Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Techno was young–well, he was at least by immortal standards of life–when he had travelled to the End that day with Phil. Compared to the man–his fathers thousands if not millions of years–he was but a small blink next to it. He could still be considered a child to many other immortals if not for the need to mature quickly while he was still younger. Much younger. However, to potentially normal humans like Wilbur or the recent addition to their family of Tommy he was ancient and a mystery left to be discovered. His life stretched across decades worth that the two would likely never come to know, no less understand or even comprehend. A mere one hundred and seventy eight to his father and a grand total of a hundred and seventy eight to his sort-of-sounder. Wilbur had even gotten into teasing him once he learned about this fact. Calling him an ‘old man’ despite the fact mentally there was no real difference between their ages. Aside from the fact he had seen generations worth of families come and go he was barely the age of a twenty year old. And, to a set few individuals, that was clear.

All this to say he was young, still young and still stupid and not nearly wise enough to understand many of his actions. He had made his fair share of mistakes and stupid decisions, but this one, this one that many would call him an idiot for and berate him for his choice… he doesnt think he regrets it a single bit unlike the others he’s made; even if it left all the other stupid choices he made in the past behind to choke on dust.

I suppose we should start with what had led to this decision.

It was meant to be a simple check in that day. A simple in-out to make sure the enderian community was still thriving under the rule of their recent queen, Phil would discuss politics with her to ensure that their agreements still held and Techno would go out to the community that lived in their floating houses to distribute resources. He heard that they had recently built a library and he wanted to go see it as well. Phil would take a long time afterall.

Most of all he wanted this time alone to talk to his friend once again. The last time they spoke she had seemed nervous, terrified even; she was different. She acted so unlike the figure of grace she presented herself as, and he wanted to make sure she was alright. That was almost a full year ago, it had felt like eons.

So, he and Phil packed away everything they would be needing, Techno donned his elytra and they took to the skies of the bitter Antarctic wind that had seemed infinitely colder from the slowly changing seasons coming upon them. He and his father made witty banter as they flew to the portal and quieted once they reached it, entering the stone structure with a sort of silent respect.

“Just in and out, Techno.” Phil said as he prepared their packs, Techno’s full of supplies the End needed like the recent crops they had produced while Phil would carry all the paperwork to settle things with this new queen. He scoffs to which Phil raises an eyebrow. “I’m not kidding Techno, I don’t like this new queen, she's… strict to say the least. Stay on your toes today.”

“Alright, fine old man.”

Chat laughed at him:

idiotblade
E
blood
dadza getting angry
blood gods in trouble

He shakes his head to try and silence them which only works for a moment.

The dip into the portal is just as disorienting as it once was and once they are safely on carpeted floors of the Endworld palace he sways for a moment before reorienting himself. The grand hall is still as impressive as the day that it had been first built and he takes a moment to appreciate the new silk tapestries hung on the wall, eyes of ender embroidered as a centerpiece. The large and impeding obsidian pillars stretch up for what seemed like miles coming to a point where they met.

Phil gives him a nod and a pat on the shoulder before he is being escorted away by one of the endermen standing nearby.

The fly into the city is just how it used to be. Quiet in the cool night air before the sudden rush of noise as he approaches the heart where the marketplace was. He tightens his grip on his bag as he descends to the meeting place of the merchant that would handle the supplies for him.

The city was always full of life. Enderlings running around with friends, shouting in a language none but their own kind knew as they chased each other. Older enderians walked past with hushed words when they saw Technoblade carting around the produce he gave them.

It was honestly a relief when the merchant met up with him and gave away the precious end stones and soft fabrics they had no access to otherwise as he handed over the multitudes of crops they weilded that month. There were little words spoken beyond the simple ‘thank you’s or discussion of the next trade and he was out of there before he knew it.

He had more than enough time to spare before Phil would be done so he rushed his way back to the palace, to the pillars with crystals at the top to protect the queen. There was one in particular, a broken one with no crystal left near the palace gardens he would meet her. Reixya was always on time to their meetings and he suspected that this would be no different.

When he reaches the place he was meant to see her again all his hopes are dashed.

No one meets him when he turns the corner to the only place safe from prying eyes.

Not the lovely enderian who had flowing white silks clothing her, bright, kind eyes that shone with the light of the stars above that showed no disgust in him or held any contempt against his brutish race. He can still picture her in his mind with her horns that stretched to the heavens and the careful wings on her back that were the purple of a galaxy. The way she had spoken in her broken and accented common with an almost staticy lilt to it.

No one came. Not for a long time.

And Chat was freaking out, the bustle of voices nearly becoming static in his mind.

friend???
baby
friend gone :(
in the wall
blood for the blood god
check the wall
E

One of those messages stood out to him and he glanced over at the pillar with a sigh. ‘You better not be lying to me again, Chat.’ He thinks to himself as he approaches the pillar he had been standing closest to, placing a single hand on it. The cracked walls of glossy obsidian have several places that give way to a pitch darkness inside. There was nothing he could see, he reached into a few of the bigger cracks and felt nothing in those either.

It wasn’t until he heard a soft whimper that he found what Chat had noticed. His slight thrum of anxiety becomes a sudden wave of adrenaline pushing him to reach into the hole and feel around the small space. He feels something soft moving beneath his hand with a gasp for air following it. He grabs it and pulls whatever it was free of its confines.

When his arm retreats from the hole the whole world seems to stop for just a moment. It sparks in him enough emotions to force a shift and he is suddenly standing there, helpless despite his more brutish piglin form supposedly able to handle any problem.

A child, a baby barely even a year old, rests in his arms, screaming its little lungs out as thick tears roll down their cheeks.

Oh. Fuck.

He can barely think before he is suddenly trying to hush the child, soft chuffs being let out to try and calm the child, bringing his arms to cradle them properly with one arm supporting their neck.

He… he needed to find an enderian to take them. Right?

Reixya had once spoken about another non-enderian who had met with her once. Technoblade had asked if he would need to take care of this hybrid but she had laughed her bell like laugh and insisted he needn’t do that. That she rather enjoyed this strange hybrids company actually. He didn’t push further than that.

His heart sinks further as he notes the mixed skin of the baby in his arms.

That probably wasn’t good.

He thinks back for a moment as he cradles the still crying child, to when Phil had first found him. He had been in the rings. Fighting. For the food that his handlers would toss into his cell at the end of the day, for the voices that constantly scream for blood. For his life he fought. Phil had found him and, despite all the blood that flowed into his eyes from his injuries and the way he had brutaly attacked without thinking twice, had extended a soft hand to him and offered kind words. He had picked him up like a child–which, at the time he still was–had given him a bath, tended to his wounds and didn’t prod further whenever he had heard Technoblade hiss in minor pain. Since that day he had been treated with only kindness. Phil had looked at this broken child and fixed him as best he could and only ever supported him since. He had helped him, held him and comforted him. Allowed him to be a child.

Why, then, could he not do the same for the baby in his arms?

He knew they would have a similar life as he, of death and heartache without an ounce of comfort if they were to remain here. The Enderians were a proud race, even before this new Queen, never allowing their kind to take on a mate of different origins lest they be shunned away from the community and never permitted to return. Even he and Phil were only allowed to interact with them because of the trade agreement set in place from centuries past. Even Techno and Reixya were forced to meet away from the prying eyes of others, behind one of the pillars of the queen whenever they spoke lest they be caught. They had likely already tossed Reixya into the portal to the overworld. She wouldn’t survive a minute there, quite literally not born to survive out there. The same–possibly even worse–would happen to the child in his arms that was now settling as he rocked back and forth on his hooves. This tiny, tiny Enderling.

Techno wouldn’t allow it.

His instincts and Chat wouldn’t allow it.

As the child begins to calm themself Techno is calm enough to shift back to his more human form and rest against the pillar, leaning against it as his legs give out from under him sending him to sit on the cool stone below. A shaky hand comes to run through his hair as he takes a second to breathe. Chat is cooing at the back of his mind whenever he looks at the child. He opts to look away to the parchment that had fallen to the ground when he had initially pulled the child free.

He carefully shifts to not disturb the baby in his arms that had just begun to relax as he leans over to grab the cream white paper.

A familiar scrawling hand wrote the note with a simple phrase on it.

Their name is Ranboo.

He takes a deep breath and begins to speak, raising a hand to the child’s face.

“Ranboo, huh?” A single, small and frail hand reaches up and grasps his fingers tightly. At least, as tightly as such a small, malnourished looking child can. He notices how their red and green eyes seem to glow under the dull light of the End with a sort of innocent curiosity. He doesn’t fight Chat as they begin to scream a bit loudly at the sight. “I guess we have to figure out something to do with you.”

He gets up slowly, careful not to disturb Ranboo as they pass into an almost restless sleep in his arms. Their breathing evens out a bit as he begins to walk to the front entrance of the castle.

“Everything’s gonna be fine,” he says with a soft voice, mostly to himself and a bit to calm Chat down as they approach the entrance. Several endermen jump to try and stop him but all it takes is a single harsh gaze before they back off. Ranboo is safely tucked under his cloak where no one would see them. It didn’t calm his racing mind but it settled Chat enough that the child was safe that he could focus on the task at hand.

He stood in an empty hall, Phil would come along shortly to the same place they always met in. He tapped his foot and quietly hushed Ranboo whenever they stirred. He stood for what felt like hours but was likely only a few minutes before the swift clacking of wood on stone sounded in the hall. A soft sweeping of robes and a rustle of feathers became more apparent before Phil came into sight from behind the corner.

His cane tapped against the ground with all the harshness of the warrior he still was yet his face held only the softness and kindness of a father, of a king. It eased Technoblade more and his heart didn’t race as he spoke up, voice echoing in the empty halls.

“Phil, I think I messed up.”

That stops the crow king in his tracks as he stands before his son. A look of confusion crosses his eyes before he relaxes again.

“What did you do this time mate?” There is a happy lilt to his voice indicating a joke. Techno didn’t laugh as he unfurled his cloak and Phil gasps, suddenly understanding the situation his son is faced with.

“Oh gods above, Techno, please tell me-”

“They’re not mine, I swear.”

Phil nods as he reaches out a hand to place on Ranboo’s cheek, they lean in to the touch and the older man smiles. He watches his father chirp out a few calming noises before his face hardens once again and he looks up to meet Techno’s eyes.

“Either way this isn’t fucking good.” He huffs out an unbeleiving laugh, adjusting his grip on Ranboo as they stir.

“Yeah, you’re telling me.”

“What’re we gonna do?”

Techno had an idea, not a good idea but it was still something. He guessed Phil knew the idea as well.

“I want to take them-“ he is cut off by the sound of a pained and angry screech. The cries of endermen followed shortly after. Chat panicked and Techno fell to one knee just as the Queen rounded the corner. She was fully shifted, deep purple wings stretching to the ceiling of the hall, her snout spewing smoke every breath she took. Technoblade crumpled in her presence, the power she held making him squirm. Yet, Phil stood strong in front of his child who cradled a child of his own without fear. Even as the Queen drew near and Techno knelt before her out of respect and fear, covering the child from her harsh gaze with a corner of his cloak, Phil stood before her. His own black wings shimmered under the dying light of stars millions of miles away. He leaned a bit heavier on his cane but did not waver his gaze or bend his back.

These were two royals and it showed.

The Queen roared out a loud cry, Techno could feel the rage behind it and only understood a few of the words. “Child. Daughter. Kill. Deserved.”

“I wish to take this child back to the over-world with us. They are my sons claim and if you do not need them we are more than willing to take care of them. We understand your rules and traditions and this does not break any of them as it will still be taking them to the overworld.”

She seems to consider this for a moment, glancing between Phil, Techno and the once again crying Ranboo in his arms. Her bright purple eyes pierce his soul as he shakes slightly under her harsh gaze. The endermen at her side are ready to pounce at the slightest order, their limbs tense as she glares. However, the Queen just roars softly as she begins to turn, craning her neck as she starts to walk away, a single wing flitting towards them before retracting again as she shifts back to her smaller form and continues back down her halls. The endermen follow after a moment's hesitation. She had given her blessing, Technoblade could take the child home with him.

All at once he was hit with two waves at the same time.

The first wave was of pure elation. His friend's child would be safe in his care. He knew this for a fact. He could find a proper home and ensure that Reixya’s last memory would survive. There was a possibility of even finding the strange hybrid she had spoken of and letting them raise the child. This is something good, a decision that could only end good. Phil would be proud of him for finally, after so many years, making progress towards being a better person. To be able to show his care of others in healthier ways.

The other was the overwhelming guilt and fear that began to swallow him. His face is alight with tears as the reality of what he had done hits him suddenly. He would need to leave the castle for a while. Find a family that he knows wouldn’t abuse the life of a tiny enderling like so many had. Killing the child several times over just for a few measly pearls. Ranboo lets out a tiny trill as Technoblade rests his forehead on the baby’s stomach, pulling the child ever closer as the voices scream at him. All his worries being shouted back at him a hundred fold.

kill him
Blood
baby boo
you’ll never be good enough for them
she’s dead thanks to you
Blood
Blood
Blood

A steadying hand rested on his shoulder and it silenced his mind for only a few moments but it’s enough for clarity to break through for a moment. Phil rubs his thumb over the red cloak Techno wore, such a simple action providing such comfort.

“Let me take them, you calm down Chat for a moment.” He nods slowly, his firm grip lessening as Phil carefully maneuvers the child into his own arms. Cradling them with a much more practiced precision than Techno. It looks natural. The way Phil pulls the little one up to be face to face with him. Babbling little words as Ranboo’s mixed eyes stare back at Techno.

His heart aches for a moment before he closes his eyes, counts to ten and back as he clenched and unclenched his hands in time with each number, takes a deep breath and opens them again.

“I say we get out of here before she changes her mind.” He says, reaching out his hands for Ranboo who Phil quickly gives back. An unspoken agreement between them occurred as they began to walk down the halls.

A silent ‘thank you’ is passed as Phil takes flight, Technoblade following shortly after, carefully adjusting his grip so that Ranboo wouldn’t fall. A silent ‘it’s okay’ follows.

===

He returns to the palace silently, and leaves just as quickly.

By the time they get back Tommy had been put to bed long ago, the three-month old sleeping peacefully in his cradle as Techno gives a goodbye kiss to his pudgy cheeks, safe in the knowledge that he won’t be missed by the little one. Wilbur was in his study when Techno entered, still wide awake despite the late hour, his wings wrapped around him like a blanket.

He watches his brother in the doorway as he rubs his eyes, pushing his glasses further up his face by the light of the lanturn beside him. The soft moonlight trickles in through the curtains as the pen in his hand races a bit clumsily over the parchment below.

“Want me to make you something to drink?” He asks, his brother's attention being drawn from the parchment and maps he stares at. Wilbur huffs out a humourless laugh before standing.

“Nah, I’m fine.” Techno nods before walking over to stand over the desk. “What’re you doing up? Isn’t it past your bedtime old man?” He doesn’t respond as he takes in the paper Wilbur is looking at, some other trade agreement that would need to be renegotiated. He sighs before looking his brother in the eyes.

“I’m going soon,” Wilbur pauses, wide eyes looking at him in slight shock.

“Oh,” he finally says, stepping further away from his desk and adjusting the robe he wore over his sleeping clothes to better provide some warmth. It wasn’t unnatural for this to happen so suddenly. Some nights he left without so much as a goodbye. At least this time he had the courtesy to say something. Phil would be getting everything ready for him, by now he was probably done. “How long?”

