Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

No matter where you look there were posters of the upcoming Minecraft Championships. If there wasn’t a poster then there were people talking about it, like it was the new hot gossip on the street. Ranboo didn’t mind it, if anything he loves the buzz around the competition. The Minecraft Championships were people's life blood and frankly, it was also his. If you ask him what he thought about it, he’d say he didn’t really have an opinion.

His pristine March collection would say otherwise, but no one needed to know about that. Another secret to be kept hidden from the world. Something Ranboo knows how to do very well. Though even with all the buzz, Ranboo can’t be getting distracted. There were more important things going on that he needed to have his full attention. 

BedWars, it was BedWars. BedWars needed his full attention. Because unlike the Championships, Ranboo can’t survive without it. The game was built for the weak to fall and legends to hold onto their titles with an iron grip. He’s on the leaderboards, name plastered for those who wish to claim a title that in the end, is all that he had. So he has games to win, titles to keep and money to earn.

Making his way around the apartment, Ranboo searches for his crown, eyes darting from place to place. It was given to him a while ago after beating a BedWars record. Something about most wins in a month on singles. There was another thing about why he got the crown but he can’t remember what it was about. His rent was raised during that time, pushing him to go past his limitations. In the end he handed his rent in on time in full and he got a cool crown. 

A loud meow catches his attention and he turns. In the corner of the living room is Enderchest, tail flicking back and forth as she stares up at him. As if to say “I have it, you dunce.” Enderpearl is beside her sitting in the middle of his crown, making biscuits on the hardwood floor. He stares for a few seconds as the young kitten continues to carve her claws into his floor.

“Enderpearl, really?” He says, lip quivering up into a grin. He can’t be mad at her for even a minute, could he? Walking over Ranboo squats down, running his hand over Enderchests head and down to her back. “You were supposed to be watching your little sister, you know. Not watching her steal my stuff.” He states. Enderchest just blinks up at him. 

“And you.” Ranboo turns his attention towards Enderpearl, the hairless cat looking up with big eyes. “I think you have something of mine.” He smiles as he picks his kitten out from inside the crown. Enderpearl bends over his hands like a noodle, meowing at him as he goes to pluck his crown off the floor and place it back where it belongs. 

Enderpearl is a newer companion and loves to steal anything that wasn’t hers. It didn’t even have to belong to him, it could be her sisters for all she cared. If she didn’t own it, she wanted it. Chewing, clawing, sleeping on, nothing was safe while she was around. Enderchest was older, furrier and put her sister in her place when she needed too. Though she was mostly nonchalant about her new kitten sister. She rats her out most of the time, any time Ranboo’s looking for something that the kitten had taken.

Placing Enderpearl on the ground beside Enderchest he stands. Watching as Pearl now turns her attention to her older sister's tail, kneading it like it were dough. He wishes now more than anything that he owned one of the newer comms, the ones where he can take snapshots and pictures. “You two are so cute.” He says, awwing at his babies.

He’s interrupted by a ringing sound, jolting him out of his thoughts. His ears flare out in alarm as he turns towards the noise. His alarm sits untouched on his table, ringing only getting more and more louder. The cats hiss as they dart off into his room. “Crap!” He curses, running over to it and slamming his hand down on the off button.

It’s only then does he remember what the alarm was even for to begin with. “Sorry!” He calls to his cats as he rushes to grab his communicator from the kitchen counter. Pocketing the device he speed walks over towards the door, checking a mental list in his head to make sure he has everything.

Did he feed the cats already? He quickly walks back over to the kitchen and looks down at the list he hung up on the wall. He scans it until he gets to what he’s looking for. Right there was the words morning feeding. It had a checkmark next to it. Ranboo lets his shoulders relax as he heads once more towards the door.

He doesn’t need to think of their afternoon feeding as his nabour had that covered for him. Sweet old lady, nicest in the complex. Known as the apartment cat lady even if she has none of her own. Ranboo unlocks his door and turns one last time to his animals. “I’ll see you tonight!” He yells before existing.

~*^*~

Ranboo can’t ever get used to the feeling of numbness taking over his fingers, crawling up his hands and towards his chest. Until there was nothing left of him. Portals were something he didn’t like taking. Ignoring the fact it makes him feel like he’s floating in the void, there was always a risk to them. No matter how low the risk was, trailing through portals always had a chance of messing up.

They could send you to the wrong place, not work at all, or even cut off while you're halfway through. It’s been decades since a portal accident that bad had happened, but Ranboo always has the risk in the back of his mind. The Hypixel ones weren’t that bad, as they were all leading to a different part of the server. Server hopping portals were the ones he really didn’t like. 

Fixing his crown atop his head Ranboo steps into the portal leading to the Hypixel lobby. The air in his lungs rush out of him as purple begins to swirl his vision. Ranboo places a hand over his stomach, thankful for having skipped breakfast that morning as nausea seeps in. The numbness creeps in and he shuts his eyes, lungs working to breath in the nonexistent air around himself.

A second later Ranboo steps out. He takes a deep breath in, noice filling his ears as he blinks his eyes open. Shaking his arms out, Ranboo walks forwards. People were walking every which way, speakers crackling with announcements and contract openings. He keeps his eyes off of the dingy corners of the lobby. This is Hypixel after all, one of the most dangerous servers to live on. Well besides Hardcore servers, but that came with the territory.

Keeping his head low Ranboo goes into autopilot. Having done this a hundred times, it’s easy to get himself in line. It’s hard to think over the voices of the lobby, layering over each other like a hive mind. It’s hard to keep still as he shifts from foot to foot. He can’t help but feel people’s eyes on him, staring. Ranboo ignores it as best he can as he shuffles forward in line for the next BedWars Tournament.

He needs to win after what happened last time. Last time he was unlucky and people ended up rushing him from both sides of the void. Not even the numbness of commands could erase the pressure of a sword being driven through his stomach. It wasn’t pain, no, Hypixel made it apparent that players can’t feel anything physical during the games. It was just pressure, like someone was crushing your head. 

A shiver runs down his spine at the memory. He’s glad for the numbness effect even more after those types of games. As Ranboo waits he starts to play with his suit sleeve, fiddling with the cuffs. After a couple minutes he moves forward, a couple players going off into the back to get ready for today’s game. After making sure his cuffs were good for the fifth time in a row, he went to his pockets. In his left pocket he finds an old mint and in the other his pacifier. Wait…

Fingers closing tightly around the object, he feels his heart stop as he looks down at his hand. A royal blue pacifier sits innocently in his pocket. He can’t hide the fact his breath quickens at seeing it. Why was it there!? How did it get there? He’s sure he put everything away last night! Someone pushes him from behind and he’s forced to take a step forward. Then another step, and another as people keep moving towards the front desk.

He can’t be seen with his pacifier, not in a server as brutal as Hypixel. Ranboo looks around, trying to see if there was a place he could sneak off to. Without realizing it he makes it to the front of the line. He just needs to leave, to hide. He can wait until the next tournament! Wait, no, he has rest due in the next two days. “Crap…” Ranboo curses, grimacing.

“Excuse me?” A woman says from her spot in the booth chair in front of him. Ranboo jerks in surprise as he turns to her. She’s staring at him, frowning as she holds a pen in her hands.

“Sorry, not you!” He quickly apologizes. Good going, you just insulted a random woman. Fantastic. Reorienting himself, Ranboo thinks back on his apartment, his cats. He can’t just leave and sign up for the next tournament, not when there were little helpless creatures relying on his abilities to win. It’s them who remind him why he does all this for. He’s good at the completions, and being good at something means you can make money off of it. That’s all he really needs to know.

