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Ranboo knew he wasn’t going to make it out alive. He knew that Tubbo would be blown up before they could get him out and Ranboo couldn’t have that. He needed his husband, his best friend to survive and if that meant sacrificing himself that would be okay with Ranboo because Michael deserved a father who could be there, Tommy deserved his first friend, Quackity deserved a friend and Wilbur didn’t need another innocent's blood on his hand.
He ignored the fight taking place in front of him and moved up to the ladders where he could climb to meet Tubbo. But before he did he took his communicator out and wrote a message to Tommy first, Take care of Tubbo and Michael for me. They need you and you need them. He sent it quickly and ignored the worried message he got back.
He made it to the room and smiled at Tubbo who was crying now. He moved just close enough to put a foot on the pressure plate and felt it move ever so slightly down, he held his breath as he waited but nothing happened. Good.
Tubbo was crying still and Ranboo couldn’t hear anything outside of their little bubble. He needed to save his best friend and this was the only way he could do it without hurting someone else.
“Tubbo, you need to move. I have a plan.” Ranboo nodded as Tubbo looked at him with wide eyes and the smaller boy moved quickly as Ranboo switched places with him. He had freed Tubbo, he saved Tubbo. He would always save Tubbo.
Tubbo looked at him and Ranboo smiled softly as he watched his husband climb the ladder to safety. Ranboo wanted to call out to him that he loved him, but Tubbo nodded and in that moment Ranboo knew that he knew. The two were in sync with each other and Tubbo knew what was going to happen. Ranboo hoped he didn’t try to sacrifice himself as well.
Tubbo moved to the corner of the room and curled into a ball, something that he used to do a lot and something that Ranboo loved to tease him over because he looked like a cat. But now, Ranboo was glad he was doing it because Tubbo cannot see what was about to happen.
He took a breath and looked over to Quackity and Wilbur who were still fighting. “Wilbur! Quackity!” The two of them looked into the room and Ranboo could see the second it clicked in their minds what was happening.
“Ranboo?” Quackity sounded scared. More scared than he had ever been before, Ranboo tried to keep the smile on his face. “Where’s-?” He cut himself off and Ranboo could see him looking at Tubbo on the floor. Ranboo needed Tommy to get there soon because Tubbo didn’t need to see him or hear what was going to happen.
“It’s okay, guys.” Ranboo watched as Wilbur started to run towards the cave and he raised his hand to stop the man. “Stop!” He could see Wilbur stop in his tracks and he sighed, “Don’t come closer, stay in the viewing platform.”
Wilbur wanted to argue, he could see it in his eyes but Ranboo didn’t need to take anyone out with him. “Ranboo, I’ll go find something heavy stay there.” Wilbur sounded a bit choked up and Ranboo almost laughed because has Wilbur changed that much? He was so ready to blow up L’Manburg and Quackity’s shop and even Boner, but a human is too much? Maybe Wilbur was different to before but that wasn’t going to stop Ranboo now.
“I have an idea.” Ranboo started to talk and he looked at the sky above him, it was night now and he could see the stars that Tommy had taught him the names of. “I know what to do. I know how to defuse the bomb and make you realise how frivolous this whole thing is.” He smiled as he saw Tubbo make a movement behind the two, his hand squeezing the air three times, their own personal ‘I love you’ and Ranboo knew it would be okay.
“But tell me Wilbur and Quackity.” he paused and looked at them again. “The burgers were good, right?”
The answer came instantly from Ranboo, a loud, “Yes.” and Ranboo smiled. “They’re the best. Ranboo and they’ll continue to be the best, let me get you out.” Ranboo shook his head and Wilbur seemed to crumble at that.
“No Wilbur, I just wanted to know is all.” Ranboo remembered when he talked to Tommy about the burgers and he realised then what they meant. He hoped Wilbur realised soon as well because history was repeating itself and he couldn’t leave Tubbo and Tommy to be hurt again.
“But it was never about the burgers was it?” Ranboo said. He hoped Tommy was on his way to the van. He hoped he would care for his family because he couldn’t stop it now.
Ranboo smiled. This was it, he knew what he had to do and he was okay with it. He hoped Tubbo had his eyes closed. He hoped Micheal remembered his dad and knew he was loved. He took a small breath.
Ranboo jumped.