“I-” He pauses to consider what he will say. “I don’t know. I got a kid I need to find a good home for.”

“Okay,” Wilbur says. Because it is okay. Because he knows that his sounder will be safe here. That Phil can protect them. And, that's enough for him. “I love you, Techno.”

“Yeah, love you too, idiot.”

Wilbur laughs as he is pulled into a quick hug. He doesn’t fight it as his brother leaves, merely returns to his desk to continue his work as crown prince.

Phil is waiting for him out by the stables.

Carl has already been hitched up to the wagon. Apollo and Steve both bundled into the bed of the wagon along with a sword wrapped in protective cloth. He has all the basics for starting his new life until he can return.

“All ready for you,” Phil says as he comes to stand next to Technoblade, Ranboo is asleep in his arms, his cane tapping lightly on the ground as Phil approaches him. “Take your time, we’ll always be here for you.”

“Gods willing I’ll be home before you know to miss me.” Phil nods, pulling him close and planting a single kiss to his temple. As he pulls away he carefully manoeuvres Ranboo into Technoblade arms.

He climbs aboard, taking a seat at the head, Ranboo carefully placed in a basket for them to sleep relatively peacefully and not be in the way of Techno or Carl. He nods at Phil before sending Carl into a trot out of the royal stables.

“I love you,” is the last thing Techno hears before he is driving the caravan away from the last thing he had known as home in a long time.

===

It’s late when they return to the small cabin lost deep in the woods. Three days worth of non-stop travelling has left Techno tired and Ranboo fussy over the tiniest of things. He had learned in that time the child rather enjoyed sitting up to watch Carl's tail swish about, sometimes reaching out to bat at it and that they surprisingly enjoyed the steaks he would cook up each night. It was fine he supposes, it was something to know on to keep them occupied as well as fed, Prime knows they would need the extra meat on their bones. Plus their teeth had already grown in for the most part, tiny fangs already prepared for taking on food. (It almost hurts for him to think about that.)

He could do research later on proper dietary needs but it would do for now.

The house is empty but clean as they enter. Eret had been taking care of the cottage, dipping in and out on the odd occasion they needed to disappear for some short time or simply avoid her kingly duties for a bit. It was still well cared for and Phil would be sending a letter telling them not to visit for a while so it would all end up okay. Once Techno could get Ranboo a home he would be done and back in his own.

It… it was odd, seeing his childhood home so empty and devoid of life. The soft moon rising in the distance filling the house with a pale light. Ranboo fusses a bit, clinging to his cloak as he crosses the threshold into the home.

He doesn’t waste any time dwelling on old memories. Doesn’t bother with making food or setting anything up in preparation of their stay. The long travel of barely any rest grating on him already.

His childhood bedroom looks just as it once had. The smaller bed pushed into the corner looks the same as it once had, the covers still a little too messy like he always left it.

“Okay, so, we’re just gonna sleep for tonight.” He says as he begins to lower Ranboo to the mattress. “And, we’ll figure out what we’re gonna do with you tomorrow.” They let out a few vroomps, reaching up to him with tiny little grabby hands that clutch at his cloak like a lifeline. He wrenches it free and as he exits the room the cries start. Chat is already annoyed with that decision.

nooo, stay with baby!
poor boo
E
monster made the baby cry
sleep with them >:(

“Chat, we’re not sleeping with them. Just let them calm down for a bit, get it out of their system.” He says as he opens the door just across the hall, Steve and Apollo follow after him, yipping a bit and tugging at his hands. He ignores all of this in favour of entering the room.

Phils room looks a bit too eerie from how it had once been when he was still a child, too dark and empty compared to how it used to be. But, it wasn’t like that couldn’t change, he would just need to get used to it all again.

So, with Chat still screaming in his mind, the child a hallway away and his dogs barking softly at him, he sinks under the covers and tries to sleep for the first time in days.

He didn’t account for the fact that all the noise would make it so hard.

Ranboo was the most grating on his brain. The kid had been so quiet on their trip that now it felt like their cries shook the whole house and made his brain rattle around in his skull as his instincts cried out for him to do something. Chat followed at a very close second.

blood
poor boo
protect
go sleep with them
separation anxiety much?
blood

He tries to close his eyes and clench his hands as he always did but that only seems to make the world grow much louder. Everything grating on his senses. His own mind betrays him and screams ‘child, protect, protect, save’ as he tries to calm Chat down and still his breathing.

But he can't. Theyre so loud. It's like he's a child again, forced into a corner to keep himself safe from the hands that hurt far too much. Grabbing at his hair and chopping or grabbing at the back of his neck when he tried to charge. Hands pressed against his ears and nails dug into his head as if that can calm his racing mind. But it doesn’t. Chat grows louder, and Ranboo cries louder. And it's so loud. They scream for blood. They scream for mercy. The stands are full of people screaming for him to spill blood. They scream in pain. It sounds like static in his brainas the noise grows. He can't. He can't. He can't. He can't. Why is it so loud-

“Just shut up!” He screams and that seems to do the trick, silencing the house completely. Even the child who had been screaming its lungs out a room over had quieted down. His flared instincts seem to calm with the sudden silence. He sighs as he pulls the blankets aside and lets his feet rest against the cool floor below him, grounding him to the moment as Steve rests his head in Techno’s lap. He sighs once again as he buries his face into his hands and takes a few deep breaths, listening to his racing heart beating in his ears. It takes only a moment to slow it back down to a regular heart beat. He sighs as he pulls his face from his hands.

Finally, he stands and begins the short trek to the room a hall across from him.

Ranboo is still there, of course, the bed was just a bit too high off the ground for them to climb down safely. They sit up, practically drowning in the blankets and furs on the small bed.

Techno softens when he sees the tear tracks rolling down the kids cheeks, taking a seat on the bed at which point Ranboo crawls into his lap almost instantaneously. Curling into a little ball there. His brain screams at him, ‘this is right’ it tells him. And, scarily enough, he almost wants to believe it. He places a hand on Ranboos hair while they sniffle lightly, clutching onto his sleep shirt like they had his cloak.

“I’m, uh… sorry, kid.” Ranboo looks up at him with their big eyes shining with tears in the soft light of the room. “Guess I should’ve considered your needs as well as mine.” He brings up a hand to rest on Ranboo’s cheek and they begin to purr, leaning into the hold heavily.

Techno sighs, understanding all too well what was happening. Enderians bonded far too easily in his opinion. Ranboo definitely should have chosen someone better, but, he supposes he would do.

“Alright,” he says, picking up the kid, letting them rest against his shoulder and walking out of his childhood room. “This is okay too. I didn’t really like castle life anyways. You’re just lucky Wilbur isn’t here to bully me for this.”

He settled under the covers easier this time, Ranboo nestled into his chest purring contently. Steve and Apollo were laying near his legs. And, for what seemed like the first time in his many years of life, the voices weren’t screaming at him for any particular reason and were instead cooing at the young enderian curled up on his chest, now fast asleep.

He supposed he could make this work as well.

===

Dear Phil,

I am writing to you to say that there may be a bit of an issue that I didn’t account for while we were discussing who I would give Ranboo to. I, and Ranboo, will likely not be returning home any time soon due to some unforeseen circumstances. (Blame Chat for that one, absolutely not my fault in any way). Keep Wilbur and Tommy safe for me if or until I return.
If you are ever in need of help you know where to find me.

Until then,
Technoblade.

Chapter Text

Dear Techno,

I knew it.

Sincerely, Phil.

===

The first weeks of Ranboo living with him were a bit difficult to say the least. Techno having no idea what to do with the year-old enderling in his home.

Weeks turned to months, months turned to years. And slowly, he learned. He learned their routines and lives, what Ranboo liked and didn’t like. Phil sent over more than enough letters with information (Wilbur had a child in the time he left which surprised Techno quite a bit) and books about raising enderians so after some time he learned what little this world knew about enderian children and proper ways to raise them.

They came to form a somewhat rocky routine, some days it wasn’t so concrete, but most days went like this: Ranboo would sleep in Techno’s bed every night, still too much separation anxiety buzzing in them to sleep alone though they had been getting better about being alone while awake. Every morning he would pull out some of the old clothes Phil had made for him when he was younger. One dress and one pair of pants, just like the choice he had been given each day. Most days Ranboo liked wearing the skirt options, but on the odd days indulged in a bit of more rough and tumble clothes. They mostly wore the pants option on days Techno spent out in the garden, when they would help out in the garden.

It was on a day that he had been tending to said garden that he began to realize that maybe raising a child wouldn’t always be so fun.

It had started like any other day. Ranboo chose a dress, they ate once they were both properly dressed for the day ahead. Apollo and Steve followed them as they walked outside, Steve especially following on the heels of Ranboo as they walked, they were perfectly capable of doing so on their own but the great pyrenees had always been far too attentive to people, especially Ranboo now that they were in his life. Techno had taken to referring to Steve as a support animal because of it.

Anyways, they were all outside shortly. Apollo followed Techno to the garden, watching from the side as he worked the crops and soil. Steve wandered after Ranboo as they walked through the tall grass around the house, picking up flowers as they went.

It was calm, warmer than most late fall days. The sun shining in through the canopy of trees with only a soft breeze to cool them down.

Maybe thats why he was a bit more attentive to when Steve came barreling into him at top speeds, barking wildly. Maybe thats why he heard Chat a bit clearer.

baby boo?
they ran
gone
blood
E
find boo

He was confused about all the noise but when he looked up and didn’t see the small child among the grass and flowers he understood.

Ranboo was gone. Like they had simply been swallowed up by the earth and disappeared. The woods were dangerous for anyone, a child even more so.

And he needed to find them.

===

Tubbo had liked life in the forest he came to know as home.

He couldn’t remember much from his life before but his padre had told him a little about it and it didn’t sound very nice. His padre also talked about how he had really scary dreams about the home they lived in before. Tubbo knew because a lot of nights padre came into his room to sleep with Tubbo because he “needed someone big and brave and strong to keep him safe.” But that had been a long time ago, now Tubbo went to his padre if he had bad dreams and needed to be safe in his dads’ room. He was glad his padre had found them a better home with his other dads. He liked it here. He liked his home.

One with lots of trees to climb and play among as well!

It was on one such day he had been playing in the woods, a sword–it was really just a stick but shhh, no one else needed to know that, it can be our little secret–in hand swinging at the grass and tree bark harmlessly, pretending he was a brave knight slashing through thick vines of a jungle biome to get to a hidden treasure in one of the temples his papa had told him about. He had almost reached the treasure too when he heard a noise that strayed off his path.

A loud crying, calls of something he had never heard before.

Against his papas advice he walked towards it.

“Hello?” he called out to the forest, he heard a hiccuped breath and drew nearer to the sound.

He found a small, curled up, figure in a clearing, crouched on the balls of their bare feet with their head buried into their arms. They wore a nice looking lavender dress, and even as they hunched over in the grass, knees held up to their chest he could tell he was going to like them. Their split locks covered their face as they continued to cry, little distressed vocalizations leaving them. They almost sounded like an enderman in pain but not quite the same. Only ever so slightly different in nature.

He approached slowly, staring at the other kid curiously, his head tilted downwards as he stood before them.

“Hellooo?” He called out again, holding the ‘o’ sound a bit longer than necessary. The kid startled, their head jerking up from where it had been hidden in their arms. They had really pretty eyes but didn’t let them linger on Tubbo’s for long. “Hi,” he said once again, crouching to be on their level. “I’m Tubbo, whats your name?” He asks as they wipe away some of their tears with their fists.

“⋏⏃⋔⟒ ⍀⏃⋏⏚⍜⍜. ⍙⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⟟ ⏃⋔¹?” Tubbo didn’t understand what they were saying but their voice sounded really cool. Like all those endermen he had heard a few times before. Now that he thought of it, the kid did look quite a lot like one of them. If it weren’t for the white split down the middle. It reminded him of his own face and made him squeal in excitement.

“Whoa, you sound really cool!” He said, they gave a little ‘vwroop’ seemingly in surprise. “Do you wanna play with me? It gets kinda boring alone. Not that papa or dad or padre can’t play with me! They just get busy sometimes and I have to play by myself and it gets a bit lonely without anyone else to talk to.” The kid nodded and watched as Tubbo got up off the ground and dusted off his pants. He held out a hand to them and they accepted, letting themself be pulled up. “We should move a bit closer to my house though, my dads might get worried otherwise.” They ‘vwroop’ed again, a lighter tone that seemed to be in agreement.

He grabbed their hand and began to march through the underbrush back to his home.

“I really like you. I think we’re gonna be best friends!” The kid walking just a bit behind him hummed a bit more human sound and held onto his hand tighter as they walked through grass and flowers back home.

===

Quackity wasn’t really sure what he had been expecting today to be like but it certainly wasn’t this.

He started his day like he always did. Later than his husbands but earlier than his son. He stretched his wings and sore muscles slowly letting them get used to being awake. Then he made his way downstairs slowly, taking time to let his body adjust. When he reached the kitchen Karl was already waiting for him, a steaming cup of coffee held out to him. He thanked his husband and went to sit at the kitchen table to enjoy the silence of the house for a bit. Sapnap was upstairs getting Tubbo awake so he had about five more minutes before they would all have to deal with an overactive four year old. They all ate breakfast together, Tubbo ranting excitedly about the day he had all planned out. Sapnap, bless his early morning heart, responded with just as excitement that Quackity couldn’t get together at the moment. Then, because the weather was nice and warm today, they all went outside to either play or work on their little farm.

He ended his morning off slowly, a cup of tea Sapnap had prepared and given him in hand as he sat on the porch.

In his defence he just really wasn’t expecting his son to be walking through the forest underbrush with an enderian child in hand.

“Tubbo?” He called out to which his son began to run at him full speed. He caught the boy and stared at the little enderian as they gazed up at him with big, unnatural looking, eyes. Tubbo was already getting fussy so he set the boy down. “Um, who is this, cariño?”

“This is a friend!” His son smiled up at him. “We’re gonna get married one day like you and dads!”

That, didn’t help him. Like. At all. In fact he thinks that might be worse. He was just really lost with where exactly his son had found the enderling. He really worried for a second that his son had accidentally kidnapped some enderians kid and now they were out there looking for them. He really didn’t want to deal with that. So he called out, trying–and failing–to mask his urgency. “Karl, Sapnap! Could you come here for a second?”

The moment he yelled his husbands had come running from wherever they had been working and soon enough all of them were standing in front of their house with a dilemma on their hands.

“Yeah, but where the hell did he find them?” Sapnap asked, glancing over at Tubbo and the enderling as they ran around the front yard of their house.

“Thats what I’m asking!” He yells quietly. Karl is still looking at the kid now playing with their son. His eyes shift ever so slightly from their normal gold to a purple tint.

“Tubbo!” Their son halts in his tracks, his “friend” stopping with him. “Could you and your friend come over here for a second?” Tubbo just laughs, grabbing the kids hand and begins running over to the porch where they are all standing.

“What is it papa?”

“Could we talk with your little friend for a second, then you can go back to playing.” Tubbo nods at his husband and Quackity watches as Karl gets down to a crouch but doesn’t meet the enderians eyes.

“⊑⟒⌰⌰⍜ ⌰⟟⏁⏁⌰⟒ ⍜⋏⟒²,” his husband says in the voice of an enderian. “⋏⏃⋔⟒⎅ ☍⏃⍀⌰, ⏃⋏⎅ ⊬⍜⎍⍀⌇³?”