“—you going to sign up or not?” The woman cuts into his thoughts, sounding pissed with him. Ranboo hunches in on himself as he nods. He looks at the stall ledge instead of the woman, tail curling around his leg. He squints. Wasn’t BedWars stalls always made out of spruce wood? This one was burch. “Name?”

Ranboo takes his hand out of his pockets as he holds the front of his suit in tight hands. “Ranboo.” He supplies.

“Ranboo…” She waves to go on. 

“Just Ranboo.” He states. The woman eyes him for a second before starting to fill out his forms. “Okay Ranboo, do you have any dietary restrictions or allergies?” She clicks her pen, waiting for him to answer.

His brows furrow in thought. He was never asked that before. BedWars just asks about size for armour and makes you sign saying you understand the risks of going into a tournament surrounding PVP. “No?” He answers. He can eat anything he wants. Drink anything—

“Does water count?” Ranboo blurts. It burns him like it would any other endarian. Though did that really count as an allergy? Don’t all allergies need to be digested? The woman looks up at him with a very unimpressed look on her face. He tries his best to look everywhere but at her eyes. The swirl of agitation fills his stomach and he forces his jaw to lock.

Zeroing in on her coloured nails instead, he tries not to think about how many people were in the lobby. How many people could be looking at him, eyes fixed on his form. “Yes, that counts.” She huffs, jotting something down. “Out of ten, one being the least and ten being the most, how much does water affect you? And are there ways you deal with this allergie, like with meds or enchantments?” She questions.

“Uhhh, I guess eight? For the enchantments? No, not really. I take painkillers and water breathing potions to manage being in the water.” He explains. Painkillers because no matter what he does, it’s going to be uncomfortable being in the water. He uses water breathing potions because it doesn’t just make you be able to breathe underwater. It makes a sort of second skin across your skin, acting like a barrier. It’s that the barrier lets oxygen in.

So technically they can’t actually breathe underwater, they're actually breathing the oxygen the barrier provides. Though water breathing potions are extremely expensive. Which is why Ranboo never enters tournaments where there’s areas with water. “Alright.” She says, writing more things down.

They go like that for a while, with her asking him questions and him answering them. Each one drives him more and more confused. Did they change how they do the listings? He never got a message on the board about it. Unless they got changed today. Hypixel is never really quick with enforcing players in tournament rule changes. 

After the woman is done questioning him she places the paper she was writing on to the side. The paper levitates for a second before disappearing in a dim gold light. Ranboo’s eyes widen at the once occupied space. Where did it go? “We’ll send a letter to you if you’ve been accepted into mcc, have a nice day.” She practically shoots him off, Ranboo walking off to the side and out of line. The person behind him takes up the spot, leaning on the booth's ledge.

“Pause.” Ranboo says, whipping around to look back at the booth. He didn’t just hear that, right!? He couldn’t have! She did not say mcc, it must have been a trick of his ears. His mind has to have tricked him into thinking he heard mcc instead of BedWars. Stammering backwards he looks at the booth, really looks at it.

Where he thought the sign for BedWars was instead sat the Minecraft Championship banner. The streamers that were supposed to be yellow were red. The wooden booth was burch and not spruce. Beside it in small lettering was a sign on a poll with the printed sentences BedWars booth moved to section four of the lobby.

“You have to be kidding me.” Ranboo pales, mouth going dry as his heart starts to hammer outside his chest. He just signed up for Minecraft Championships. The biggest event in the whole world, across every server link. Ranboo’s the biggest idiot, that’s it, no one can top him. He has half the mind to go over there and say everything was a misunderstanding, that he thought the stall was for BedWars.

But that’ll out him as an idiot and honestly he does think he could confront that woman again. Not after having wasted a half hour of her time. Plus only forty people can even be allowed in the event. Fifty if you count the sub ins. He’s a nobody, a ghost. 

They're not going to pick him to be in the event. Why would they? He’s just a teen living on deadly wages in one of the most black market of servers out there. He can’t compare to the regular player’s like Punz, TapL or even Dream for that matter. There's plenty of admins and up coming stars out there that are much better than hi,. They're not going to pick him. It’s just not possible.

That calms Ranboo somewhat. He just needs to sign up for the right tournament and go home. Cuddle his cats and forget about all of this. Reaching into his pocket his hands clasp over his pacifier. He scans the surrounding area to try and locate the actual BedWars booths. He still has bills to pay and cats to feed.

~*^*~

Ranboo runs his thumbs over his empty coffee mug, head resting against the armrest. His legs feel as if they were on fire. Chest a hollow darkness, no doubt a bruise forming underneath his shirt. He hoped the coffee would have soothes some part of him. It didn’t. He still lost his tournament and what’s better, he got an arrow right through his chest. Why couldn’t they have just knocked him out or thrown him off the edge and into the safety net below the field? 

It’s because they wanted the views, obviously. More brutal kills means more betting from views, which means you get more of the cut if you win your games. It’s probably why Ranboo still makes below average on his winnings. Enderchest‘s sitting beside his head, pawing at his cheek. He lets her, too tired to even try and fight his cat's clawed hands.

What’s a few more cat scratches? At least it would be less dizzying than commands blocking your pain signals. He lays there with his pacifier held loosely in his mouth. He isn’t regressed, body being too sore and numb for him to want to. But his pacifier was a comforting thing. Plus it was that or chewing on the inside of his cheek. So pacifier it was.

Ranboo had put everything into that tournament, even playing toxic at times. He needs the money and so there wasn't going to be a fair game. Yet he still lost to a try hard gang up on him in the last moments. He can’t help but remember the grin they both shared. “Cross teaming griefers.” He hisses out angrily. He hopes those two get written up.

The show that was playing on the television cuts out as an announcement goes on. His eyes flick to the screen as Scott Smajor comes up on screen. “Hello people of the server link!” He greets energetically. Ranboo smiles behind his pacifier. The mcc stadium was behind the man, midday sun bleeding in and illuminating the space. “After today’s final day of sign ups we’ve made our teams for the sixteenth annual Minecraft Championship! We welcome you to sit tight as I announce the players!”

Ranboo watches as the players are introduced one by one. Sitting up despite his aching arms and legs to pay attention. He sits his mug down on the small table in front of him. He watches almost every game, even gambled on some of the teams for a lucky break. His own closet had plenty of merch hoodies he likes to wear when small. Heck even the mug he was using was a print of the champion’s logo!

Maybe watching this month's player announcement could cheer him up a bit. Anything mcc related could, he thinks. “Joining us as the pink parrots are Dream, Finn Star, BadBoyHalo and Seapeekay!” Scott announces. The pink parrots' pictures show up one by one, with what they were publicly known for being shown beside it. “Dream, a man who has the love for the chase and has clawed his way up in the backseats of manhunt competitions joins us this month to try his luck at grabbing a coin!” Scott says.

He goes on to talk more about the admin before moving onto his teammates. Each one of them gets their own segment, letting the viewers in on who will be competing. The whole time Ranboo’s on the edge of his seat, tail flicking happily. Enderpearl joins him on the couch after a few teams and tackles his tail. Claws sinking into the tuft at the end of his tail. He pays her no mind as she plays with his tail, too occupied with what Scott's saying to really notice her.

