Chapter Text
A week later, in the “Arsonists” group chat…
CottonCandy: I want them back today
GemSimp: No! As I’ve already said, you had them for most of the week! We’ve only had them for a couple of days!
PokerFace: I haven’t even got to yet, how is that fair!?
CottonCandy: Q you see them most of the day every day, you don’t get to complain
PokerFace: Well yeah, but that’s business! You guys should at least let me keep them over for a night!
MuffinMan: We aren’t going to let them stay overnight at your casino
PokerFace: I do have a house you know :unamused:
GemSimp: Which you refuse to share the location of despite us all being friends, so our point stands
PokerFace: …………
Skeppy.
You literally have been to my house before.
GemSimp: …...
that’s not the point
PokerFace: I think it’s quite important actually! It pokes a giant hole in your argument!
MagicPerson: Why are you all arguing like you’re divorced parents during the holidays?
PokerFace: because they won’t let the trio stay with me for even one night!
CottonCandy: because we all know that you’d ruin them immediately!
MagicPerson: How long have you guys been at this?
PokerFace: Around an hour, hour and a half, if I had to guess
MuffinMan: I just looked to the start of the conversation, we’ve been at this for over three hours
GemSimp: Oh.
MagicPerson: then you probably haven’t seen the news
CottonCandy: What? What’s going on!?
MagicPerson: The trio I suspect you’re arguing about has been talked about on the news and you all have been too busy to even notice :rofl:
GemSimp: WHAT
PokerFace: Excuse me!?
CottonCandy: I’m going to go check whatever you’re talking about, brb
With Tubbo
Tubbo had begun to notice the fact that the villains had been straight up fighting over who he and his friends would stay with any day. For the past couple days, they had been staying with Skeppy and Bad, who apparently, everyone except the heroes just called the muffin duo. The duo had actually tried to teach them how to make muffins, not that it turned out well. Luckily, fire extinguishers were something that Tubbo had quickly learned how to use after living with Ranboo.
It was around mid-afternoon. The three friends were simply relaxing in Tubbo’s room while he tinkered on one of his old projects he had managed to sneak out. Sadly, most of his tech projects were too large to get out of the building without suspicion or for Ranboo to teleport out.
Tubbo’s head snapped up as a knock came at the door. Tommy literally jumped to his feet, still the most jumpy of the trio even after they had been safe for a week. That wasn’t to say both Ranboo and Tubbo weren’t jumpy, they were, Tommy was just having the hardest time with the transition. Tommy shook his head, likely to clear it before sitting back down. Tubbo gave him a concerned look, but Tommy just said, “I’m fine Tubs. Don’t worry.”
“If you say so.” Tubbo muttered before turning his attention to the door. “Who is it?” he asked loudly.
“It’s just me.” Skeppy’s voice said. “Can I come in?” All the villains had been really careful to make sure they were comfortable and Tubbo couldn’t be more grateful. Tubbo hadn’t noticed how tired he had been until after their ‘deaths’.
Tubbo glanced at his friends. They both gave nods of confirmation. It may have been Tubbo’s space, but they were all in it and he wasn’t going to let anyone in if they didn’t want to deal with anyone. With that out of the way, he turned to the door, making himself loud enough to be heard. “Yeah sure, Tommy and Ran are here as well.”
The door opened to admit a grinning Skeppy. “I have something I think you guys will want to see.” He said, holding out his phone for them to see. Tubbo walked over and grabbed it while Tommy and Ranboo got up and looked over his shoulder, which wasn’t very hard considering he was shorter than both of them.
“The shorter you are the more compact the anger is.” Tommy once stated after a full day of patrol. He had earned a pillow to the face for that one.
The phone was open to a news station. ‘Public funeral for trio of heroes’ sat proudly at the bottom of the screen. The news lady began to speak. “Hello citizens of l’manburg! As you are no doubt aware, a small hero group died tragically in a villain attack. The hero committee has announced they will be doing a public funeral for the trio. It will be open to most of the public and at least a few of their fellow heroes will be in attendance.”
It was rather obvious that the committee was turning it into a bit of a publicity stunt and Tubbo sighed. Then he really thought about what she was saying. They were getting a funeral. While still alive. Tommy must’ve had a similar thought as he muttered, “that’s a weird thought.” Ranboo snorted, likely in agreement.
Tubbo looked back up to see Skeppy grinning. “Would you like to attend your own funeral?”
With Skeppy
It had been a few hours since they had found out there would be a funeral for the trio. It was mostly likely mainly going to be a publicity thing for the committee, but they had all agreed it would be amusing at the very least to go anyway.
After another hour of argument between the villains, they eventually had the trio stay with Bad and Skeppy for another day. Skeppy couldn’t seem to sleep even though it was around midnight. He tossed and turned but something told him he needed to be awake.
He didn’t understand why his body wouldn’t let him sleep, until he heard it. An inhuman screech came from inside the house. He bolted upright even as Bad tumbled out of bed. Skeppy didn’t waste time getting up and making his way out of he and Bad’s room.
He ran though the house trying to figure out where it came from. As it sounded again, he realized it had come from the guest bed rooms, which were swiftly just becoming the trio’s rooms. In any other circumstance he wouldn’t have, but he busted the door to Ranboo’s room open as soon as he heard the screech sound from there again.
Tommy and Tubbo were sitting on the bed, struggling against a thrashing Ranboo who let out another screech every few seconds. “Ran wake up!” Tommy yelled. Skeppy was frozen in the doorway.
Tubbo didn’t stop his attempts to either pin Ranboo down or wake him up as he turned to Skeppy. “Help us hold him down! He could hurt someone like this!” He yelled, his tone commanding. It reminded Skeppy that the teen used to be a hero who walked into battle.
Skeppy didn’t hesitate. He ran up and tried to help Tommy and Tubbo. He didn’t like having to try to pin down a teen, much less a kid he had gotten attached to, but Tubbo knew how to deal with whatever this was better than he did.
They finally managed to pin the still asleep teen down after a moment of struggles. The screeches turned into whimpers. Skeppy saw Tubbo flinch, a sad grimace over his face. The whimpers disappeared soon after as well, leaving the still asleep Ranboo begging. “No no please. You said we were done for the day! Please please no!” Skeppy’s eyes widened.
Tubbo shook Ranboo violently again. “RAN WAKE UP!” The teen bolted to a sitting position, his face was pale and he was breathing hard, but his eyes were now open.
Ranboo turned to Tubbo and Tommy. “How bad was it?”
Tubbo sighed, the tension falling out of his shoulders as he slumped. “Worse than usual.” Skeppy was now heavily confused. “Plain nightmare or memory?”
Ranboo let Tubbo lay his head on his shoulder. “It was another memory. I don’t remember most of it.”
Tommy turned to Skeppy after sharing a knowing look with both of his friends. “Thanks for the help. I think… you should go for now, we’ll explain in the morning I promise.” Skeppy thought about objecting and demanding an explanation but dismissed the thought almost immediately.
He nodded and walked to the door. Right before he walked out, he said, “if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask alright?” He got a small ‘mhm’ in response and he walked out, closing the door behind him. Bad finally made it over and Skeppy said, “I don’t really want to talk about what I just saw yet. Just know, they’re alright.”
Bad nodded, trudging off to go back to bed. Skeppy turned back to the door one last time. “At least, I hope so.” He murmured before walking away from the door. He knew he wouldn’t be going back to sleep.