The kid warbles back, “named Ranboo, don’t think friend Tubbo knows that.⁴”

Karl laughs and speaks again. “⋏⏃⋔⟒ ☌⟟⎐⟒⁵?” The little one nods with a little sparkle in their eyes. “Their name is Ranboo, at least thats the closest equivalent in common.”

Tubbo lights up and says, “thats such a cool name!”

Ranboo, huh. Karl speaks again.

“⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⍙⟒⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⎅⍜⟟⋏☌, ⌰⟟⏁⏁⌰⟒ ⍜⋏⟒, ⍜⎍⏁ ⊑⟒⍀⟒⁶?” The kids face twists a bit into a frown or something akin to that.

“⍙⏃⌇ ⌿⌰⏃⊬⟟⋏☌, ⎎⍜⍀⟒⌇⏁ ⏚⟟☌, ⌰⍜⌇⏁ ⎅⏃⎅⁷.” Karl gasps lightly, nodding sympathetically as the kid talks. “⌇☊⏃⍀⟒⎅, ⎎⍀⟟⟒⋏⎅ ⏁⎍⏚⏚⍜ ⋔⏃⎅⟒ ⌇⏃⎎⟒⍀⁸.” He watches a small smile grace his husbands lips as he looks at their son.

“They’re thanking you, Tubbo, for finding them and helping them.” His son glows with pride and begins nodding wildly.

“You’re welcome Ranboo, it’s what friends do.” Ranboo smiles a toothy grin at his son.

“⋏⏃⋔⟒ ⎅⏃⎅? ⊑⍜⋔⟒ ⌿⌰⏃☊⟒⁹?”

“⎎⏃⏁⊑⟒⍀ ⏁⟒☊⊑⋏⍜⏚⌰⏃⎅⟒¹⁰.” He watches as Karl seizes up at whatever the child said but calms down after a moment. “⋏⍜⏁ ⌇⎍⍀⟒¹¹.” Tears begin to well up in Ranboo’s eyes, Karl quickly cups their cheek and they lean into it, purring lightly.

“Okay, thats okay.” Karl finally gets up, dusting imaginary dirt from his clothes. “Tubbo, you and Ranboo can go play but I think they might need to go home soon, okay?”

“Okay papa,” barely after Karl had finished speaking Tubbo was off once again, Ranboo running after him.

“Well,” Sapnap begins, confusion laced across his face. “Quackity, can you translate cause I have no idea what they were talking about.” He gets a playful punch to his arm.

“Estúpido, I don’t even speak that language yet.”

“Yet, what, are you planning on learning?”

“Guys,” he and Sapnap halted their bickering for a moment, both turning to Karl. “Listen, this kid is looking for their dad so maybe they live in the forest. If we can find their dad then maybe we can avoid an angry enderian on our hands.”

They let the children play until Quackity noticed the sun beginning to creep towards the horizon. They called the two little ones in and bundled up in cloaks and torches. Ranboo was safely tucked into Karl’s arms, still warbling slightly as Tubbo was let loose—gods above knows that kid needed to blow off energy—and they were off.

The forest was not nearly as dark as Quackity thought it would be at this time, the sun still trickling in through the trees. He hoped that when they did find this kids parent they would forgive his son for accidentally kidnapping their child.

===

Techno hadn’t stopped looking for well over a few hours. The sun had lowered considerably since he first started. Steve and Apollo at his heels as they traversed the forest.

“Ranboo!” He called out once again, and once again nothing responded.

He had been beginning to lose hope, that maybe Ranboo had simply been swallowed up by the earth. That the child he had promised to take care of was already dead.

Then he heard the little ‘vrwoomp’. The vocalization specialized towards enderian children. Chat jumped in his brain and he set off in the direction he had heard it coming from.

“Ranboo!” He heard another trill, high and happy as he spotted the child in the underbrush racing towards him with extended arms reaching for him.

He knelt down to catch them as Ranboo launched into his arms, happy little trills and chirps and vwoops leaving them as they clutched onto his cloak, wiggling in an attempt to get closer. He buried his face into their hair.

“Oh gods above Ranboo.” He pulls back to cup their face and they begin to purr. “You nearly gave this poor old man a heart attack.” They trilled up at him, rubbing their face into his hand a bit further.

He takes a moment to let Ranboo curl close to him before he thinks to look up.

“You’re this kid's parent?” The brunet one asks among the four figures he sees. He picks Ranboo up carefully standing to his full height. He snarls a bit which makes the kid burrow into his shoulder with a little chirp.

hybrid hunters

A voice whispers, then it becomes a symphony of sound as Chat begins to freak out.

“What's it to you?” The one that had spoken before held up his hands.

“Nothing. We just wanted to make sure this kid was safe again.” The man said, arms still raised as a smaller child clutched his pant leg in a knuckle white grip. “Our son just found them in the woods apparently. We were worried we wouldn’t find you.”

As he looks closer at the whole group Techno begins to relax.

The first one that had spoken had spread his torn apart wings, only a few feathers hanging off them. He recalled Phil talking about how avians under stress will preen to cope and he shudders slightly. The other black haired one feels familiar in a way, like the blood rushing under skin was not blood at all. A fellow Netherborne like he. As he looks at the child now out in the open and waving at him he notices the ears of a ram and even a tiny, bushy tail at the kids back.

Then that left the final human. But, as he looks closer at the brunet he notices things that make him distinctly not human. It was a very close approximation but not quite. Too sharp teeth, bright golden eyes that only Wilbur’s rivaled. There was an air about the man that almost set Techno on edge but it settles just as quick.

“So what the hell brings an avian, blaze, ram and…” he stares once more at the brunet and watches his eyes change to a deeper green. “Whatever the hell you are, to the middle of the forest?”

The blaze laughs, “long story.” And, okay, yeah, that's fair. Techno probably wouldn’t trust him either.

“I’m Karl,” the brunet, Karl, finally says after a moment of awkward silence. “These are my husbands, Quackity and Sapnap.” The tiny ram hybrid lets out a tiny vocalization and Karl laughs. “And this is our son, Tubbo.” He places a hand on the little ones head between two still growing horns and the kid hums, clearly pleased with himself.

“Uh, this is Steve and Apollo,” he rests a hand on the St. Bernards head, other arm still wrapped protectively around Ranboo. “And, you already know Ranboo here.” They trill in his arms and give a little wave which Karl reciprocates. “I’m Technoblade. I didn’t know there were other people here.”

“We live just a little bit that ways,” the blaze, Sapnap, points back from where the group came. “Maybe we could kidnap your kid some other time?” Quackity elbows the blaze with a light chuckle. “Tubbo has been missing out on having friends so maybe we could set up a few play-dates?”

“Well,” he begins a bit hesitantly until Ranboo looks up at him with their big eyes from where they are still held in his arms. Little shit knew what they were doing to him, Chat cooed in the back of his mind. “If I supposedly came by every once in a while with some supplies I guess I could bring them along. Just because I can’t find a babysitter in these woods and not because I or they need friends. This is totally a professional relationship where we will be trading things.” That gets a light chuckle out of the others.

“Yeah, yeah. Definitely.” Quackity says as Tubbos eyes light up.

“You hear that Ranboo? We’re going to play every day from now on!” Ranboo lets out a few chirps and nods.

“Well, I should probably be getting home by now. Suns gonna set soon.” As though the others had just noticed the slowly sinking sun they nodded and began to cart their kid back home.

“Bye Ranboo!” Tubbo waves as Techno begins to walk away, Ranboo leaning over his shoulder to watch his friend. He walks away with a smile as Ranboo continues to chirp out to Tubbo who does his own little vocalizations back at them. Yeah, maybe living here wouldn’t be so bad.

Chapter Text

Ranboo had been wandering for a while now. Completely lost. The trees all looked the same to him. They had tried circling back the way they came only to find nothing familiar. He had called out, little chirps and trills that they knew would call their father to him, but nobody came. When they went in the supposed direction of Tubbo and his parents' house they were only met with more trees. It felt like running in circles as he cried out several times in distress and a rising panic, the sun sinking lower and lower on the horizon.

Long story short, he was lost.

Very, hopelessly, lost.

They had stopped a while ago, if he could get their breathing under control then they could find their way home. They cried for a bit, knowing once the emotions were out of their system he would be able to try better and maybe get back. They had learned since last year that crying was the best first step. Once the tears were all out he began to think. What direction was his home in again? It was near water, Ranboo knew this because his father never liked them straying too close to it. Maybe if he found water he could follow it home?

Then a rustling in the bushes stopped that train of thought.

Their fur bristled as they crouched low, tail thrashing behind them. Preparing for a fight.

What he saw, however, leaving the underbrush, was a fellow enderian. Much taller, with scars tracing over most of their body and a tail that cuts off a bit short before the tufft of fur at the end formed. Their purple eyes did not burn as much as others when they met. He let his tail fall back to the ground and let it swish softly, his fur not quite settled.

“Hello there, little one.” The enderian with non-burning eyes said softly, comforting him, lowering to a crouch before Ranboo so they were on a bit more even ground with each other. “What are you doing out here? And all alone at that?”

“I think I’m lost.” He warbles out in the all too familiar language. “I don’t know what to do and I’m really scared.” Sniffles are still leaving them as they try to wipe away the remaining tears from their cheeks only to find more beginning to fall. “I just want to go home.” A gentle warmth encompasses the side of their face and he melts into it. A warm hand rubs circles into his cheeks.

“I’m sorry to hear about that.” The fellow enderian says as they reach out to pat his hair, looking curiously at the near perfect split down the middle. “May I help in any way?”

Ranboo nods, wiping away the final tears rolling down their cheeks.

“What is your name, little one?” The enderian says, getting onto their knees to look a bit closer into their eyes.

Through their hiccuping he is able to say, “Ranboo,” watching as the enderians eyes widen before they soften.

“‘The beloved one,’ a fitting name.” They mumble to themself. “My name is Eidvyrt, I knew your mother and now I can help you get home.” The enderian–Eidvyrt–extends a hand to Ranboo and he takes it with a bit of caution. They are swiftly taken up into the arms of the much taller enderman with a little ‘vroop’ of surprise. “Hold on,” Ranboo nods and before he can even blink, the two of them are rushing past trees with small particles following them shortly. There is a sort of familiarity to the teleporting, a sense of calm as they hurriedly traverse the strange woods Ranboo had wandered into, and they giggle as they rush their way back home.

===

Technoblade had gotten a bit more used to Ranboo’s sudden disappearances. Some days they would be gone until the sun set, others he would get a message on his communicator from Quackity or one of his husbands that Ranboo would be spending the night at their home. It had simply become a part of the norm he supposes. It is both nerve wracking and calming to sit on the porch waiting for the small child to break through the tree line while Steve and Apollo stood at his side.

Today seemed like the day they would be gone for a while.

baby boo
gone
lost
blood
protect

They murmured at the back of his mind as he continued to scan the surrounding area. The hand holding his shiny new communicator tapping against his leg, waiting for the buzz of a message. None came so he waited. He waited there diligently, looking over the horizon as the sun began to set. Casting the world on fire as the bushes near their home began to russtle.

Ranboo burst out of the underbrush with a happy little vocalization, arms stretched out as Technoblade walked out to meet them halfway. He extended his own arms to catch them as they barreled into him, beginning to purr the second the two met in the middle.

“Hey kid,” he mumbles as Ranboo rubs their cheek against his shoulder, still purring rather loudly. “Have a fun adventure?” He asks, mostly as a joke but they nod, letting out some more ‘vwoop’s as they point from where they had come from. Where a new figure was entering the clearing from.

The enderian was tall, as to be expected, and once Techno knew what the figure was he hurriedly looked down at his feet. A bit deeper of a vocalization pierced the air.

“You are Ranboo’s?” The enderian asks, voice tinted with a light static lilt to it in such a familiar way. He sees their feet enter his vision and his breath hitches ever so slightly.

“I mean, I guess you could say–yeah. Yes, they are mine.” He says quickly, still not looking up as the enderian hums. A hand reaches out and rests on his shoulder.

“Then you may look in my eyes, I give my grace to you.” Techno is unbelieving for a few moments, his brain running over explanations, why this was granted to him so willingly. Even with Reixya she had to grow to trust him before allowing him such a privilege.

“I have done nothing for you to give me this.” Ranboo lets out a chirp in his arms and he smiles down at him as the other enderian hums.

“You have taken in a child of my kin, not many are as willing. For that I give my grace.” Techno nods, slowly letting himself look up, fully prepared to look away at a moments notice. It seems, though, that he did not need to as the enderman just sends him a small smile when their eyes meet. One scarred face meeting another. Techno had never seen eyes of such purple. “My name is Edward.” They say with a gentle smile.

“Uh, Technoblade.” He shifts Ranboo a bit. “This little guy is Ranboo.”

“Yes, I know.” Edward wiggles their fingers at the child, Ranboo happily reciprocating with a couple of flaps of their own. “Enderians are born with voidspeak. It saves us the trouble of not being able to communicate.” Ranboo giggles as Technoblade stares down at them, playing with his braid as it hangs from his shoulder. “Many raised around other languages also come to understand them.”

“That’s, interesting.”

“Yes, it is. He—

“Wait, wait, wait. He?” Edward tilts their head at him inquiringly. Purple eyes blinking slowly at him as he stares back with a bit of confusion and concern.

“Yes, could you not tell?” They ask, tilting their head towards Ranboo, making a few clicking noises that Ranboo reciprocates.

“It’s… kinda hard to?” He shrugs, raising a hand to run through his hair and rest against his neck. “I’m not exactly…” He gestures down at himself and all the piglin traits he possesses. Edward seems to understand once they notice the tusks and hooved feet among Technoblade’s more human characteristics. They let out a loud, surprised chirp.

“Ah, of course. That would explain you not knowing the wanderers need as well.”

“The—heh?”

“There are many things about us enderians that are very important for you to know if you are to raise Ranboo. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about all the times they’ve run away from home.” Techno tenses when they mention this, his chat going crazy, rattling around in his mind. He… he hadn’t known that was something enderians did naturally. He just thought the kid got lost, living in the forest did that to a child. None of Phil’s books ever talked about that, then again, they didn’t talk much about anything beyond the dietary needs of enderlings. Maybe. Maybe Ranboo would be safer in the hands of this enderian. “It is important to enderling development that they wander, a sort of need to move.”

Yeah, maybe he should hand off this kid to another of their kind, they would be safer in Edwards arms than his own.

He had gotten far too used to peace. To not needing to move every few weeks or even mere days. Once, if he stopped moving he would die, like a shark in the water. Now, the very thought of needing to leave his home he had built caused a hole to bury into his chest. Edward knew better than he did so maybe if—“If you wish I can stay around to help. I could stay in the area to keep Ranboo safe while they travel and teach you about our kind.”

Oh. Well. Okay, yeah, that works too.

“Uh, yeah I think. Yeah, that would really help.” Ranboo gives a smile to Edward, the older enderians face splitting in their own version of a smile as they both speak a few words in a language Technoblade doesn’t understand. Then Edward turns to him with that same split-faced grin.

“Ranboo is pleased you are receiving my help. And, he wants you to know he loves you.” Techno looks down at said child who is looking back up with a deep reverence hidden in their big eyes. Chat is practically screaming in his brain, rattling around with several different emotions, most of which are a returned love. “I will be seeing you again, Technoblade.” With that, Edward gives another wave and tip of their head before teleporting back into the foliage of the forest.

He slowly places Ranboo back down on the soft grass, watching as they grip onto his cloak tightly once they are set down. He huffs out a laugh, watching as they grin up at him with all the childlike wonder a face can muster.