The second to last team fades from the screen as the Red Rabbits logo pops up. “And lastly we have the red rabbits! Which are TommyInnit, Technoblade, Philza and one of the new faces here on minecraft championship, Ranboo!” The noise from the television fades out, static filling his ears as Ranboo stares blankly at the screen. Scott’s mouth is moving, introducing the members of the Red Rabbits. He can’t hear him. It was like Ranboo was trying to hear a conversation through water.

Ranboo’s in mcc. He’s a Red Rabbit. He made it into the most watched competition ever made…

“What!?” He shrieks, pacifier getting flung to the floor. “No no no no this has to be a mistake!” He yells at his TV, Scott obviously not responding. He can’t have gotten into mcc, he’s a nobody! He’s not skilled! He’s just an average BedWars player! This can’t seriously be happening! He watches with disbelief flooding his mind as a picture of him pops up on screen.

It was the picture he uses for his BedWars games. It wasn’t pretty either. Ranboo’s looking at the ground in it, ears tilted downwards with his pupils so thin you’d think they were nonexistent. Or he was high or something. It’s one of the two. He hates getting his picture taken and this was only evidence of that fact. “Ranboo’s a new face along with some others in this month's games! He’s known around Hypixel as a pacifist in BedWars, evidenced by the crown he wears signifying the most void toss outs!”

Half his mind was relieved to finally figure out the last reason why he had his crown, the other half was screaming at him for being an idiot. He’s not going to last there, not with the people he knows are in the games. Heck, he’s watched them for long enough to know he’ll be folded the second the actual competition starts! “I can’t do this.” He whispers, clutching at his hair. He turns to grab his communicator. He needs to be taken out of the running, to give someone more deserving his spot. 

Enderpearl meows loudly as he walks around to find his communicator. Saddened by the loss of her toy, his tail. Enderchest stares at him from her perch on the couch, eyes following him as he moves around the living room. He Isn’t paying attention to the TV anymore. Not when his heart is beating too fast and mind is racing with thoughts he could no longer control.

If his sweat hurt him like water did, then his hands would feel like he dipped them in lava. Then rubbed salt on his wounds. Then dipped them in lava again, because obviously once wasn’t enough. He finds his communicator and clicks it on, scrolling to find one of the Hypixel Admins username. They should be able to help him get out of this. He’ll explain how this was all a mistake. Then they could help him get in contact with Scott or someone from the Nox crew.

“This month we’re mixing some things up! Along with the coin, if your team wins you get a big cash prize!” His fingers stop typing.

Ranboo turns his head towards the TV, hands shaking around his communicator. Cash prize? A number pops up on screen and he feels his hands go numb. His device falls to the ground, Enderpearl pouncing on it the second it’s out of reach. “This cash prize will be split between the players of the team equally. Since we now have more funding we’re also announcing team housing on the practice server for those who don’t have the money to go between servers so many times.”

Ranboo’s brain lags as the amount of money in the cash prize floats through his head. Even half of what’s being offered could fix a lot of things for him. At least for a little while. He would have enough for three months of rent, to buy cat food and litter and overall make his living situation a lot easier. No more holes in his clothes, no more worrying about having to pay for treated water just so he could take a shower and brush his teeth. No more having to feel numbness in his chest from cheap arrow shots.

If he didn’t need to join BedWars matches just to survive, he could try and find a real job. He could have a stable income. He could move into a better apartment. His knees turn to jelly and he falls to the floor, hands shaking. Enderchest hopes down from the couch and walks over, rubbing herself on his arms as she purrs. Enderchest smacks his communicator across the room, giving chase.

It’s hard to even register that the two are here with him. To make that kind of money he’d have to play for half a year, six times a week and win every single match. There’s no way of doing that, no way. Not with the limit of games being three a week to stop health problems from popping up.

Ranboo looks over at his device, seeing one of Hypixel’s admins username right there. He can click it, get out of the game and move on like nothing happened. A meow makes him look down at his clawed hand, Enderchest rubbing her cheek against them. He lifts his hand and scratches behind her ear. It wouldn’t be fair to them, would it?

Forcing them to live in such a place with food running low. Having to always leave them behind to try and make money any way he could. Taking a shuddered breath in, he makes up his mind. He can’t back out now, not when winning can mean so much. Not only for him but for his cats, who depend on him for so much.

Not when winning can change his whole life.

Chapter Text

Enderpearl and Enderchest run around his legs, knocking into them every so often as he leads them down the hall. An almost empty bag of cat food in his arms as he goes. He ends up tripping over them a couple of times, though the cats don’t seem to care as they keep using the gap between his legs as a racing track.

One he gets to the door he’s looking for he raises his hand, knocking softly on the wood. Taking a step back Ranboo waits. His cats look over at the door, Enderchest’s head tilting as Pearl's body slams into her. They roll to the ground in a heap of furr. He sighs, running a clawed hand down his face. 

“Coming!” A voice rings from inside the apartment, the door opening a moment later. “Ranboo, good to see you sweetie.” Marge smiles, a cream and brown coloured cat sitting on her head. As if she were a cat bed herself. He looks up at the cat. Would it be rude to point him out? Marge obviously knows he’s up there. Still…Why?

“Hey.” He greets back, remembering the purpose of coming here. “I texted yesterday.” He says, gesturing down to his cats. “I said I needed—“

“Oh I know darling. Come in, come in.” Marge waves him in, moving to the side as she holds the door open. “I heard all about you getting into mcc.” She comments as he shuffles inside, Enderchest on his heels. It takes a moment for Enderpearl to realize she was supposed to follow. He’s still training her to keep up. She’s not really food motivated. More crown motivated, which makes it hard to do anything with her. Marge locks the door behind them.

“I’m sorry for the short notice Marge, I just didn’t know who else I trusted enough to watch them.” Ranboo explains, hands wrinkling the bag of cat food in his hands. Marge waves him off as he plucks the cat from her head and places him on the ground. He looks at Enderchest and Pearl before sauntering over to a left out cat bed. He falls to the side, like a kicked over gnome statue.

It’s common for street cats to be picked up by people who live in Hypixel. Almost everyone he knows has a cat, everyone but Marge. Which he always found funny as she’s the resident cat lady. But there weren’t any cats here today, besides the one now sleeping on the cat bed. Odd. “Slow day?” He asks.

“It happens.” Marge shrugs. “But I have Sugar Cube over here to keep me company.” She smiles. Sugar Cube opens one eye, looking over at her. Marge walks into the connected kitchen. It’s separated by a half wall, making it look like a giant window was placed in the middle of her apartment. “And don’t worry about the cat's love, I’m free to watch your girls whenever. You know that.” She frowns, huffing. “Better than babysitting Firecracker down on floor three. That bugger has a vendetta against my tea sets!”

Ranboo can’t fight against the snicker he lets out, covering his mouth the second Marge whips over to look at him with a raised finger. Setting down the cat food he goes to lean against the half wall. “Have a drink with me, it’ll help those nerves you got.” Marge says as she goes to grab a box of hot chocolate powder. He doesn’t even have time to agree nor disagree as she starts the kettle.

“What nerves?” Ranboo asks, looking away from her.

Marge scoffs, poking at his forehead. “The ones up there. Can see them clear as day.” She sighs, returning to getting the rest of the hot chocolate ingredients from her cupboards. “I hear you young folk are all moving out of Hypixel, you going to follow the trend?” She asks, starting to melt the chocolate.

