking.
“It’s alright, big guy, I've got you.” Tommy assured. “We can head home whenever you’re ready.”
Ranboo just squeezed Tommy tighter. “The gems keep my natural form hidden as a way to make myself seem less scary.. but it hurts to keep them tucked away for so long and it makes me.. irritable. But back home I was raised to be a leader. I had strict rules of no friends, no parties besides balls, no love and I do the work I’m given. I had broke a few rules to say the least. And I got kicked out as punishment.”
“I’m sorry you can’t go home anymore.. or at least right now.”
Ranboo sighed, “you’re my home, Tommy. Not that place, not anymore.” Ranboo kissed his head. “I think I broke another rule by loving you.”
Tommy stuttered a bit. “You- what?”
Ranboo smiled and pulled away slightly to look Tommy in the eyes, “I love you, Tommy.”
Tommy let out a breath and pulled Ranboo into a kiss. They shared a sweet kiss until they needed to pull away, both sharing twin smiles and giggling at the euphoria that comes from kissing. “Let’s head back.”
Tommy let Ranboo pulled away but Tommy interlocked their fingers as they went back. They went straight to the Pub while the golden crown sat on Tommy’s head.
Ranboo was welcomed as he was and finally, fucking finally, Ranboo had a good place to call home.