“Well, now that I know you can actually understand me, we need to talk a bit, kid.” Ranboo nods, allowing himself to be carted off back into the warmth of the cabin. The dogs run off to who knows where to do their own thing as Techno sets about making a fire as Ranboo settles themself of the couch, swinging their legs off the side as they wait for Techno. Once the fire is high and steadily living off the fuel he steps back, falling onto the couch without much care. He sighs once again, shifting to get a bit more comfortable. Ranboo shuffles as well, scooting closer to Techno.

“Uh, so you’ve been able to understand me this whole time?” He begins, a bit unsure of where else to start. When the kid nods he breathes a breath of relief and a bit of fear. “So, you’ve actually been listening and understanding the stories I tell you at night?” They nod once more, a sort of sparkle in their eyes. “Ah,” he clears his throat of the slight embarrassment, how often he had rambled about his favourite stories he couldn’t tell even if he wanted to. “Well then, its good to know at least you will treat potatoes nicely then.”

They giggle, still a staticy undertone to it but sounding a bit more like what Technoblade was used to. He thinks back to what Edward had said before and his face twists.

“So, kid, about pronouns.” Ranboo tilts their–his?–head to the side. “I know now that you’re a boy in your species, but, are you still okay with ‘they’?” Ranboo stares up at him, making little clicking noises and ‘vroop’s for a moment that Techno doesn’t understand. He rubs his fingers over his eyes.

Technodumb
idiotblade, forgot baby can’t talk

“Chat, I’m not an idiot.” He runs a hand across his face as thousands of voices laugh at the headache he now has. “Okay, uh… hold up one finger if just ‘he-him’, two of you want ‘they-them’ as well. Or if just ‘they-them’ hold up three.” Ranboo considers it for a moment, playing around with one, then switching to two then back before holding up two of their fingers with a very determined little nod. “Okay, thats good at least.” Ranboo nods, seemingly in agreement. Techno was happy, at least, he wasn’t using improper language to refer to them.

“Now then,” he runs a hand through his hair, untying the braid it had been lazily put in that morning. “Uh, if you can understand me are you able to learn comon?” He thinks about this a moment before shrugging, their face scrunched up a bit. “Okay,” Technoblade stands, taking just a few steps to where a notebook it placed on a side table, he flips past some of his notes before finding an empty page. He brings that and a pen over to Ranboo, handing both over to the kid. “Writing? Can you try writing something? Anything.”

They run their hands over the blank pages, taking a moment to position the pen before dragging it over the blank page. The words are a bit too big, scrawling across the parchment in blocky letters before coming to a stop with a single phrase.

‘i think i learn speak’

Techno laughs, a bit hysterical and unbelieving for a moment. “Shit kid,” he whispers to himself, running a hand through his hair. He stares at the words once more, still in disbelief at the ability of this kid.

smart baby
cleverboo
E
babyboo!
smart baby

“We gotta get you some lessons in common.” Techno pats his kid on the head, watching him lean into the touch with a soft laugh. “You’re damn lucky Phil was such a good teacher for me.”

They sit there for a moment soaking in the silence besides the crackling of the fire before Ranboo is reaching for the book again, little grabby hands reaching out before Techno places it safely in their care.

‘bed?’

He considers the book for a moment before realizing what it meant.

“Yeah,” he swiftly lifts Ranboo into his arms and makes his way over to the stairs. “I guess it has been a long day for you, huh kid?” Ranboo lets out a little ‘vrwoom’ as they look over Techno’s shoulder, reaching once again for the book that had been left behind. “Oh, right.” He says as he reaches out once more and grabs the new form of communication, dispensing it into Ranboo’s capable hands, silently promising himself he would get Ranboo a book of his own soon enough.

He opens the door to Ranboo’s room, easily slipping in through the crack. Ranboo always enjoyed their room to be darker, barely ever letting a crack of light in. It was odd, almost, at least when put into comparison of Technoblades own life. The only times he had ever enjoyed the dark when he needed the safety of his den. He supposes it may have something to do with the two, almost opposite instincts the two possessed. He would have to ask Edward about it whenever he next saw them.

Either way, he didn’t mind the dark as much as he used to, so he lays Ranboo down on the bed and tucks them under the warmth of all the layers of blankets he enjoyed. It was actually rather impressive they never died due to heat exaustion under all of them. He watches them fight against their rapidly closing eyes as they reach once again for his book. Their hand rushes across the page and they turn it to face Techno.

‘song?’

That puzzles him for a moment. He had never really had a great singing voice, Techno was certainly no Wilbur and many others agreed. The only times he ever sang were silly little things he would make up to keep him entertained doing his gardening or even for Ranboo.

“Are uh, you sure about that, kid? I’m not exactly good at it, y’know.” Ranboo just nodded their head a bit too excitedly. Writing with a fervor in their book.

‘i like’

Yeah, okay, that didn’t warm his heart at all.

aww!
BABY BOO<3
sweetest boy
crying /pos

Of course Chat got all mushy over that. Technoblade on the other hand would not be so easily broken. He was not.

“Okay, uh. Here, it was always my favourite when I was younger. Phil used to sing it to me.” He clears his throat, which doesn’t help much with his nerves and he begins. Softly so that his voice would not disturb Ranboo trying to sleep.

The familiar lyrics feel a bit odd on his tongue, not like Phil’s voice when he sang the same song. But if him singing so terribly is what makes Ranboo smile tonight, then maybe he should do it more often.

Chapter Text

Once Edward came into their lives Techno’s had gotten much easier. There were a lot less sleepless nights and a lot more nights that Ranboo got home before the sun set. A lot more nights they both got a full nights rest meant a lot more days spent being busy. Typically that involved the garden, though, some days not. Some days he would personally walk Ranboo over to their friends house. Technoblade actually also found himself getting ever so slightly more attached to the family that lived just a short trip away from their home. Quackity always seemed most open to talking to him but Karl and Sapnap were also interesting enough that they kept a conversation going. And, hey, if he could get some free child labour out of Tubbo needing to burn off energy carrying things around and running to grab tools and such it worked for him.

Ranboo had been learning more common as well. His lessons coming along nicely to the point they wrote entire essays some days. Their spelling could certainly still use some work but he was thoroughly impressed for someone his age doing the things they did. Techno was pretty proud of them and even more proud he had actually taught someone something. Maybe he would start up some sword lessons soon now that he had some practice with the kids learning style.

It was nice, being able to speak to the kid. Even on this small of a scale. They always had so much to say despite never speaking a word of it.

It had been about five months into learning common that Techno moved into the oral portion of the language.

It had been about a month into that that it started having an effect.

“Ranboo can you pass me the trowel. Tr-ow-ele.” Ranboo nods and hands the tool over from where he sat in the dirt, their little sun hat flopping around their face as they walked over with a grin. He had been trying this tactic for weeks now, saying each syllable aloud and slowly, enunciating each of the words he spoke. It had yet to work but Ranboo insisted it helped so Techno stuck with it. “Thank you,” he takes it and turns back to the potatoes at his feet, most of them were ready for harvesting and he would give half a batch to Karl in exchange for some beets.

“P-”

Tehno doesn’t think in all his years of life, such a simple sound has had him shooting up so quick. He looks back at Ranboo who has a bit of a confused look on their face, scrunching up his nose and glaring at the ground. Techno drops everything and turns to the kid, reaching out and holding one of their tiny hands in his. He nods.

Ranboo looks at him for a moment before opening his mouth again. “Po-potat.” They spit out the word like a rotten part of a fruit but grins like they had just touched the stars, Techno gives them a smile that is almost half as big. They laugh before silencing himself and going on. “Po-potat, b-b-b-ba-d.” Techno stares at them inquiringly, and, honestly, a bit hurt.

“Are you trying to call potatoes bad?” He huffs out a laugh and Ranboo lets out a little distressed vocalization. “To think the boy I raised would ever think-” Ranboo frantically shakes their head while looking right at him.

“Potat, b-bad.” They work the words in his mouth for a minute, making faces as their tongue grows used to the words.

“Yeah,” he encourages instead, waving his hand to goad them along.

“P-tat, potat b-d-dad!” Ranboo finally spits out with a big toothy grin, pointing right at Techno as they say the words. Um. Ah. Okay, yeah, that's. That's not the cutest thing hes ever seen. No Chat he is not about to cry over this.

Technodad!!
BABY!
E
Ranbaby!
TechnoDAD!

“A-Am I potato dad?” He asks as Ranboo clutches his hands tighter in their little fists. He nods happily and Techno lets out a few chuffs of amusement. “Ah, well kid. I’m not really–”

Ranboo’s face drops, letting out a few worried little noises as tears form in their eyes. Technoblade is quick to wave his hands with a sudden spike to his anxiety.

“I-Its fine if thats what you wanna call me, I’m just more of a mentor than a dad.” He says, rushing to get the words out before more damage can be done. “I’m actually okay with being potato dad. Nice choice of first words by the way.” That gets Ranboo smiling once again, a bit teary eyed but feelings left unhurt.

They warble out a few words and pull out his book to write something. They scribble it down quickly and show the finished product to him.

‘I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortble. Sorry, I can call you Technoblade.’ He chuffs out a little laugh as he lowers the book, reaching out to cup Ranboo’s face. They purr, leaning into the hand.

“Don’t worry about it kid.” He moves to their hair, knocking their sun hat out of place in the process, ruffling it and ruining the split perfection. They ‘vroop’ out in alarm and rush to fix it. “Call me whatever you want.”

They nod as they close the notebook and pocket it into his dress with a happy little warble.

The rest of the day, as they garden under the warmth of the sun trickling in through the trees they are mumbling to themself as many words in common as they can get their tongue around. Mostly small ones, all relating to the plants they worked with. And each time Techno feels a bit of pride swell up in his chest.

===

Truthfully, Technoblade didn’t expect to get lonely. He had faced being alone before and that was okay. But, there was a difference between loneliness and being alone. Ranboo had gone off to Tubbo’s for a few nights and, truthfully, Technoblade didn’t expect the house to be so empty. Sapnap had claimed the two had planned it out for nights now that Ranboo could speak to them properly, he had claimed it was to help Techno get a bit of him time so he was quick to agree to it; packing Ranboo a little rucksack of clothes and giving detailed instruction for his care to which Karl wrote all of down and ushered him out the door with barely any time to give the kid a kiss goodbye.

And, yeah, the first couple of nights had been nice, not needing to cart a small child off to bed by the time the sun set and having the time to be on his own was good to indulge in for the first time in so long. He can’t remember the last time he had been able to write out of creativity and not to talk to Phil. But, he had become spoilt in his time. He had grown used to their routine out in the cottage and the life they had laid out together. And, while he could simply walk over to the other farm, or give Quackity a ring on his communicator to see how the kid was doing he was a stubborn man and didn’t want Ranboo to worry about him. Plus, Ranboo would only be gone for five days, he could survive that long alone, he had done more.

He took to walking.

The forest was good to him, the paths becoming more tread on the more he walked. Some days he brought along Steve or Apollo, some days he walked alone. The sword strapped to his side was sometimes used as mere practice on trees, other times monsters wandered a bit too close, and, since Chat craved blood, he indulged them a bit.

It was one of the days he was alone that he met the stranger.

The sun had been high in the sky, shimmering down in waves of sunlight. The summer had begun and the weather was getting warmer. So Technoblade had forgone his cloak, just this once.

His sword was safely tucked into his side, but he still wasn’t fully prepared for the cry of alarm and pain and a hint of fear to ring throughout the forest. In all fairness he hadn’t even known anyone else was here, and for a few terrifying seconds he thought it was one of his friends, or worse, Ranboo.

He didn’t hesitate when pulling his sword free and rushing off to where the sound had come from.

The clearing it had come from was in a flurry of commotion. White feathers and blood as dark as the night scattered around the place. Four figures towered over the final fifth. The voices called out to him:

friend?
blood
blood for the blood god
kill
oh no baby hurt :(
blood

He jumps into the fray without much thought, sword swinging with reckless abandon that he nearly forgot to take a good look at his opponent.

So, when he does he is… let’s just say a little shocked.

The man—could he really call it a man?—being standing toe to toe with him was pure black, it practically dripped off like tar as it’s form stretched into the sky. Gangly limbs that seemed all too fragile for how strong they truly were. Eyes white and shimmering in their own light, not like that of the sun above. More like the stars at night. A pure white contrasted against the midnight still dripping onto the forest floor. In all his years of fighting Technoblade had never seen something so chilling and he pulls away in sudden repulsion.

There were four of those… things, those creatures were cut down rather easily however. Just a few swings worth of fighting and it was over, not much of a fight to even begin with. Nothing stood for long against Technoblade and his sword.

He sheathes it, carefully avoiding the blade as the person on the ground slowly gets up on shaky arms.

He assumes this was the one who had called out to him. And, yet again, they don’t look quite right.

They are wearing strange robes of pure white and a deep green, they softly flow in the slight wind as gold holds it all together. Their wings are big, bigger than Phils even and they look only a bit battered and bruised from the fight. The strange mask perched on their face is broken in several places, spots of just as ivory skin peeking through the white porcelain cracking and splintering off leaving half of their face exposed. And their eyes…

Techno had only seen eyes like those a rare few times before.

“Thank you,” they say, standing slowly and whiling invisible dirt away from their clothes and shaking invisible dust from their wings. “I appreciate the help.” Their voice echos, like there are more people talking at once. It’s a fascinating voice and one Techno has never heard the likes of before.

“Yeah, uh, no problem.” He says, staying where he is as the person leans onto a tree and plopping down onto the dirt once more despite their previous actions. They sit in silence for a moment, the person picking at the broken shards of a mask. “You know what the hell those things were, cause honestly I haven’t got a fucking clue.”

They laugh, a lighthearted sound as they slowly stand once more.

“My name is Exedi.” They say with a bow, the mask falling and landing not so gracefully in the dirt. “And those things,” they lean back into a proper position, head raised towards the sun as it beat down upon the two. “Were Dreamons.” The silence is a bit deafening, birdsong ringing out in the clearing.

And the one thing on Technoblade mind is, what the hell is this guy talking about?

They seem to notice his confusion, so they go on. “Dreamons are, if you’ve ever faced a wither, they’re sort of like that, but more powerful. Much more. They’re creatures that feed on what you most fear. Turning your greatest desires against you. Make your ambitions dark and terrible. They can turn families against each other and wreak havoc across servers. They drive anyone to madness if they so desire.” They laugh a bit as they walk up to him. “I’m surprised you were able to hold your own like that.”

“I’m a decent fighter.” Techno says in return, shrugging his shoulders like it was no big deal, his hand going to grip around the hilt of his blade as he does. He notices the blooming red across the robes the longer they stare at each other. “You’re hurt,”

“Ah,” Exedi says, looking down at the steadily rising blood. They look back up and smile. “I suppose I am.”

This dude was definitely was giving him the creeps, but something about them made him… want to help.

“Uh, you wanna come back to my place?” He asks, a bit too carefully. Avoiding their eyes as he offered. “I can fix you up. Maybe talk a bit more about these Dreamons?” He holds out an arm for them to take, they do without much of the care or caution as he was using.

“That would be lovely.” Exedi dips their head low, slipping their arms together as Techno leads the two away from the scene he has made.