Ranboo shrugs, eyes moving about the room. “Nowhere to go.” He says, eyes landing on a bowl of chicken in water. Probably defrosting it. He hopes he didn’t interrupt her cooking dinner…

“There’s always somewhere to go!” She says turning back to look at him. “I say the first chance you get, leave. Hypixel isn’t a place to grow old in, take it from an enderly.” She points her wooden spoon at him.

He tilts his head to the side. “You're an elder? You barely look over thirty—“

“Oh don’t flatter me.” Marge interrupts with a chuckle. He just huffs as she goes to her cupboards again, opening them to get two matching mugs. “Young men like you get trapped in places like these.” She starts, mixing the chocolate and milk together on her stove. “Rent goes up, winnings go low. Soon enough you’ll be on the streets like the cats.”

A mug is placed in front of him, Marge pouring the pot of hot chocolate into it. She sets her own down, emptying three rest. “Don’t get me started on the glitches you can get caught in. I’ve taught you more than enough about the risk already.” She states, resting her elbows on the half wall.

Ranboo looks down at the mug, hand moving to pick it up. The heat warms his fingers just enough to feel content but not enough to burn. It’s perfect. Frowning he takes a sip, ignoring the look Marge is now giving him. Marge wasn’t always locked up in her house with the curtains drawn and cane in hand. She was a tournament player just like him once upon a time.

She was good at them too, everyone knew her username. The best of the best. One day she ran into a glitch while in a game. It’s been patched since then but the damage had already been done. The numbness Hypixel’s commands didn’t work right, the instant regeneration breaking down the very second she got struck with a weapon. Her injuries ended up lasting after the game was over.

“What’s with that face?” She says pinching his cheek. “You look like I didn’t just make you hot coco.”

“Sorry.” He apologizes, taking another sip of his drink. She lets go of him with a firm nod, taking her own drink and starting to sip at it too. “Can I ask you a question?” He asks softly, putting the mug down. Marge huma as she too puts her drink down. “Can you…” He looks over at the love seat in the corner of her living room. Cats laying around lazily. The memories of bleeding knees and knuckles at the age of - well he didn’t quite remember - flash through his head. “Can you tie up my hair? Like you used to when I was younger.” He’s been here for a while, known her for longer than that.

“Of course.” She says, patting his cheek. “Gotta look good on your first day on the mcc practice server, right? Win all that money.” He nods as he takes another sip of his hot chocolate. 

~*^*~

He’s been through this too many times to count. The stale air of the train station in his lungs, suitcases at his side with a ticket gripped so tightly in his hands he doesn’t know how he even got past check in with how wrinkled it was. Everytime he ends up here he chickens out, turning around and marching back up the steps to the surface. Who is he to go to the mcc practice server? To be around legends?

He wasn’t so lucky this morning, Marge having dragged him out of bed herself while whacking his hip with her wooden cane. She even walked him to the station, cats following behind her like some creepy rat king. If a rat king was an older woman who he cared very deeply for. Still, he’s pretty sure his hip is going to bruise.

Running his claws through the tuff of his tail, picking knots out of it and lint that he’s somehow gotten stuck to himself. It’s been getting tangled more often with the new kitten always wanting to play with it. He’s never left Hypixel before, or at least from what he can remember. The oldest memory he has is of being curled up next to a dumpster in the middle of winter. His body aching with wounds he has no recollection of. A caseworker found him a few days later, half frozen to death and sick. 

Hypixel has always been his home, no matter how dangerous it could be at times. It’s safer than moving to another server that he isn’t familiar with. He would take paying extra for moving around the server because of threats then walk into the unknown of a new server. Which is why he wants nothing else than to curl back underneath his covers back home. Pacifier in his mouth and his cats purring beside him. 

The reminder of what he’s leaving behind as him frowning, hands tightening even tighter around his tail. The sound of wheels on rails make themselves known and he finds himself hunching over.mIf he’s going to run, now was the best time to do it. Ranboo looks behind himself at the stairs leading back up to the streets. It would be so easy to just get his stuff and go, like he did time and time again this week.

His exit ticket seemed to burn in his pocket, keeping his legs from moving. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. One that he's contemplating throwing away because he’s scared. How stupid was that? The train rushes past, gusts of wind knocking his hair around every which way. “Last train to the mcc practice server, I repeat, last train to the mcc practice server.” An announcer crackles over the station speakers.

The train slides to a screeching stop, doors,opening for him like some gate to the underworld. The memory of Marge makes its way into his head. Of her telling him that if he had a chance to leave, to take it and not look back. Hypixel is known as a black server for a reason. Ranboo pushes down his anxiety and grabs his two suitcases, bag already on his back and takes a step onto the train. The doors shut behind him, sealing his fate.

“This is it.” Ranboo breaths out into the empty train car. He takes a seat and drags his suitcases next to him. “I can do this.” He says, eyes darting to the train map on the wall across from him. “I guess this is it.” He says in the empty train cart as he makes his way to a seat. Ranboo sits down silently. “I can do this.” He says, eyes darting to the map on the other side of him. There’s multiple railways but they all end at a dark purple square. At a portal. He sits back as he tries to relax.

This isn’t that bad right? Being in the biggest competition that could change his life forever wasn’t anything to stress about! He reaches down into his pocket, fingers curling around a small hand made doll. He pulls it out cradling it close to his chest. It curves some of the stress as he sinks even lower in his seat. His back is surely going to suffer but he doesn’t care right now.

An older kid gave him the doll when he was being taken care of by the Hypixel child care program. He doesn’t remember her name, only that she said it’d keep him safe. “A guardian angel.” She had whispered, like it was some magical secret. He keeps it with him to this day. It may not keep him from getting hurt but at least it helps him get back up from being knocked down.

A couple minutes pass before the speakers click on and ring through the train. “Server portal up ahead. Keep all your belongings near you and stay in your seats. In case of nausea there’s bag dispensers underneath each seat.” His hands tighten on the handles of his bags, the doll squished between them and his hands. He takes a deep breath as he sees purple particles fly past the windows. Like they were pulling on the train. Ranboo closes his eyes shut as vertigo sets in.

He regrets eating cereal that morning as he holds back a gag. He’s not going to throw up here. He quickly wonders if he has a choice in this matter as nausea crashes into him like a rocket. He clutches onto his doll even harder. He doesn’t dare take another breath. It feels like hours as he sits there trying not to cover the seats in thrown up cereal. The nausea leaves the second the train passes to the other side.

Warily opening his eyes he scans the train car. It looks normal, not one thing out of place. “We have reached the practice server of mcc, hope you like your stay.” The doors open revealing a dark underground. Ranboo quickly gets to his feet, instantly regretting it as his knees buckle and his vision circles. He grabs the pole that’s next to the train seat before he could land face first on the ground. “Crap…” He groans as his vision slowly returns back to normal.

He slowly lifts himself up as he shoves his doll back in his pocket. “Last time I’m server traveling.” He states, holding his stomach. After collecting himself he leaves, the doors shutting behind him. He turns just in time to see the train rush off down the track. Dread fills his chest as he realizes he’s now stuck here for the next couple of weeks. There’s no way he can afford more than one all around ticket. Meaning he can’t even escape back to Hypixel for a day or so. 

He can do this, he just needs to remember to breathe. Ranboo turns to face the stairs of the underground station only to pause. It’s an elevator, not a staircase. “Oh thank God.” He whispers. He doesn’t know how he was planning on getting his stuff up a bunch of stairs. Hopes and prayers, mostly. Not taking any more time he walks forward. The elevator is clean but dimmed. He’s thankful for that too, the headache that was coming on wasn’t at all welcomed.