The house is warmed quickly as Techno prepares their tea over the stove, the stranger sits at his diner table carefully wrapping their injuries as Techno pointedly ignores his own in favour of taking the kettle off the stove. Making extra sure he hadn’t scalded their tea, Phil would crucify him if he found out he did. He hadn’t, thank Prime. His injuries weren’t that serious, he could deal with them once he was alone and safe. So he instead he focuses on pouring the tea, a bit of honey drizzled in as requested of Exedi.

He places the mugs down gently, they clink against the table softly and Exedi looks up from their work.

“It’s still hot so be careful.”

“Thank you so much.”

Techno settles into his seat, pulling a leg up to hold against his chest. He isn’t sure why he feels so on edge. He was in his own home and even with a strange person sitting not a foot away he had the upper hand. They were injured and he was relatively fine. He was supposed to be safe, but that feeling of steady unease settled into his bones.

“So, Dreamons?” He begins, clearing his throat as he shifts. “They’re what, like gods–” He doesn’t expect the sudden slam and clattering of their mugs as the stranger pounds both hands against the wood of the table.

“A Dreamon is not a god!” Exedi shouts as they stand above him, their blue eyes shimmering even in the dull light of the sun slipping in through the windows. He rests a hand to the sword sitting against the table and they calm considerably. Settling back to their seat with a tired sigh. “Apologies. Dreamons can only become gods if they take the soul of a dragon, it is a long and painful process on both parties so many do not attempt it. It is rather difficult a task after all.”

“I mean not really,” they look up at him with a playful shimmer in their eyes. “Killing a dragon that is. Not that I’ve done it, just… heard its fairly easy.” They giggle as his face grows red.

“You’ve made yourself a lovely home here, Technoblade,” Exedi whispers, as though in a trance and clearly avoiding the topic at hand. Techno lets them. “Don’t you dare let anything ruin it.” They stand, leaving their tea on the table, quickly cooling, and make their way back to the front door. Techno follows shortly after. They turn back to face him as they leave the house. “If you ever need anything just call my name and I’ll come for you.”

“Uh, yeah, I’ll be sure to do that.”

They smile, giving him a courtesy, their robes pulling along their body.

“Fair well, Technoblade.”

With those words they left, like a blink of the eye. One second there, the next only empty space and a chill wind making him shiver. And Techno has a strange feeling he hadn’t given the stranger his name. And, he can’t help but feel that the pain permeating his body recently had suddenly faded as fast as it had appeared.

Well… let’s hope that’s nothing to worry about.

===

And, before he knows it, he is walking down a well beaten path to a familiar house and is gathering Ranboo up into his arms. Sapnap tells about how the boy was well behaved and he is welcome again any time. Techno thanks them and after a quick goodbye he and Ranboo are walking back down the forest trail.

Ranboo begins to ramble excitedly, all the new words in his vocabulary being spouted off like a never ending river. He talks about Tubbo’s house in great detail. And is practically bouncing in Techno’s arms so he lets the little one down.

The boy runs ahead but knows enough to stay in sight. For that Techno is grateful.

His encounter with Exedi and those Dreamons set him on edge, he knows now that he will have to be a bit more careful and watch over his family a bit more. He would tell Karl to watch out for his family the next day and all will be well. And, maybe the shadow he spots just at the corner of his vision means nothing and was just a shadow.

Chapter Text

Ranboo had gotten used to this.

They had quickly grown used to the ceaseless wandering that seems to plague him. Eidvyrt said it was all in his hybrid brain that would fade with time and as he grew up and one day all his need for adventure would end. They said it was important to their species as a whole and it was all a natural part of their life while still young. So, he decided they could get used to the routine of staying in one place so Eidvyrt could find them easily and return him home just as fast. It was a part of the routine by now. Tubbo and his family had been made aware of this as well, offering to help in any other cases they wandered too close to thier house.

So, when they lost themself to the trees all looking the same and not knowing down from up they knew what to do and stood in place, quite literally hugging a tree while he waited.

It took a while to get past the stage of crying every time he got lost but by now they were simply sitting there, happily patting their hands against their legs and humming a song Eidvyrt had taught him, they said it was a traditional song and Ranboo liked it a lot. The sun was still shining through the leaves when Ranboo decided he could pass some time by weaving some grass together, a few daisies added into the mix for a bit of extra pretty to the crown.

They had gotten through two of their little flower crowns and about three bracelets when the stranger appeared in the underbrush. Ranboo had thought they were just a shadow until they spotted the figure behind a tree that swiftly dips away into the dark of the trees once more.

“Hello?” They chirp out, accent still a bit present on their tongue, but Technoblade had said he was getting better with every word they said. They called out again, “helloooo? I promise I’m not mean! I’m just a little lost, come on out!” The figure steps away from the tree and Ranboo smiles at them, waving them over. The stranger came into the light and Ranboo got a much better look.

He wore a green cloak, covering his whole body, but it was a tight cloak, not like that of their sorta-dad where they could wrap it around themself and still have plenty of room to spare to spin in a big circle. The only place the cloak did not cover would be his face. Would be as they wore a paper white mask with a little smiley painted on it. It was cute in Ranboo’s opinion and they giggled at it.

“Hello there, little one.” The stranger coos at him, kneeling down to his level in the grass and clovers. “What is your name?”

They grin up at him, a large toothy grin with only a few teeth missing!

“I’m Ranboo!” He holds out a hand which the stranger takes in black glove clad hands, the mask is still smiling at them. “What's yours?”

“You can call me Dream.” He says, voice lilting in an almost familiar way. Like he had Ranboo’s accent. Almost. But it wasn’t quite the same. “Where are your parents little one?”

“My dad’s at home in our cabin right now. I don’t really know where my mom is, but my uncle says she’s in a better place.” He kicks at the dirt below with a hint of embarrassment. Ever since he had learned that Technoblade didn’t like being called ‘dad’ he felt weird about saying the word. But the stranger didn’t need to know that. Because that was his dad! “And my uncle Eidvyrt, they’re coming to get me!”

“Really, who is your dad?” Wow, Dream was really interested in their family. But Ranboo was more than happy to tell. He always did like bragging about his family, because they were so cool!

“My dad's name is Technoblade, he’s a really powerful fighter and he said one day he’s gonna teach me to fight too!”

“Wow, that must be really nice having someone to protect you! I bet your dad really loves you.” He nodded rather excitedly, growing slightly more comfortable around Dream as they talked. “And your mom, do you remember her? What was she like?”

“She was really nice, she was a princess in our home once and her palace was really big. I never got to see it really but I think it was nice. My uncle always talks about it.”

Truly Ranboo didn’t have many memories of the palace, he thinks they may have seen it once but the memory is a bit fuzzy. They were very young after all, and the situation didn’t leave much wanting to be remembered.

“That sounds lovely. I’ve heard the end is a very beautiful place.” He says offhandedly, as though lost in thought. Ranboo is sure if he didn’t have the mask on his eyes would be distant as though searching for something on the horizon. “Hey, you want to make a deal?”

“What’s a deal?”

Ranboo was still getting used to some of the common words, they don’t think he had ever encountered this one before.

“It’s sort of like a game. Do you like games?” Dream asks, holding out a hand as though to shake it.

“I do!”

“This game is simple. It’s called Tell-and-Follow. I’m going to tell you what to do and you do it! See, easy.”

It was an easy game to play, and while they waited for Eidvyrt it would keep them entertained.

“Okay!” He quickly takes the hand offered to him with a grin. “When does the game stop?”

“I guess when I tell you it’s over.” Dream said, sounding like he was suddenly very happy to be playing with Ranboo. Ranboo was happy to be playing with his new friend too! “Okay, now, go touch that tree.” He points at a singular willow, branches stretching down near to where Ranboo could reach.

They bounded over as fast as they could, happy to have another friend to pay fun games with. Dream chuckled at the sheer speed at which Ranboo moved. Cheering for him once they reached the stump of the tree and touched the bark, glancing back with a grin.

“Good job, that’s perfect!” Dream clapped, Ranboo preens at the praise and warbles a little vocalization. “Now, take this.” He extends a gloved hand to reveal a rather pretty necklace, a practically glowing green gem wrapped in leather and twine. It was really pretty in their hand when they grabbed it.

“Put it on.” Just as soon as Ranboo went to tie it back the bushes around them began to rustle, Dream jumped but Ranboo wasn’t afraid. There was nothing in these woods that could hurt him. Dream didn’t seem to share that sentiment.

“I think I have to go now.” Dream stood hurriedly as Ranboo let out a sad little ‘vrwoop’. They held on a bit tighter tithe necklace they couldn’t figure out how to put on. They wanted to play more. “It’s okay, I’ll still be with you.”

“Always?” He held out their hand, pinky extended to Dream who took it quickly. They imagined a large smile under that mask he wore.

“Always.” He promised then stood, waved and left without another word, disappearing into the woods like it was where he belonged.

And, just like how Dream left, Eidvyrt appeared. A warble left them.

“Ranboo, it’s time to go home!” He nodded and stood up, running to meet Eidvyrt and grabbing the hand offered and purring happily as they were picked up, nuzzling into the olders shoulder.

The walk back home was rather short as Eidvyrt teleported them home in small sections, Ranboo talking animatedly all the while, waving their hands around wildly. They didn’t say much about Dream, it seemed like the words got caught in his throat whenever he tried so they talked about other things. When they remembered the flower and grass jewlery they had left behind Eidvyrt promised to make more with him.

It was strange, but while the two were walking home, Ranboo couldn’t help but feel like someone was watching him. Eyes boring into the back of their skull. Thank their enderian traits for that but he’s sure it’s nothing to worry about. There’s been a lot of times he’s felt eyes when they’re not there. It was just their instincts being silly, that's what Eidvyrt said.

Technoblade was waiting for them when he and the older enderian walked out of the brush, they ran out to meet him and quickly got swept up in his arms, they purred out happy little trills as Technoblade thanked Eidvyrt and walked inside.

The night was still young so they moved through the motions of dinner, taking a quick bath (it always seemed the water resistance potions never lasted very long so bathtime was always short. Ranboo wishes that wasn’t the case, they wish they could spend hours there in the nice warm water), brushing their teeth together (Technoblade taking a bit of extra time polishing his tusks) and finally falling into bed, a cozy sweater on and burrowed under enough blankets they wouldn’t get lonely or cold in the night.

They are just finishing off practicing his common by telling a made up story that Technoblade takes notice of it.

“Where did you find this?” He asks, his fingers wrapping carefully around the leather wrapped gem. Ranboo involuntarily flinches. There was nothing that could have made them afraid, that was their dad, but they couldn’t stop themself.

A part inside of him said that Ranboo should lie, that Technoblade should not know the real origin of the item. So, with their mouth suddenly dry, they speak. “I found it, in the grass in the forest.” It seems like a respectable enough answer, Technoblade chuffs as he places it on the bedside table, bringing a hand up to Ranboo’s hair, running his fingers through it gently. Careful around certain knots he untangles.

“If you wanted jewelry you could have asked. I can start making something for you tomorrow.” Ranboo likes that idea and they let out a happy little ‘vroop’ at the thought.

“Yes please.” They chirp remembering their manners, watching a small smile grace Technoblade's face. They liked it when he smiled. It wasn’t necessarily a rare occasion but it certainly wasn’t common.

“You know that jewelry is something very important to us piglins, right?” They nod again, still looking at their dad. His eyes soften and that makes Ranboo happy. Something in the back of his mind seems to coo, also happy at Technoblade for being soft with them. “And you still want it?”

“Mhm, I wanna be like you!” They almost slip back into their more familiar language but stop because Technoblade needs to understand this. He seemed to and sat next to Ranboo after a flick of his ear, the gold hanging there jingling, curling around them and letting out his own rumbles. It didn’t take long before a hesitant voice began to sing.

Ranboo had always liked hearing Technoblade sing, he liked the almost purring like vibrations of his chest as he sang songs of his people, of netherborn folk. Not many people liked to hear Technoblade sing, they said there was no tone or rhythm or much of anything that created a true song, and Ranboo thought those people were dumb. It was beautiful and always calmed him right down to a near slumber.

They hardly even notice when Technoblade leaves, he is already so tired it barely affects him. But, they still feel a creeping sense of dread, like eyes still boring into his skull. And, just as he is drifting off to sleep, it is like a voice from just outside the window speaks to him.

“Goodnight little puppet.” It said, and finally he drifted off.

When they woke again it was still dark, the moon shining out on their face as water laps at the ground. The little pond near their house was used for only a few things, mainly watering the garden, and it was totally off limits for Ranboo.

But still, here he stood, a foot hanging just over the tiny waves splashing up. They shivered, not even noticing the cold until now, they had forgotten their cloak inside it seems.

It was strange, this never happened to them before.

They shook it off and took slow, careful steps back to his home. Climbing the steps to the porch and pausing for only a few moments to look back at the water, it was pretty in the moonlight. But they knew the dangers so they opened the door to their home and climbed the stairs in the dark, crawling back into the nest of blankets and falling back to sleep without much thought.

Chapter Text

There had been a lull in his life up to this moment, so really, he shouldn’t be too surprised that it had to suddenly take a small, sharp turn off the beaten path.

There, there was something odd about Ranboo these past few days. Or, rather weeks.

They had never been so, skittish before, had never seemed so… off. Seemed afraid of his own shadow, the poor kid. But, whenever Technoblade tried to talk with them they seemed hesitant to talk about whatever had been going on, looking down at their feet like they were more interesting than the conversation at hand. He had tried to talk with Eidvyrt about it and they just said they would look into it. But, one thing was for certain, it wasn’t the typical instincts of an enderling. For now he would just let it be until Ranboo came to him, even if he didn’t like the looks of it.

In other news Exedi had been visiting more. They and Ranboo had met and the little enderling seemed to enjoy their presence. Always asking when they would visit next which had always been a mystery. So, Tehno tried to make regular contact with them. But it always seemed like they just showed up whenever they so desired with no known place to deliver letters and no communicator to be found. But, they always seemed to know when Techno needed them and came without warning.

They always talked about so many things, most of which Techno didn’t really understand but he was more than happy to listen.

“They’re such a sweet one, that kid of yours.” ‘That kid of his’ currently having a nap, laying atop Apollo as the dog snored just a few steps away from the dinning room. The snow had finally settled and the fireplace was high, lighting up the room Ranboo was in with a gentle gold. Techno’s hand clutched at his mug just a bit tighter as he finally looked away from the scene.

“Yeah. They’ve been… off recently.” He shrugged, raising his cup to his lips as Exedi continued to stare. Their eyes trailing over every little piece of the scene, as if trying desperately to commit it to memory. “I don’t know whats wrong with him and they wont say either.”

Exedi hums, finally turning to face Techno better. Placing down their own mug gently on the table. They breathe out a sigh, wings shifting to drape a bit more comfortably against the back of their chair. Their eyes pierce his soul as they speak. “Keep an eye on him. Don’t let them out of your sight for a moment, watch while they sleep,” the words are almost whispered out as they lean closer to him. “Don’t forget what I told you. Theres something more going on here.” Ranboo perks up suddenly, wiping at their eyes of all sleep and trotting over to Techno with a sleepy mumble.

“Up,” was all they asked, he laughed as he lifted the still tired little enderling into his arms. Exedi smiled at them as Ranboo nuzzled further into his chest, purring a bit.

“I suppose I shall take my leave now.” They get up with a huffed out laugh.

“I’ll walk you out.” Exedi nods in thanks as the three of them walk through the house. Ranboo reaches out for them and they wave their hand towards him, watching as the child giggled. They pause for a moment as they adjust their cloak before they would face the cold, wings fluttering just slightly.