After making it to the ground floor Ranboo steps out, hesitant to do anything more than just shuffle a few steps forward. It was a station, seats lining the walls and in the middle of the floor. No one is here though, leaving him alone. He looks around for a bit before spotting the exit sign. The glass windows make him realize the reason for the lack of people. He pushes the doors open and walks through, eyes on the night sky. What time is it? Where is he supposed to go? Where’s a map to…somewhere!?

“Hey!” A voice from behind him makes him jump. Turning around his breath hitches, tongue going dry. Human interaction already? Why!? “Are you lost?” A woman wearing a Noxcrew uniform. The red and white hat and name tag making it clear to him they work here.

“Oh um…” Ranboo stutters over his words as he feels himself hunch over. “Yes.” He struggles out.

“Figures.” She says with a smile. “I said to put signs for people who arrive at night and or late but no one listens!” She chuckles, putting out her hand. “I could help with your bags if you’d like.” Ranboo stares at her for a couple seconds before hesitantly passing over one of his bags. Making sure the one with his stuffie was still with him. He brought his tiny stuff with him, sue him.

“So, Ranboo right?” She asks, looking up at him. The shock of her knowing him must translate to his face because she quickly explains herself. “It’s on your file! Also a picture was put up with your announcement of getting in.” She says as she looks down the street. “We’re told who's in the games, so no one sneaks in.”

“Has that happened before?” He dares to ask.

She shakes her head. “Not yet, it’s more of a precaution than anything.” She explains. He nods as they cross the street. It feels weird to have no one around. It’s so quiet here. “It’s late, so I’ll show you where you're going to be staying. But you’ll need to sign in tomorrow morning.” She explains as they take a right.

“I don’t have a key…” He states as he looks over at the line of colourful houses. His jaw almost drops at the sight. The houses were painted with the team colours, with white shutters and doors. Banners drape down from the walls with animal logos printed on. It looks like the mcc merch was thrown up on a house.

The two of them walk up to the door. Ranboo can’t help but notice a smaller rabbit logo in the front door under the peep hole. “It’s okay, all Noxcrew people have keys to the houses. Plus I doubt your teammates will be sleeping.” She says as she takes out a red key from her pocket and shoves it into the door.

“Teammates?” He mutters to himself. He had completely forgotten that this was a team competition and not some solo run he's used too. Another reason why he wasn’t built for this. The Noxcrew member opens the door and steps in. 

Loud voices crash into him and he regrets ever thinking that human interaction was ever a good thing. He can live with just talking to his cats and Marge, thanks. Trying to ground himself Ranboo slouches, eyes darting into the illuminated hallway of the house. What he hears though has his eyes widening.

“Oh fuck off!” Someone yells from inside, accent heavy on their tongue. He stands there frozen, eyes trying to find whoever the voice belongs to. He ends up settling on a familiar blonde in the house's living room, easily visible from the front door. “You're cheating! Phil, tell him he’s cheating!” TommyInnit says from the couch. 

The TommyInnit.

Like, one of the highest viewed perspectives on mcc TommyInnit. He really shouldn’t be surprised, they were teammates. He knew he was going to be the second they announced his name on the Red Rabbits. Still, Ranboo couldn’t help but feel his mind start to run in circles.

“Hello?” The Noxcrew woman says as she steps in, silencing the group of three. All three of his teammates turn to face the front door, Ranboo stilling at the influx of eyes on him. He doesn’t even know how it’s possible but he feels himself slouch even lower. His back is going to snap at thirty if he keeps this up. 

“Is this lost and found?” She jokes as she puts his suitcase by the wall. Crickets. “What, no laughing? Tough crowd.” She huffs, though her smile doesn’t drop.

TommyInnit stares between him and the women for a few seconds. Then vaults over the back of the couch, tripping slightly on his way down. His wings fan out, righting his form in midair before he could truly land on his face. Before he knows it TommyInnit is smiling up at him, having crossed the hallway in seconds.

“You're our fourth teammate!” TommyInnit shouts, pointing at him. He goes to get closer but before he could a pair of arms are wrapping around the avains chest.

“And he’ll resign if you scare him to death, Tommy.” Technoblade drawls. Ranboo can’t keep his mind from squealing, breath hitching. The Blade is his teammate. Again, he knows this already. But seeing him in person!? He has to be dreaming!

The hybrid hoists TommyInnit up into the air, the avain kicking his feet as he tries to wiggle his way free. “Ey bitch! Let go!” He yells, wings flapping in Technoblade’s face. The man looks more bored than anything. Was he holding a deck of Uno cards in his hands? How were they not going flying?

“Not until you act like you're not going to tackle the guy.” Technoblade huffs, rolling his eyes.

“I’m just trying to be friendly!” TommyInnit shouts. Still somehow not having gotten free, even with all the thrashing.

“Your way of being friendly freaks people out, mate.” Philza jumps in, looking over from the couch. Tommy flips him off

“Well I guess I’ll leave him with you three. Remember to check in tomorrow morning Ranboo.” The Noxcrew member says, looking back at him. He nods stiffly to her as she makes her way around him. Disappearing as she went into the night. Ranboo just stands there, not knowing what to do with himself now that he’s been left alone. There really was no going back now, huh? 

“Are you coming in?” Philza asks as he stands up from the couch. He’s holding a single Uno card in his hands. 

“I uh, y-yes! Sorry...” He blabbers out as he shuffles inside, closing the door behind himself.

“It’s fine.” Philza waves him off, joining the other two in the hall. He outstretches a clawed hand. “I’m Phil. Welcome to the Red Rabbits.” Ranboo stares, hands shaking from just being in the same room as these three. They were legends! How can he not be shaken up? TommyInnit was a fan favourite for his comedy on the playing field while also being skilled at communication. A born leader, people would say.

Phil shouldn’t even be here, having escaped death itself. He’s survived five years in a hardcore world! When he died everyone thought he was a goner, but luck was on his side when his stasis pearl went off just in time. A second too late and he wouldn’t be here right now. The admin was like a myth to every server around.

And then there was the Blade himself, Technoblade. A legend back on Hypixel. The man with the most BedWars wins. Brutal, having the most kills in the game to this day. Ranboo grew up hearing stories of the man like he was some type of hero. A simple rabbit hybrid, one that had a better chance of surviving alone in the Nether for days on end than an afternoon on Hypixel. Yet he not only succeeded but thrived too.

Then he left, taking his unreachable titles with him. He took his winnings and made a name for himself elsewhere. His name echoes in the back alley's like he’s some sort of god. In all honesty, Ranboo wouldn’t be surprised if he was some sort of divine being with how he fights. 

He had merch of all three of them. Way too much merch. “Sorry, do you not shake hands?” Phil says suddenly, breaking him out of his fanboying thoughts. Ranboo blinks, remembering where he was. Before he can say anything Philza starts to lower his hand. “Should have asked, my bad.” The man apologizes. Like it was his fault Ranboo was making a fool out of himself.

“I do!” Ranboo quickly speaks up, grabbing Phil’s hand before he could fully lower it. He shakes it, Phil gripping back with a smile. “Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I think it's jet lag. Or is it portal lag?” He whispers the last part, though Phil still catches it.

He chuckles, shrugging his shoulders. “No idea. I take it you’ve never server traveled before?” Ranboo shakes his head no. Phil lets go of his hand and takes a step back. He goes to say something when a loud yell stops him.