“Call for me if anything else happens.” Exedi walks out the door, the gentle wind billowing the snow about them.

They disappear into the snow, just like how they always do.

===

Ranboo isn’t sure what started it all, but they woke in the night with a sudden jolt, shooting up in bed with a breath like they had been struggling to breathe for a long time. The snow just outside his window was falling gently, and for a few moments it seemed like it was just a nightmare to them, like if he just laid back down they could go back to the blissful woes of sleep. He tried to shake it off as nothing and settle back into the comfort of their blankets.

But something was wrong.

It, it was almost like whenever they wandered, a familiar feeling. But it was still different. Like an actual voice was calling for them rather than just a feeling. Calling them to the forest beyond.

He supposes it wouldn’t hurt to just look out the front door, it may help soothe their mind just a bit to look outside. They wouldn’t actually go out in the snow! It would hurt to do that, but…

They slipped away from the covers and shivered a bit at the cool floor under their feet. They were tempted to grab a blanket to wrap around their shoulders but if he was just looking there was no need, because they would be back before they knew it, so he just hurried down the stairs with silent feet, ignoring the sounds of Steve trotting after them.

And there was the door, standing imposingly before him. He reaches up and the door is open, spiling in the cold from beyond inside and scattering a bit of snow on the floor. They were unbothered by this and just stared. The snow was always lovely, Ranboo and Techno often would sit near the fire and watch it for hours. Now was different though. They didn’t have the time to admire the pristine ivory.

Come here little one a voice inside him beckoned. Luring him further towards the door and outside. He hesitated for just a moment. Then it was like his body was being pulled along, like he had no real control. Before he could think their feet were burning with a slight pain and their arms tingled with the chill, Steve began to bark but it was ignored as Ranboo set off for the forest, leaving Steve behind in his sudden haste. It was like they couldn’t stop. And they wouldn’t, because the voice wanted them.

They couldn’t stop moving. And, a part of them didn’t want to, even as pure purple blood began to stain the snow beneath them.

How odd this was.

===

Techno woke up in a panic as Chat screamed at him. This wasn’t really anything new.

bbay gone!!
Ranbaby?!?!
blood
Ranboo!
blood for the blood god
protect

He sighs as he gets up and out of the covers, Chat was probably just freaking out over nothing again. Once they saw Ranboo was still asleep and safely tucked away in his room they’d be fine.

He is still rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he hears one of the dogs downstairs barking at probably nothing. He crosses the hall quickly, eager to get back into the warmth of his bed and go back to sleep. Damn his body for being like this in the winter.

He opens the door quietly, peeking his head around to look at the bed pushed into the corner. Chat goes wild in his mind and his instincts are more than happy to join in.

For once Chat was correct. The bed, as well as the room at large, was empty of all signs of the little enderling.

“Shit, Chat!” A buzz rumbled behind his eyes almost making them ache as he rushed down the stairs to see Steve barking at the open door, still spilling in a small ammount of snow on the ground. “Where are they?” The buzz grows until Chat is all he can hear.

forest
blood
blood
look there
snow blood

Sure enough, there on the ground is a small disturbance of snow and a large quantity of blood trailing in bloody footsteps towards the deep of the woods. He growls, grabbing his warmest cloak and pulling it on, ushering Steve inside as he does.

He is out of the house and following the rather disturbingly plentiful blood trail before long, calling out for Ranboo, praying to any god out there that they respond.

“Ranboo!”

A distinctly enderian sound calls out to him as well and he speeds towards where it had come from, the sounds echoing in the forest. The noises and calls of distress get progressively louder as he rushes past trees, snow hitting him in the face. He comes to a clearing and has to pause for a moment at the sight. A tiny, far too tiny, shape crouches in the snow, surrounded by purple stained snow, letting out all too familiar chirps and whines as they shiver.

“Ranboo!” The small shape shakes in the cold and snow as Technoblade rushes forward, preparing to bundle his child into his arms and hold them until they are warm once again under the safety of his cloak and the natural warmth of his blood.

He is stopped just short of doing that as sharp claws lash out at him, almost grazing his chest as he backed away just in time.

“Ran-“ He had no time to react as his kid was suddenly set upon him once more, a searing pain came from his shoulder, he grunted as he felt sudden warm pain flood over him. Like the crimson currently moving down to stain his sleep shirt. He felt as Ranboo locked his jaw into place, fully intending on staying there and not move for a long time and growling lightly under his breath.

He tried to relax, to lower himself so he was in a bit more comfortable posistion—made a bit difficult by Ranboo still latched on, but he managed. A hand of his hesitantly trailed its way up the back of his kids skull, they couldn’t seem to stop shaking in his grasp, letting out whines and vocalizations as he slowly pet back their hair.

“Okay,” he hushes them, gently making his hand work his hair, making a sorry attempt to detangle it. “Shh, I’m right here. You’re safe now. It’s okay.” He tries rocking himself back and forth, humming an all too familiar tune to try and calm his child. From here he could see the blood currently covering their legs, feet specifically, and he knows he would need to fix that once they got back home. But, for now, he could just stay here for a bit.

It takes a moment before Ranboo gasps and he is suddenly launching himself away from the lazily bleeding wound on Technos shoulder. They scramble for a moment before Techno catches them in his arms again and pulls them back to his chest.

“Techno?” He whispers, letting out a little whine, trying to pull back.

“Yeah, I’m right here kid.”

“Wha-what happened?” Their eyes seem to lock onto the blood staining the white snow below, a mix of purple and red.

“You don’t remember?”

He shakes his head, eyes widening at the revelation.

bad voice
blood

Chat begins to whisper to him but he pushes that aside for now.

“I think you ran away and got lost, when I found you you were probably scared and didn’t know it was me and attacked.” Ranboo deflates at the sight of the inflicted wound. He rushes to shake it off. “It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt really,” as he said this it twinged in a bit of pain. “We should really get you home though. Get those treated, I imagine they hurt.”

“Ah,” they look down, suddenly aware of their own injuries. “Yeah, just a bit.” They try to stand, letting out a sad little warble before Techno picks them up in his arms. Brain purring a bit knowing his child is safe. “You know I can walk.”

“Nah,” he begins the trek back through the snow. “You’re as cold as ice, plus you’re hurt as it is. I can carry you just fine.” They put up no argument to that and Techno is left in the quiet of the world as the snow begins to slow its decent to the world.

He begins to think.

This was only one of many strange occurrences in the past few weeks. And almost all of them had started once Ranboo was asleep. There was something strange going on here, maybe he would take the advice of Exedi.

The house was still there, waiting for their return with just a lingering sense of warmth inside. Steve waiting patiently by the door, barking as Ranboo cooed at him.

Techno took his time, in a bit of a trance, wrapping Ranboo’s feet in crisp white bandages, carrying him up the stairs and tucking him back into bed. It took a bit of fighting and a promise from him to stay by their side before the poor kid finally drifted off, clearly too exhausted to do much else.

And stay he had, after grabbing a parchment and pen as well as the book Phil had sent recently to them. He hadn’t slept the rest of the night, instead reading everything he could and writing down symptoms he had noticed of whatever was bothering Ranboo thus far. Maybe he should talk to Eidvyrt about this sometime soon. For now Ranboo was safe though. Techno only hoped that it would stay that way.

Chapter Text

With everything that was going on in his life at the moment, Techno could use a distraction. So, when Quackity offered up a day for their children to play he took it. Besides, he’s sure Ranboo would enjoy some time with his friend as well. Poor kid was probably struggling more than he was. They deserved to feel like a kid once more. To forget about whatever troubled them for just a moment.

It was a warm day but Techno still prepared some tea for Quackity and himself so they could at least pretend to do something while their children played. So, they ushered the kids outside and sat on the porch watching them and the dogs run about in the grass. It was nice, being able to see Ranboo laughing again after so long as they ran about, picking up sticks, wielding them with a now practiced precision. After the first instance of Ranboo running off in the middle of the night, Techno had started to train him in the way of the sword in case they ran into something out there he could at least defend himself. They have been doing well so far.

“Y’know,” Quackity begins, stretching out his spine, wings fluttering out behind him with the movement. “I think I’m starting to like living here.” Techno hummed to acknowledge what was said but truly he was still focused on Ranboo as they giggled and ran around. That was the first time he had laughed in weeks. “We were in a pretty shitty situation before. Real asshole kinda guy I married, beat me and Tubbo a few times, manipulated me—though, I only found out about that one recently. You and your kid, and, well, everyone else have really helped but I dunno if I’ll ever fully recover. I’ve got a few bald spots on my wings, the stress made me rip most of the feathers out.”

“Oh,” he says, because at the moment that's all he can say to the sudden dump of history. The casual talk of such abuse like it was nothing. It made him, honestly, a bit queasy. Techno doesn’t think he’ll ever talk about his past like that. But, Quackity and he had always been different.

He can’t imagine how that pain must feel. Wings were special, important things from what Phil had taught him. Even when his handlers cut his hair he knew it would grow out again. And it had; wings were not quite like that. “I’m sorry.”

“It's alright, I’ve gotten used to the idea that I'll never be able to fly. It doesn’t make the people who love me love me any less.” Quackity laughs, his golden wings fluttering a bit in the sunshine, making them somehow glow. “So,” he takes another sip of his tea and leans back onto his arms to further relax. “What’s your story?”

“Uh,” he pauses, hesitating to find the words. Apollo barks in the back of his mind. Flashes of a past he never wanted to remember pass before his eyes. Blood, so much blood. A body at his feet. His handlers face that he almost had forgotten. Flames licking up the walls of the coliseum as dark wings carried him away.

“It’s alright if you don’t want to sa-”

“First of all, I need you to know I’m a lot… older than I seem.” Quackity looks proud when Technoblade finally speaks. Punching him lightly in the arm lightly.

“Hey, Karl’s kinda like that too. Y’know, if you ever need to talk about the whole ‘immortal’ thing. He gets it.” Techno almost wants to laugh at that. Maybe he would bring it up with the man at a later date.

“I uh, I was taken from my home, the Nether, when I was… honestly I can’t remember how old I was, so young. They took me to a coliseum, I don’t know if you knew of those?” Quackity nods in understanding and Techno goes on. “I was trained ever since to become a fighter. I think I had my first kill before I was even ten. If you were a hybrid you didn’t have a choice but to fight unless you wanted to die.” There is no answer to that, but now he can’t seem to stop the words as they fall from his mouth like gentle snowflakes. “I only survived because I would strike first.”

“There was one fight where I was meant to face off against an unbeatable champion and I knew I was gonna die. I said my prayers, I guess the gods heard me that one day ‘cause a man saved me and took me home with him, and now I’m here.”

“Hmm,” Quackity huffs out a laugh, “man, I thought my trauma was bad.” That pulls a laugh out of him, almost forcefully, biting back at the tears that he just noticed hanging in the corners of his eyes. “And your dad?”

He is almost puzzled for a moment before he remembers that he had in fact mentioned Phil.

“Yeah, he uh… Still alive and sending letters from the Antarctic Empire.”

“Oh, your father lives in the capital?”

“You could say that.” Techno sighs as he takes a sip of his tea. “King Phil’s a pretty big person there.” He watches as the realisation came to Quackity, watches his face fall with slight horror and he laughs for a long time.

“Oh, shit.” He chuckles more as the avian turns to face him better. “So you and Ranboo are like, royalty?”

Techno scoffs and pushes a hand against the avian's shoulder. “Nah, I never really wanted to be so once I found Ranboo we moved out here for his sake and kinda mine… mostly mine. I was never really one for royalty and politics. Just wanted this,” he gestures around to the cabin and woods then shrugs. “But, I got a few brothers. They’re more the prince you’re looking for.”

“Maybe I’ll get to meet them one day.”

“Maybe,”

The world goes still as Ranboo lets out a scream and Techno is just about to stand with full intent to kill before they begin to laugh and he watches as Tubbo continues to play-wrestle with him. He sighs out the worried tone of a parent and settles back down on the steps of his home.

Quackity is staring at him, lifting his mug to take a sip of his tea. “Listen, Technoblade. I don’t know exactly what's going on but I’ve been a parent far too long to not know something is up. I know how you feel like you’re failing Ranboo,” he goes to speak before a hand is held up to silence him. “But, I’m gonna let you in on a secret. You’re not.” He, honestly, can’t really stop the laughter from bubbling up to the surface. He lets it out and is met with a slight glare. “No, I’m serious. They’re going to be fine, with you as their father they’re already great. I mean, look at Tubbo.”

He does look at Tubbo. The kid is all smiles and laughter and playfully chasing Ranboo around in a game of tag. Tubbo was, quite possibly, the happiest kid Techno knew, he was certainly on the road to living a good life. Quackity laughs and goes on. “That kid grew up in the worst hellhole a kid could grow up in for his first few years of life, but he's still doing alright. Even with a complete fuck up as one of his fathers.”

“I don’t think you’re a fuck up.” He says, a bit awkwardly, watching as Quackity laughs, shoulders shaking as he does.

“And I don’t think you are.” A hand pats his shoulder and he almost leans into it rather than shake it off. “They may not forgive you for things now but once they grow up they’ll understand why you do what you do, and they’ll learn to forgive because you’re trying.” Quackity’s face scrunches up with a sour look just as he says this. “Unless you did something terrible, then they might leave forever and never talk to you again. But, hey, that’s their choice to make. And we, as people meant to love unconditionally, must accept that.” He raises his mug to the skies before tossing back the last few sips, placing it down on the wood with a soft ‘clank’ of the porcelain. “What I’m trying to say, Technoblade, is that you don’t need to stress, you’re alright.”

“…Thank you, Quackity.”

“Anytime,” just as their conversation concludes, Techno feels the first drop of rain. The skies had, at some point while he hadn’t been paying attention, clouded over and the wind began to howl. He stood quickly, rushing over to Ranboo with his cloak in tow, once he reached them he tossed his cloak over him for protection.

“Alright, enough play. Time to go inside.” He quickly ushers them towards the porch as they grip at his cloak and pants, taking the biggest steps he could manage to keep up. It was often a bit of a surprise knowing that Ranboo now reached his waist. It was… odd, in a comforting sort of way. They were growing up.

Once the two children are bundled safely inside beside the fireplace with warm mugs of hot cocoa in hand and having finally convinced Quackity they could spend the night due to the rather heavy rain just outside Techno relaxes into the couch, book in hand as Quackity and Tubbo go about setting up their place to sleep. They would all be in the living room tonight. Safety in numbers and all that, not because Ranboo and Tubbo would want to spend more time together. Not at all.

He is startled out of his reading when a rather heavy weight comes to rest atop his stomach and chest. He chuckles as Ranboo situates himself in Techno’s arms sleepily.

awwww
sweet baby boy
child
BABY BOO

He scoffs off the voices in his head for a moment to instead run his hands over his son's hair.

He pauses. Son. That, that doesn’t feel quite right but it’s not wrong per-say. Just, off. A bit weird and strange. Maybe he still wasn’t quite ready. His heart sinks in his chest and he pulls his hand away quickly.

Ranboo whined a bit but made no further complaint. Just stayed where they were, sleepily humming a song.

“Technoblade,” he said suddenly, face turning away from the warmth and safety of Techno’s chest to look him in the eyes. “Could you, maybe, braid my hair?”

Techno’s brain is alight with activity upon hearing those words, both Chat and instincts screaming in delight.

Yes Yes
BABY BOO
cover in gold
baby
AAAAA

He clears his throat, taking a moment to collect himself and calm his suddenly rampaging mind before he nods, running his fingers through Ranboo’s hair. “Yeah, if you want that. I can braid it tomorrow.”

They let out a happy little vroomp and snuggle just a bit closer. Techno holds them just a bit tighter, trying not to think about the implications that tomorrow would hold. Maybe by then he would be ready to accept it.

Chapter Text

Techno had gotten into a routine.

Eidvyrt had begun to stay closer more often, prompting Technoblade to ask if they wished a house of their own to which they turned down on the basis that they enjoyed the freedom of the outdoors. It was their natural place, and that wasn’t something Techno was about to take away. Still, Techno extended the offer of allowing them a roof over their head on rainy days. They accepted and Ranboo learned even more of their kind on those rainy days, being able to lean against his elder while they watched the fire burn bright and warm, chirping and trilling at each other in a language Technoblade had no hopes of learning nor understanding. They seemed more content like this, in the presence of another like them.

Techno had taken to braiding the younger's hair, in small segments at first before Ranboo insisted that he wanted a full braid like he had. Techno took careful time in separating the segments and connecting them once again, the two halves of hair coming together in a gentle grey in some places where the two colours met.

In other news of his kid, the sleepwalking–or, Ranboo liked to call it their Enderwalking, insisting it sounded cooler–had yet to cease. In fact, it seemed to get worse as the nights went on.

They had talked it through, Eidvyrt pitching in to offer some more advice on the subject, and they settled on having an alarm system set in place. A bell was attached to the door frame of the little ones bedroom so Techno could avoid them running off once again and potentially getting hurt.

On nights they had tried to run to the forest once more Techno was able to get up in time to pull them gently back inside, carting them off to the kitchen and making the two of them a warm drink. There would be no sleep from the older of the two for the rest of the night as Ranboo drifted off once again, laying against Techno on the couch.

It wasn’t great, but considering they still had no clue what was going on and it seemed no one had answers it was the best they could do.

In that time Ranboo grew, they were still pretty small, all things considered, but going on to nine years soon was a rather considerable feat to be able to reach just below where Techno’s rib-cage ended.

Was it really so strange to see the tiny baby he had once rescued turning into such a blossom of joy? Though, perhaps that wasn’t entirely accurate. There was still the whole Ordeal.

Nothing Techno couldn’t handle, of course, but still something that plagued the small family.

Today, it seemed, would be no different.

It was one of those odd days where Ranboo was able to sleep throughout the night. Only to wake in the morning with thrashing and screaming, only waking fully once Techno was able to calm them down enough for them to realize it was just a bad dream. They wouldn’t talk much as Techno prepared breakfast and they ate in silence before, depending on the weather, they would both be outside, dirt on their hands as they worked the garden; or they would both be inside, reading their separate books on the same couch. Occupying the same space while feeling a world away.

Today seemed different though.

Ranboo woke up on his own time, not needing Techno to shake them away from nightmares. He walked around the house in a daze, shaky steps making him stumble every so often, grabbing onto the wall just in time before they were sent falling to the floor.

Technoblade kept a close eye on him, apparently not close enough.

It was mid-afternoon that he heard the sudden shattering of glass or something of equal fragility, that sent him running for the sound.

“Ranboo-” just as he entered the kitchen he saw the poor kid sitting on the ground, shattered ceramics of a mug and hot liquid surrounding him, hands grasping at some of the shards. Blood mixes with whatever he had been trying to make and that sends Techno into a spiral. “Ranboo!” He rushes over, coming to kneel beside them and placing a hand on their shoulder.

He hears the angry growling, a low, staticky vibration, before he feels the searing pain across his arm sending him careening back in shock. He feels the warmth running down his arm as he looks at Ranboo.

That is not his kid.

Ranboo does not look so ravenous, like a cornered, wild animal where the only move is to strike or die. Ranboo does not have blood staining their claws or running down his chin. Ranboo’s eyes are not such a striking shade of purple. And they certainly have never attacked him before.

It feels like a blink before their eyes are back to a normal colour, his hands begin to shake as he stares wide eyed at Techno. At the blood dripping down to the floor and down his arm from the bite and the scratch marks. Their eyes widen further when they look down, his hands painted in red. Ranboo looks up with even more fear, tears beginning to rise up as his chest flutters with a half breath.

“Ran-” Before either of them think Techno is left alone on the floor of the kitchen with a pool of blood beneath his knees. Only tiny, purple particles flutter to the ground where Ranboo once sat. Techno can’t even feel the excitement of this fact–they had been testing if his kid could teleport for a while now–because his head is a sudden mess of noise and he can feel the familiar shifting of his own skin, a crawling sensation. And as he shifts to a more piglin form Chat still screams in his head.

child
not safe
protect
protect
protect

In a sudden rush, red tinting the edges of his vision, he bursts out of the house in a wave of fury.

A part of him, in the back of his mind, knew that Ranboo could handle himself. He had taken well to the sword training Techno had given and could almost best the famous Blood God in a fight. The forefront of his brain, however, was more focused on the fact his child was out there alone after being so terrified only moments before.

As he runs through the forest, trees passing him as he runs, he doesn’t know where it is he is going.

There is a voice. Almost like Chat, but not quite, more a whisper in his ear.

Turn right, it whispers and he follows blindly further into the trees. The weeping willow, go there. Once he arrives beside the tree he spots them, the footsteps leading away further into the darkness of the trees and further away from their home. Follow them. Take your child home.

===

Ranboo wasn’t afraid. Okay, well, they were, but not of the woods. They knew these woods and knew the forest held them in favour, he knew if he stayed by that willow then maybe their father would find him. But he couldn’t go back. Not while the blood still stained their hands and face. If only they could touch water, maybe they could clean it off.

Wishful thinking, he supposes.

So, they began to walk. They knew eventually Eidvyrt would find him and take him home but they needed a moment to themself. To walk off whatever had been infecting him.

It was strange to see the sudden light coming from a bit further away, deeper into the forest. It started off small, a slight pinprick that flickered every so often, he approached slowly and as quiet as he could.

Something wasn’t quite right.

This was not where Tubbo and his parents lived and they had never spoken of camping out. And, as Ranboo approached, he saw what was going on.

Cages sat on the ground or hanging from trees. The campfire glowed bright in the slowly dulling world and the sounds of laughter made a shiver roll down his spine. He whimpered, holding a hand up to his mouth to muffle the terrified little vroops.

He had only heard stories from his father, Karl, Quackity and Sapnap, but they knew hunters when they saw them.

He slowly takes a step back, keeping his eyes locked on the camp and its inhabitants, watching as the men laughed loudly into the sky as they spoke.

Their back runs into something and they let out a nervous ‘mrrp’, jolting back and turning to face what he had hoped was a tree.

It was not.

The man was tall, taller that him at least. His smile screamed of malice as he knelt down to look into Ranboo’s eyes, making a staticky growl rise in their throat despite the overwhelming sense of dread and pure terror.

“Well, you really are something to look at, huh?” He blinks his red and green eyes and begins to take careful steps away once again. “I’m sure you would sell for quite a pretty piece of gold. Don’t think I’ve ever seen something like you.”

He snarls and prepares to run before a hand closes around their arms, roughly pulling him this way and that. He feels the moment their feet leave the ground and they let out a yelp mixed rather heavily with a growl.

“Jus' stop squirming, it ain’t as bad as you think it’ll be.” The man holding him snaps, maneuvering Ranboo for a better hold around their chest.

“Let me go!” He screeches loud enough the birds nesting in the trees overhead caw and fly off free. He can feel the tears that begin to roll down their cheeks that go ignored and not wiped away by familiarly warm hands.

“Oho, it talks!” The first man says, grin seeming to stretch even more than it already was. A hand twists into his hair, pulling their face to meet the mans. He leans in, tilting their chin with two fingers. He smiles as Ranboo snarls at him. “Maybe you would make a good pet then.”

Those words strike something within them. He pulls forward just enough to latch onto the mans finger with sharp teeth, for the second time that day they taste the copper of blood and hear a cry of pain. The stinging pain in their cheek in unfamiliar though, they let go with a wince of pain.

“Fucker just bit me!” They are dragged away from the man as he grips his hand in pain, one finger less. Oh gods, they spit the missing appendage to the ground in disgust and horror along with a thick glob of blood, what the fuck am I becoming?

“Disinfect that wound, little shit’s probably got some sorta disease.” He attempts to spit more blood from his mouth, a chill creeping up their spine before they are tossed against cold and hard metal. A ‘clang’ follows and they know they are trapped. Not that it matters much, Eidvyrt would be coming for them.

He takes the time to wipe off his mouth with a corner of their sweater sleeve. They would need a long bath after this, and also maybe a healing potion to get rid of that taste. Healing potions always burned but at least that would get the old metal taste to go away. For now they would just sit here, watching the man as he cauterizes the wound and bandages it, glaring daggers at Ranboo as he does.

Ranboo glares right back, hunched over in the tiny cage they had been stuffed into.

Once Eidvyrt got here it would be alright.

It takes about ten minutes of glaring between him and one-finger-less man to come to a close. He approaches their tiny cage and they snarl. Snapping their teeth at him and letting out little chirps and whirls that would scream of danger to all but the man who already has his sights set. He slams his hands, still bloody, against the bars of the cage. He grins at the flinch it pulls from Ranboo.

“You would make a nice little play thing, maybe I should get a muzzle and leash for you. It’ll be good practice.”

Though the words make him shiver Ranboo straightens, staring into the piercing eyes even as it seems to burn.

“I’m not scared of you.” He spits in the man’s face, still a bit of blood mixing in. “If you’re going to threaten me make good on it.”

The man grins wilder at those words, and suddenly Ranboo is regretting ever even opening their mouth. Just as the cage door rattled, seemingly to make good on those threats, a figure burst out from the tree line.

Technoblade looks different. The same, but different. Ranboo can still tell it’s him underneath all the new piglin features. The eyes are still the same kind ones of his pseudo father. It was strange to see him shifted, Techno never said why but he seemed to hate his more animalistic form and rarely ever shifted.

“Techno!” He called out, hands gripping the bars of the too-small cage.

With that simple words the world suddenly turns red, starting with the man who had been tormenting Ranboo this entire time.

They keep their head down, tucking his eyes against their knees and hands on their ears to block out the world. Stories Technoblade had told Ranboo when they were younger was enough to know not to look up at the blood bath taking place. Their father always held a rather brute strength when disposing of enemies.

Soon enough, far too soon for many people to consider normal, the world goes quiet once again as the screaming and crying out in pain and fear and ‘oh gods please have mercy’ fade into the distance. He keeps his face tucked against their legs, however, knowing that if they looked up it certainly wouldn’t be a pretty sight.

The cage creaks as it is opened slowly. Ranboo reaches blindly out, keeping his head down, and grabs hold of the hands that also reach for him.

They are pulled carefully out of the death trap and are huddled against a chest that floods their normally cold blood with warmth, causing a pure to rumble up his chest and through his throat. Technoblade returns it in a clumsy copy that almost makes Ranboo chuckle if not for the fact they are shaking so much. It was like the winter days where the frigid outside seeped its way in whenever they opened the door a crack. But it isn’t cold even as Techno rushes back towards their home and the sun sets in the horizon.

It’s actually rather warm.

They sigh, allowing their head to fall limp against the strong shoulder holding him up. It’s nice, even if a tingling feeling crawls up his spine.

You hurt him, didn’t you little puppet? It was all your fault any of this happened. They let out a little ‘vrwomp’ and whimper as Techno pulls them closer somehow. His hands go to cover their ears but it cannot seem to stop the voice. You’ll be his end if this continues. Come with me and we can prevent that.

A chuffing noise replaces the voice as a snout nuzzles around his ears and breath tickles their neck. They giggle and push into the face of his father, their foreheads meeting in the middle. They take a moment to breath, a silent yes, I’m alright passing between them before Technoblade continues the trek home.

Ranboo isn’t entirely sure how they had gotten situated in a bed far too big to be his own under a multitude of blankets and furs and huddled against Techno’s chest but he isn’t one to complain. Not when a piglins instincts would only allow family this close in such a vulnerable place.

They could count the times they had been brought into Technoblades den on a single hand and this would now be added to them.

Although, it’s warm and nice here and the voice is quiet in the back of his mind for once in such a long time they feel a slight chill of fear creeping up their spine. The hand in their hair now undone from the braid shifts and he hears a slight grumble under their ear as Techno wakes slowly.

“Ranboo?” The arms around him tighten then loosen then tighten again, as though not entirely sure they are there. Ranboo isn’t so sure himself.

“Morning’,” he mumbles, shifting nervously. The house is quiet, the curtains hang away from the window showing off the stars and aurora borealis trailing outside. The moon hangs low in the sky tonight.

Techno huffs. “You teleported, kiddo.”

“Yeah, yeah I did.”

The hand in his hair clutches ever so slightly tighter. “I-I’m proud of you.” Techno says, breathless like he truly meant it. “All this time, I knew you could do it.”

Ranboo laughs, perhaps a bit unused to the praise. While they would have liked to only talk about that there was more. A burning at the base of his heart that said this needed to be acknowledged. It had been far too long gone unthought of.

“Techno, I need to tell you…” His voice catches in the back of their throat, as though even now their body revolts. He swallows the feeling down and speaks once more. “I hear, something.” The room goes silent as they reach for more words, Techno waiting patiently for the rest of the confession to come. “Theres a voice and it tells me to do really bad things sometimes, and I don’t want to do it but sometimes it feels like I can’t stop it and I just feel like I’m losing my mind and I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore–” A hand is placed against his cheek and they suddenly feel the tears. A hiccup escapes him as he leans into the warmth of the hand.

“Ranboo,” they whimper as more tears come flooding forth. “I’m sorry that you have to deal with that, but, I know what it feels like.” Techno can seem to sense their confusion from the way they look at him, head tilted to the side. “I, uh, have to deal with the same thing.” Techno taps the side of his head with a slight smile. “Chat up here can be a real bitch sometimes. They do the same as your voice.”

Like a wave Ranboo both feels better and worse. Like a red hot flame taking over his brain and heart and suddenly the tears are back full force. They are pulled back into a hug with a few calming chuffs, a hand running over their hair and parting the strands. “It’s okay, I’ll help you get over this, you’re not alone. I’m happy you told me Boo.”

Once the tears are over and Ranboo is feeling just a bit better about everything the night is old and neither of the two feels like they could sleep. They sit there for a long time.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I could sure go for a drink and a book right about now.” That pulls a laugh out of Ranboo as the two of them slowly get out from beneath the warmth of the blankets.

“Of course you want that.”

“Don’t sass me, child. You were thinking the same thing.”

“And I wonder why that is.”

So they descend the stairs quickly, ignore the puddle of blood and destroyed porcelain as they pass it–Techno would clean it up later–and prepare a warm drink of milk with honey and cinnamon then bundle up on the couch with a small fire lit. Ranboo reads their book aloud for the both of them.

For once both the voices in the back of the two minds are completely silent. Not a sound beyond the quiet reading and crackling of a fire.

===

Dearest Technoblade,

It would seem that we need Help with a new project that has come up in our kingdom recently that requires some assistance and a few extra hands.

Expect us to be deleighted to see you so soon as you come to meet us. And after two years apart! Why, one would even like to see the threes there, I hear they are to die for. It will be a five day when we see you again.

Apologies for such short notice but you really must come as fast as you can so we may finish as soon as possible. I cannot wait to see little Ranboo once again and how much they will have grown.