“Did you really bite me!?” Technoblade yells, looking at his hand. Which now sports a avain sized bite mark on the side. The action gives TommyInnit enough wiggle room to drop out of the others' hold.

He quickly puts distance between himself and Technoblade, speed walking over to stand next to Phil. “The names TommyInnit, the biggest man ever and lover of all women, but you can just call me Tommy. How old are you?” He asks, ignoring Technoblade entirely. Maybe a bit too quickly as Ranboo has trouble comprehending the simple question for a few moments after. 

“Seventeen?” He answers after his mind catches back up.

“What month and date?” TommyInnit asks next.

“Don’t placate him.” Technoblade speaks up, wiping his hand on his pants. “It’ll make him worse.”

Tommy scoffs. “No it won’t—“

“I’m Technoblade. Just call me Techno though, no need for professionalism.” Techno says, waving from his position near the couch.

“I know your name.” Ranboo blurts without thinking. Because of course he does. He freezes, cheeks heating up in embarrassment. “Wait—“

“I see I’m still popular in Hypixel then.” Techno laughs, nose twitching. “Tommy, you owe me ten bucks.”

“Oh fuck off!” Tommy curses, crossing his arms over his chest.

“And you are?” Phil asks, seeming to ignore the other two's antics. Ranboo has no doubt that they know who he is. They saw his announcement on the tv. But then again, how much did it say about him? He doesn’t have much on records. Hypixel wasn’t known for needing any papers on their citizens. They take cash up front with stores and medical treatment was far and few between.

Ranboo shuffles from foot to foot as he looks at the three. “Ranboo.” He answers, to which they all seem to smile at.

“That’s a weird name—“ Tommy gets a hand over his mouth for that one. It’s Phil this time who stops him.

“Don’t listen to him, he doesn’t make any sense half the time.” Phil says, wings shoving into Tommy’s face.

Techno snorts, then looks over at the suitcases littering around him. “Do you need help with your bags? I can show you to your room.” He suggests, gesturing to his bags. 

Ranboo thinks about how his limbs are sore and felt like they were going to fall off any second. Exhaustion creeping in like an uninvited cousin to a family gathering. He’ll need to get up early tomorrow too, if he wants to get registered in time. “Yes please.” He finds himself saying. He’s tired and he wants a bed.

Techno grabs the suitcase that was leaning against the wall. “Come on.” Techno says, guiding him out of the main area and to some stairs. Why more stairs? He thought he had escaped them back at the station! 

Techno looks over at him, chuckling at his expense. “Haven’t seen stairs before?” He asks, already lugging the bag he was carrying up them.

Ranboo hurry’s to follow the older man. “Of course I have!” He huffs. “I just didn’t think we’d be going to the second floor…”

Techno tilts his head as they make it up the stairs. “The first floor is used for cookin’, or just hangin’ out. The second floor is the rooms and bathrooms.”

That makes sense. It makes it far easier to navigate the house if one doesn’t have to worry about bumping into people in the living room all the time. They make it to the second floor and Techno starts off towards one of the rooms. On the way over he starts pointing at a couple. “That’s Tommy’s room, that's Phil’s, here’s mine. That’s the bathroom and this one is yours.”

Techno stops in front of a dark wood door. A silver plate was put on it, the name ‘Ranboo’ written in Common then Ender underneath. He blinks a couple times at the language. He knew his name was written differently in his mother language, he just never thought they’d use it. Or even put his name on the door in the first place.

“They try to put your first language for everything here.” Techno drawls, stretching his arms over his head. Still holding his Uno cards. He has two plus four wilds. “I saw a few Noxcrew members puttin’ Voidchant on the public buildin’s yesterday.” He comments.

“Voidchant?” Ranboo asks. Voidchant wasn’t an easy language, filled with vocalizations people found pretty hard to do right after each other. The writing system itself was atrocious to those who learned English first. He could read and write it with ease. To him English was harder.

Techno hums absently. “They're big on bein’ inclusive.” He shrugs.

Ranboo looks over at Techno’s door, name written down in English and nothing else. “Your door doesn’t have another language on it.” He points out. Did they forget to add Techno’s? He would think they would, after Techno’s been joining the games for so long.

Techno looks over for a few seconds, shrugging again. “Rabbit hybrids don’t have a different language. Born and raised in English.” He points to himself. Then pauses, seeming to consider something. “Have you eaten yet? I’m sure we have leftovers from dinner you could take if you haven’t.” He speaks up.

Ranboo’s empty stomach curses at him to say anything other than what he’s planning on telling the other. “Yea.” He lies. He doesn’t even think he’ll keep whatever he eats down after portal travelling. He was saving himself the future stomach ache.

Techno takes the lie easily as he nods, starting to go back down the hall. “It’s late, so you’ll probably hear us comin’ up to bed soon. Sorry in advance.” He says waves. Ranboo waves back, Techno descending down the stairs with a bounce in his step.

Turning he looks at his bags and then up to his door. He grabs the doorknob and twists, hearing a soft click in response. This is it. His life for the next few weeks. How life changing.

Ranboo opens the door and walks in.

Chapter Text

Walking into his room feels like a dream. His breath catches itself in his throat, tripping over his tongue as he looks around the room. He’s only seen the End Dimension in picture books and documentaries. A place of void and a darkness never ending chill. Stars would dance in the sky above and below, tempting those who wish to fall upon a bed of air to chase them.

Floating islands were filled with tall purple fruit and spires, built by people long since past. Kept up and reinforced by those who care enough to keep up their heritage. Endarians and Shulks populate the vast islands as their home. Somewhere Ranboo knew a part of him was thrown off the cliff of the island and forgotten. Left to fall among the stars. 

This room was trying to catch it, hold it within its walls. Reminding him of a home he’s never been to, never saw with his own two eyes. It’s not just spacious, it’s beautiful. The room is dimmed, the ceiling covered in stars like it itself was the night sky. The floorboards were the colour of endstone and the curtains were a nice familiar purple. It feels safe here. 

Hurrying inside Ranboo drags his bags behind him, setting them along the wall. Closing the door behind himself Ranboo glances up at the ceiling. Usually he’s used to being able to reach up on his tippy toes and graze it with his fingers. Just barely. He couldn’t hope to touch the ceiling now. 

His tail moves from side to side happily as he stretches his arms out. They too don’t touch the walls. A desk is pushed underneath the window, dresser up against the wall left of him. The bed itself is huge, no doubt being able to fit his height. It comes with black covers and fluffy pillows. He didn’t know why pillows needed to be fluffy, but he couldn’t wait to lay his head on one of them. 

The walls are mostly bare except for a MCC poster being pinned up. He walks over to it, landing on his team at the top. The Red Rabbits. There weren’t any photos but underneath each team were the names of each team. His name was at the end of the Red Rabbits, like it belonged there.

Like he belonged here, among the champions.

Moving away from the poster he goes to start unpacking his belongings. Sorting them in his dresser. He keeps his pyjamas out and changes into them the moment he’s done. His suit finds its way into the dresser before his head meets the very fluffy pillow he’s been eyeing.

It’s like laying on a cloud. With sleep tugging at him and soreness all over his body from server travel, he lets his eyes close and his thoughts drift. Ranboo however wasn’t alone, as the doll he had in his pocket before is held between tired hands. He smiles, holding it close to his chest and falls asleep.

~*^*~

It isn’t uncommon for Ranboo to wake up to yelling, though it was mostly done by his cats as they swipe at the window trying to get a bird that had decided to taunt them. This time it was the sound of two men arguing over something Ranboo’s sleepy brain couldn’t register. He shifts to his side, eyes catching onto the MCC poster in his room.

“Almost thought this was a dream.” Ranboo yawns, looking at the poster. “First day.” He yawns once again, pushing himself up onto his elbows. It’s his first day on the mcc practice server. He’s really here and it wasn’t some kind of dream. Ranboo eyes the curtains, knowing full well he was definitely not going to touch those anytime soon. He doesn’t know if his room faces the sun and he doesn’t want to go blind his first day here. 

He goes to get up out of the bed, only for his foot to get caught on part of the covers causing him to trip. Ranboo yelps, reaching out to catch himself. His tail wraps around both his legs on accident and he tumbles to the floor. “Ow…” He groans, face smushed into the floor.

Getting to his feet he brushes the nonexistent dirt off of his pajamas. Should he head downstairs now? The yelling has stopped, which doesn’t leave him totally optimistic. One one hand, whoever was arguing isn’t anymore. On the other hand, they might have killed each other. Would it be heartless to just hide up here until the cops come to clear out the body?

Then again, he kinda needs to get the day started. “Downstairs it is.” Ranboo says as he goes towards the door. Only to pause at the sight of his doll laying helplessly on the floor. “Poor thing.” He chuckles, picking it up off of the floor. He dusts it off before placing it on his bed. Ranboo then heads to the door and opens it. 

Right when he opens it the yelling from downstairs starts up again and he flinches. There were two distinct voices and he could easily figure out who they belonged to. You kinda get a knack for picking out voices when you watch mcc as much as he does. It’s made easier with Techno and Tommy having very unique voices, his teammates.

Wow, that’s a weird thing to think. His teammates. He wasn’t just a watcher, a fan anymore. He’s playing in the games to get a chance at winning a coin, at winning money. He needs to get his mind in the game. A door opens up down the hall catching his attention. He looks down the hall. Phil walks out of the bathroom, towel thrown over his shoulders as damp wings trail behind him.

Phil notices him after a few seconds, a smile already forming on his face. “Good morning mate.” The older man greets. 

Ranboo stares for a few seconds before shaking his head. “G-good morning to you too…Phil.” He says, hands going to play with his tail tuff.

The other doesn’t notice his awkward behaviour and even if he does, he’s not showing it. “Were you heading down for breakfast? Or a quick shower before the morning?” Phil asks, walking more out of the bathroom doorway.

“I guess breakfast since I don’t know if the waters safe yet.” Ranboo replies, gesturing towards the bathroom.

Phil stares at him with what Ranboo could only guess was confusion. The look on his face doesn’t stay long, as understanding dawns on him. “That’s going to be a problem...” Phil says. His wings shift closer to his body. “Have you had any time to talk with Scott yet? He probably knows if the water here is Enderian friendly.”

Ranboo shakes his head. Other than the woman yesterday, he hasn't even seen another Nox crew personnel. Phil hums. “I can take you over to the registration building later today if you want. He’s probably hanging around somewhere helping set up the late comers.” Phil waves his hand in the air as he thinks.

“That would be great. Thank you.” Ranboo breaths. He swallows down a vwoop from making its way up.

“I’ll see you down in a bit then. I just have to dry my wings first.” Phil says. Ranboo nods as Phil walks into the room with his name printed on it, closing the door behind himself. He stands there for a bit. Then what just transpired dawns on him. Phil’s going to take him to registration. Willingly. 

Ranboo couldn’t help but smile, tail whipping back and forth. The Philza hardcore legend himself just offered to help Ranboo get to the registration building. He has to shake his hands out as the excitement starts to creep in. That kind of hospitality isn’t shown back home, not unless you're on a team in a BedWars match.

Maybe Phil has something to do, something to ask Scott himself. It would make sense, more sense than him coming along just for the heck of it. But if Phil was actually really being nice, then that’s just…nice. Maybe it’s just the fanboy within him but he chooses to believe the man’s just like that.

Making his way down the stairs he couldn’t help but split his focus. Like what is Techno and Tommy cooking in the kitchen? What does he do after registration? Why were Techno and Tommy such angry cooks? Why was the actual championship so far away still? He hates leaving his daughters with Marge for so long, he wishes he didn’t have to stay away like this.

His focus locks onto something else as the smell of burning eggs fill his nose. “You're going to set the house on fire Tommy!” Techno shouts.

“No I’m not! Look it’s still edible— oh fuck it caught fire!” Tommy shrills and Ranboo jumps the rest of the steps. Sprinting out into the hallway, he’s met with Tommy pouring water over the pan. Techno looks about halfway to jumping the couch he was on but the bunny hybrid is too late. The grease fire goes up in flames as Tommy shrinks, feathers flaring out.

Techno wasn’t overreacting when he said Tommy was going to set the whole place on fire. Rushing forward Ranboo whips open a couple cupboards, finding a box of salt in one of them. He takes it out, opens the packaging and pours it over the fire. Keeping his arm up high so as to not catch the flames.

Beside him Techno grabs a pot lid from the dish rack and slams it over the flames. The fire smothers until the only thing left is the smell of burnt eggs and chard salt grains. The room goes silent for a little a while. Techno let’s go of the pot lid, nose scrunching up. 

“That was awesome!” Tommy pipes up from behind them.

Techno rolls his eyes, turning to face the avain. “You're never cooking in here again.” He huffs, then turns his attention to him. Ranboo shriks underneath the man’s gaze, only to be met with yet another smile. “That was quick thinking on your part. Good job.” He says, patting Ranboo’s shoulder.

Ranboo hums as he leans over to turn off the stove. “You don’t exactly want to put water on an oil or grease fire.” He states. Tommy wilts beside him, looking embarrassed.

The look is quickly wiped away as Tommy puffs up his chest. “Well maybe next time someone will actually make breakfast instead of lounging on the couch.” Tommy says pointedly.

“I was reading.” Techno replies, looking flabbergasted. “You were the one who wanted to make eggs!” 

“Tomato, tomato.” Tommy waves off.

Ranboo looks between the two as he takes the pan off of the stove. “You just said tomato twice?” He says, walking over towards the garbage. He steps on the lever and takes the lid off the pan, pouring the contents out. 

“Whatever.” Tommy shrugs. Ranboo places the pan into the sink and starts the water. “Ranboo, I kinda need to still make breakfast.” 

Techno goes to say something, foot tapping quickly on the floor, but Ranboo beats him to it. “I’m not exactly comfortable with you cooking in the same place I’m going to be living in.” He comments, earning a snort from Techno.

“He’s got you there.” Techno smiles. He makes his way over to the fridge, pulling out the now empty carton of eggs. “…Tommy, why did you put back an empty carton?”

“I forgot to put it in the garbage?” Tommy says, looking away. He fluffs his wings out nervously as he takes a seat at the table.

“Do we have flour and buttermilk?” Ranboo asks, shutting the sink off. “I could make us buttermilk pancakes?” 

“I think we do?” Techno replies, grabbing the milk out of the fridge. He sets it on the counter before heading to get a small bag of flour. “You don’t need to cook us breakfast if you don’t want to. I can do it.” Techno offers as he sets the bag on the counter.

“It’s fine.” Ranboo assures. He opens a drawer and gets out a measuring cup. “I kinda like doing this sort of thing.” He adds. He didn’t have much time for baking back on Hypixel. Nor the money to regularly invest into the hobby. Pancakes were one of the only things he could do often. 

“What else do you need?” Tommy asks as he stands up from the chair, opening up a random cupboard.

Ranboo thinks over the recipe he knows. “Sugar, salt…” He looks over at the garbage, making a face. “We’ll have to go without that one. Umm… Baking powder and eggs…” He makes a face, turning around to face the others. “Never mind, no pancakes.” How could he forget pancakes need eggs!?

“Cereal it is then.” Techno speaks up, grabbing four bowls from one of the drawers. “We got Lucky Charms and Chocolate Puffs.” He adds, placing the two cereal boxes on the table. “Pick.” 

Once everyone has filled their bowls they all sit around the table. With regular milk, he should add. He put away the butter milk before he poured his bowl. 

“I thought Tommy was cooking eggs?” Phil asks as he rounds the corner. Techno had already poured him a bowl of Chocolate Puffs, leaving the milk off to the side. Phil sits down in his seat across from Techno as he pours his milk into the bowl.

“The sink ate it.” Tommy lies, mouth full of Lucky Charms.

“After he almost set the house on fire.” Techno amends, gesturing to the sink.

“I was going to make pancakes but we ran out of eggs, and salt…” Ranboo adds. He swirls his spoon around in his bowl, the marshmallows bobbing up and down as he does so. 

Phil chuckles, looking over the three of them. “I’ll tell Scott we need some more things for the fridge when I see him today.” He says. 

The table falls into a weirdly chatty calm between the four of them. There’s no awkward pauses as Tommy, Techno and Phil talk to each other. Familiarity taking root. Ranboo finds himself like a jaded edge, trying to lodge itself into something already perfect. The three don’t seem to mind, taking his addition to the team in stride.

Maybe it’s because they are so used to interacting with others in a team setting. Mcc is purely a team sport. Bedwars, while also sometimes a team sport, only thrives under individuality. Selfishness. You get paid for how much you entertain, your ‘kills’ and or bed breaks. In the end it’s all about how much faster you can win over your teammates. A teammate's win isn’t actually a win at all.

Back on Hypixel it wasn’t rare to hear people talking about Mcc. Everyone loves the sports show. So Ranboo regularly overheard conversations about his now teammates. They were amazing, it’d be hard not to hear opinions on them. Techno never dies, Phil is an amazing flyer, Tommy is a loud mouth annoying kid. 

Ranboo never really liked that opinion of the blonde, now more than ever. Tommy didn’t seem cruel, like some people would put it. Only caring about himself and what others could do for him. If anything, that’s just an average Bedwars player. 

Tommy generally cares and isn’t ‘overbearing’ all the time. Yes he’s loud and kinda makes Ranboo want to hide at times, but it isn’t out of fear. More so, the guy sucks up his social battery by being so friendly all the time. Ranboo knows the other wants to make him feel included. Even if it’s awkward at times.

“I hear you’re a big shot down in Bedwars.” Tommy announces, turning so he’s fully looking at him. 

Ranboo blinks, his thoughts being pelted away as he sets his spoon down in his almost empty bowl. “Oh…” He speaks up. What is he supposed to say to that? He didn’t know his name even got out much. “I wouldn’t really describe myself like that.” He says, shrugging. A ‘big shot’ would mean he’s popular and Ranboo’s anything but that. The popular people get higher pay, more games and don’t have rent breathing down their necks.

Tommy scoffs, shaking his head. “Yeah and I’m just a Mcc player. Come on man, I’ve seen your scores. You're amazing.” He states as he stands. “Might even take Techno’s place on that leaderboard.” He adds as he rounds the corner, putting his bowl in the sink.

Take Techno’s leaderboard spot? No freakin way. Ranboo’s left slack jawed as he stares at the empty place Tommy was just sitting. That’s not…

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Techno huffs. He picks up his own bowl and heads off towards the sink. “But you are really good. People are saying if someone were to take my very unbearable records, it’d be you.”

“Thank you?” He ends on saying, not knowing what else to do. They had to be pulling his legs. He’s not that good. Yes, Ranboo’s kinda good at Bedwars. Yes, he’s close to beating records. But he’s in no way popular enough to take any of Techno’s spots. No way.

Phil stands, patting his shoulder as he walks past. “How about you hurry up and get ready, then we can head out? I don’t think Scott’s going to hang around the registration building all day.” Phil says as he points down to his still half full bowl of cereal.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll speed it up.” Ranboo nods. He quickly finishes the rest of his cereal and places his bowl and spoon into the sink. Afterwards he heads up to his room to get dressed. Ranboo makes it to his room with ease, taking out his familiar suit and changing into it.

He turns to a mirror and glances over himself. Was this too formal? Too fancy? Nothing Ranboo wears could actually be that extravagant, not with the rips he had to sew and stains that he could never get out. But it’s all about first impressions, he has to look good. Plus it’s better than his workout clothes, that’s for sure. 

Right before he turns to leave the doll on his bed catches his eyes. He turns to face the toy, it’s beady button eyes staring back at him. A spark beads up his chest, warm against his ribcage and before he knows what he's doing, he’s grabbing the toy off the covers. “I can’t have you coming with me.” He whispers to it

The doll’s head rolls to the side, sadness bleeding out of its sewn face. Ranboo frowns, then sighs. “Fine, but you have to be good. Alright? We can’t mess this up.” He states, pocketing the small toy. His tail flicks once before wrapping around one of his ankles anxiously. 

This was a bad idea, but what else is he supposed to do? Leave the doll here all alone? In a new place? He’s not heartless! Plus, it’s easier to hide than his pacifier. And he’s not risking bringing that. Ranboo wasn’t stupid either, he knows that he needs a comfort item and doesn’t have it his mind could go a little stir crazy. Bringing a doll would be safer in the long run that having a meltdown in the middle of a lot of people.

With his mind set Ranboo leaves his room. “We can do this.” He whispers, heading down the hall and stairs. He hesitates once he gets to the bottom. He just had a full conversation with a toy…

“Oh no.” Ranboo groans, running his hand down his face. He can feel his little space moving in, like an autumn fog at dusk. He has to hold it together. He can’t go regressing a day into coming to Mcc. Not in front of his idols, his teammates. It’s not an option.

“You coming?” Phil calls, a few feet away by the door.

“Yeah!” He calls back, hurrying his steps before the man could change his mind. He has no idea how they're going to get there, but he’s glad that he can stick to Phil for this part of the day. “Isn’t Tommy and Techno going to come out?” He asks once he makes it over, reaching for his shoes.

Phil hums, keys jingling in his hands. “They are, but they're going right to the training grounds today. So they kinda have to wait for more people to show up first.” He explains as the two of them make their way outside. 

That makes sense. This is a widely known competition, so having a place to train would most likely be mandatory. It wasn’t some cheap show to entertain you for a few minutes. These games go on for hours. He slightly wonders what training would be like. How intense is it? 

“We're heading this way.” Phil says, pointing back towards the train station. Ranboo hums, already going off where he had pointed. It’s only then that he realises the few eyes on him. Looking off to the right he spots a woman with a cup of coffee, leaning against the wall to the Blue Bats house.

He pauses in his steps, eyes widening. That’s Vixella, one of the original mcc players. Not many people were out on this street, most keeping to themselves. But she was staring right at him. Vixella smiles, raising a hand and waving to him. Ranboo’s eyes light up in interest, a small and hesitant smile coming to his face. He does a little wave back before facing forward.

Phil’s waiting for him a little bit up, causing him to sprint over to the man to not keep him waiting.