With love,
Philza

Chapter Text

The letter he held in his hand made him shake ever so slightly. The odd writing that could have been interpreted as the ramblings of an old man–Phil was rather old and possibly going senile at this point–spoke tiny things to him. Help, X 82 Y 135, thats where they were to meet. And Phil wouldn’t call for him like this unless something bad had happened. So he knew he would need to set off soon.

“Are you really sure you’re going to be okay by yourself?” He asked Ranboo one night over dinner, the boy had been rather excited at the prospect of being left alone but Techno couldn’t help but feel all too anxious. The thought of Ranboo being left behind with everything they still didn’t fully understand going on still hanging over their heads. The tips he had given on dealing with voices rarely ever seemed to help, as though the voice in Ranboo’s head was different. It worried him beyond what he thought would be possible that his kid couldn’t deal with the thing in the same way.

“Yeah, I think so. Besides, I won’t really be alone! If anything happens I can call for Eidvyrt or break into Tubbo’s house to crash there for a while.” They let out a laugh, mot likely about how they actually had once broken into the house and the residents hadn’t thought much of it, possibly all too used the their presence already. That made Techno feel marginally better about the situation. “Really though, its–” he taps the side of their head a few times. “Been pretty quiet recently. I’m sure I can hold down the fort ‘til you get back.”

That still didn’t calm his nerves quite enough. He knew, of course, Ranboo could handle himself for the week or so it would take to travel to the meeting point and come back with a family in tow every member of which is safe and sound in his home he would need to expand or build another home for. A hand is laid to rest gently on his shoulder and he turns his head to look up at the kid who is looking at him with only the kindest of eyes.

“Techno, trust me with this.” He huffs out a laugh and pats the hand.

“It’s less you I’m worried about, more so that you would burn down the house.” He jokes, Ranboo groans and pulls his hand away quickly, throwing their head back dramatically.

“One time. I set a fire one time!”

Later that day Ranboo stands on the porch of the house with Eidvyrt, leaning against the railing and waving a farewell rather aggressively towards Techno. He turns back just before he enters the deep dark of the forest to return it with his own wave.

===

When he got to the coordinates no one was there waiting for him. Either a very good or very bad sign. He chose the later and hoped for the best as he set up a small camp, nothing too big, finally able to rest after a near three days travel.

The next morning nothing comes and he begins to worry.

The morning after he is woken with hooves hitting softly against the dirt and the clattering of a carriage. He grabs his sword just in case, but, it would seem it wasn’t needed as upon exiting the small tent he had made for himself he saw Phil tending to the horses as Niki tended to their bags.

“Old man,” he called out, smiling as Phil turned to face him, his blond hair flopping into his face. Phil laughs, rushing over to Techno and enveloping him in a hug, he burrows into his fathers neck with a soft smile. It had been so long since he had been able to do this.

“Tech,” a hand comes up to tangle in his hair. “Been a little bit, hasn’t it?”

“Eh, you could say that.” He shrugs leaning just a bit into the hand and purring. He would never admit that he had in fact missed this, but Phil always seemed to know anyways. “Where’re the others?”

“They’re still sleeping in the back,” Niki says, walking up to the two, hand leaving the handle of her sword to extend towards Techno. He takes it and pulls her into a much shorter hug. “We should wake them, get all the hugs and introductions out of the way while we’re still here.” Just as the pink haired woman speaks the door to the carriage opens slowly, almost careful. Outside peeks an all too familiar brown head of hair.

He doesn’t really hold himself back from running up to his brother and nearly tackling him into a hug. Wilbur laughs and hugs him back the second he gets his balance back and can stand nearly on his own but still largely being held up by Techno.

Just as his hand is roaming his brothers back he has a moment of realization.

Wilbur’s wings were gone, as though they had never existed. He feels his blood begin to boil as he whispers into Wilbur’s ear, “what happened?” He asks, tightening his grip on the loose shirt Wilbur wears. His brother leans into his shoulder.

“Hunters,” he mumbles, and oh does that get Chat angry. They begin to scream, starting at the back of his head and slowly migrating to the front.

kill
blood for the blood god
kill kill kill
blood
hunt them down

He shakes away the red from his vision to focus on the two children still standing there. One he should have known, a familiar blonde head of hair and a face that looked far to old to be the one he knew and another who he recognized only from spoken word.

“You must be Fundy,” he slowly crouches to get a bit more on their level. He extends a hand to them and smiles. “You’re father has told me a lot about you.” Fundy nods and takes his hand in two tiny paws and shaking it once before taking a few steps away. Towards where Tommy is still standing still, head tuned down and seemingly glaring at Techno. “Tommy,”

The kid startles, blue eyes meeting his with slight wonder. He smiles just a bit wider.

“Been a while, hasn’t it?” He reaches out a hand and pats the golden hair of his brother.

“We should get going,” Niki says, taking her place once more at the head of the carriage. “Night will fall soon and we don’t want to be out in the open like this.”

Techno doesn’t argue, he knows they would have the time to talk once they were all safe. He worries for a moment on how Ranboo would think of this. How he would feel about having so many strangers invading their home. Maybe Techno should get started on the construction of another house.

===

Ranboo had in fact held up quite well by himself, only having a small incident where he almost walked straight out into the middle of a rather heavy rainstorm; besides that they were fine alone! Afterall, they were able to stop themself before they got seriously hurt. So it was fine actually, they didn’t even start a fire!

They were sitting on the couch reading, resting his back against Apollo while Steve slept by the fire when a familiar sound of footsteps began to approach the house. He shot up the instant he heard them and stands just as the door opens.

In walks Technoblade and several other people he doesn’t recognize.

“Ah, Ranboo. Good to see you didn’t die.” Techno says, patting their head as he passes them. He feels like, now that he was gettting a better look, like they know some of these people. The blonde with wings looks particularly familiar. Like a dream he long forgot. “Well, Phil, are you content? They’ve definitely grown since you last saw ‘em.” The words swirl around their head mixed in with a hint of confusion.

They stare with a bit more inspection for any hint of these peoples identities, particularly the oldest among them. The black wings, a carved wooden cane, light blue robes… oh, yeah, thats a king just standing in his home. “Your highness,” Ranboo bows low before who he now recognized as king, a bit startled and suddenly very self-concious.

“Ah, there’s no need for that.” The man says, blue eyes shimmering with mirth, as he laughs ever so slightly. “I suppose you wouldn’t have remembered me, it was a very long time ago.” As Ranboo looks at him in a bit of surprise, the king approaches and places a hand on their shoulder with a gentle smile. “Last I saw you you didn’t even reach my knees, how tall you’ve gotten, little Boo.” The king–Phil–pulls him close and kisses his hair softly.

“Alrightly then,” Techno cuts in, saving Ranboo from the now noticeable blush on their cheeks. “How do you guys feel about lunch and an early bedtime?” All seem in favour and some of the group slowly migrates to the kitchen, Ranboo following Techno to help with whatever he may need.

He doesn’t miss the blue eyes that glare holes into the back of his head as he walks away.

===

In the time the strangers live with them Ranboo slowly learns the names of each of his new family members, because thats what they were, technically. A nephew, two cousins and a grandfather. Only three of which seemed to particularly like him.

The youngest blonde, Tommy was his name, certainly did not. Ranboo didn’t entirely know why that was. It wasn’t like he had done something to anger the blonde and turn him against them.

Yet, through the nightmares that woke them in the middle of the night, the frequent panic attacks and their wanderings always seemed to be what made the boy stare and glare at him while the rest of their family seemed supportive if concerned.

It was one day that Ranboo had been wandering, not for the sake of the voice but just for himself for the first time in a while and they knew not to go far. By the time they had found a tree to rest against while they read his book the sun is beginning to hang high in the sky. They cannot settle, however, the feeling of eyes on their back doesn’t leave, it had been there ever since Phil and the rest had come here.

“I know you’re there, Tommy.” Leaves and sticks crunch under feet as the other boy came out of his hiding spot behind a tree. He still is glaring at Ranboo. “Do you have a problem with me or something? You know I’ve never done anything to you.” The boy just seems to glare more.

“Jus’ don’t like you.” The boy mumbles, glare softening just slightly. “You’ve got somethin’ wrong with you, something bad.”

Ranboo freezes from where he sits, lowering the book slowly. Then there comes a whispering at the back of their mind.

“Shut up,” the book falls to the ground, uncared for and left in the dirt. They stand, a good few inches above Tommy like that. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“‘Course I do, you’re some sort of wronggun.” They can feel their vision begin to swirl, blurring into simple colours and fuzzy shapes. His hands tighten into fists.

Do it, hurt him. No one needs to know. Go on, don’t you want to see his blood splattering against the grass. C’mon, you can do it. “Stop talking,”

“Not until you admit you’re a danger to my family!”

Ranboo doesn’t notice the moment they pounce, landing on Tommy’s chest with a leg on either side, he cannot run this way. The first time his fist makes contact he feels a sickening crunch from the boys nose. That doesn’t shake him though, it only seems to make his smile grow wider and his fists come down harder. The tears that burn their way down his cheeks do not make them falter.

It isn’t until the screaming seems to alert the rest of their family that Ranboo is being pulled off by strong arms and dragged away from the boy that he begins to come back to his senses.

“Calm down, kid,” Techno says as he lowers the two of them to the ground, allowing Ranboo to feel the dirt, soft and comforting and grounding. He looks to where Tommy is sitting, crying into Phils chest and shaking, blood falling like a waterfall down his face along with his tears. “You’re alright, you’re safe.”

“He fucking attacked me!” Tommy screams at him, still shaking and crying as Phil tries to comfort him with no real effect. “He’s a monster!”

“No,” they whisper, a hand coming up to his forehead. The voice is silent now. As though it was never there. They sob, “Get out, get out, get out, get out of my head!” As he screams he thrashes, trying desperately to tear out of Techno’s hold. He holds tight, but Ranboo finds a way to slip out of his grasp and fall to the ground in a heap. “Get him out of my head!” Ranboo screams, fists pounding against their head as tears begin to leak from their eyes. “Kill him, kill me!”

“Who, Ranboo? Who’s in your head?” They can barely hear, they can barely breathe as Techno places a hand on his back, steadying them if only slightly.

“Dream!” He screams, the word ringing out like static yet the voice remains quiet. That almost seems to make it worse. The tears come more frequent now as Phil and Techno share a look.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” They cry as Techno adjusts the two of them so that Ranboo can burrow into him as they always did. And he takes the offer gratefully, clutching onto Techno’s cape as they slowly cry to exhaustion.

Techno holds him even as Phil takes Tommy inside and the sun sinks lower into the sky. By the time Ranboo appears to have fallen asleep his legs have followed suit and it takes a moment for him to stand, still cradling Ranboo into his chest. He has a feeling he wont be letting go for a while now.

As he treks back to his home he has a moment by himself to think, and he thinks about what Ranboo had said. Apparently he had misjudged the situation his family had found themselves in.

Phil is waiting for the two of them on the front steps as Techno aproaches. He says nothing as he pats Ranboo on their mixed hair and takes them into his arms to tuck them into bed. And, as he enters his home, from the corner of his vision he spots a singular dark shadow fleeing to the woods. Instintually he knows that it is not Eidvyrt nor Exedi. He resolves to fix this sooner rather than later.

Chapter Text

He prepares for the morning slowly and quietly. Careful not to wake anyone as he creeps through his own halls, preparing armour and a carefully sheathed sword not used in nearly a century. He barely makes a creak as he wanders through the halls.

Ranboo is still sound asleep when he opens their door, drooling ever so slightly against their pillow. He huffs out a soft laugh, carefully approaching their bed and brushing some of his mixed hair back from his eyes. He kisses his kid on their forehead, watching as they stir slightly, adjusting to get just a bit more comfortable. Techno ruffles their hair and carefully makes his way out of the room.

The rest of the house is silent and dark as he makes his way down the stairs.

Downstairs is much the same, empty with a soft glow of light in the kitchen. Just as he is turning the handle to the door a voice calls out, just as quiet as he.

“Where are you going at a time like this?” Phil asks, hands wrapped around a mug and sitting curled up in one of Techno’s chairs.

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“I pride myself on knowing what my children are doing at all times, it’s the gift of a father.” He turns his gaze towards where Techno stands. Those eyes burn into his soul and almost begin to make him feel guilty. “Yet, I sometimes find myself a bit lost on what is happening in the lives of those I care about, and I wish to know.”

“Its nothing you need to worry about.” He says, pulling his cloak on and adjusting it just slightly. He places his hand onto the hilt of his sword. “Just dealing with buiness.”

“I could help,” his father says, Techno knows this. But, this is not a fight anyone but he needed to fight. He wouldn’t want to drag his family into something he should have handled a long time ago. This was his battle and his alone. “You don’t need to fight alone, Techno. And, I know I cannot stop you but I wish you would at least tell me.” He opens the door, turning back to smile softly at Phil one last time.

“If I don’t come back take care of Ranboo and the others for me.”

He enters the darkness of the forest without another glance back.

He doesn’t see the way his father placed his face in his hands and cried.

===

The forest is dark and empty when he travels it. It stays that way while he waits for his opponent.

It is a shorter wait than he had thought.

“Well, well, Technoblade. I’ve always wanted to meet the legend in the flesh.” He turns to the voice, sword held tight in his hand. The face that greets him is smiling, he glares more at the sight of the mask. “Though, it could have been under better circumstances.”

“So, you’re the one whose been tormenting my kid.”

He laugh, an echoing noise that reverberates in Techno’s brain. It makes him growl. “I suppose you could say that.” He shrugs, the green cloak fluttering a bit with the movement. “I would say it was more of a contract they signed. Such a shame their father took notice before I could complete my work.”

He almost wants to insist Ranboo is not his child, but now was not the time and the thought of doing such makes a little part of his heart ache.

“And what work is that?”

“Theres a rumour among us dreamons, I wanted to see if it was true.” Techno watches the dreamon as he wanders about while he speaks, plopping himself down on a rock and folding his legs up like a child. “You know dragons are pretty strong,” Techno tenses, remembering the words he had heard a long time ago, almost too long ago to remember. “Ah, you’ve heard it as well?”

“What does that have to do with my family?”

“Oh, you don’t know, do you?” He taunts, voice lilting to a higher pitch. “Well, I would consider myself lucky I was able to find a dragon species born of not one, but two!”

The grip on his sword tightens even more, Chat is going wild in his mind.

spill his blood
wait is he talking about boo?
kill
don’t let him get away
kill him

“Did you truly not know?” The dreamon asks, tilting his head to the side playfully while his words worm their way into Techno’s brain. “I thought you were supposed to be a god of knowledge.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Well, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, an overworld dragon and end dragon fell in love, yadda yadda yadda, out of their love comes a child. The end dragon is killed by her own family because of her betrayal the overworld dragon follows due to her heart break and the child is left in the care of… well, I’m sure you know the rest.”

It all clicks into place, far too quickly. He had known Ranboo’s mother was of dragon decent, she would not be royalty otherwise, but to have Ranboo’s other mother as well? This would not be ending well if he didn’t act.

“So what, you thought you could just kill my fucking kid and get away with it?”

“Thats the thing I never understood about you Piglins, always so overprotective of your young.” The dreamon stands, his cloak flying out around him.

For once, rather than the amalgamation of thousands upon millions of voices, Chat is screamin in unison:

Blood

His sword clashes with the arm of the dreamon before he can even think. Clashes, not cuts through like this sword had done before, spreading the withering curse through limb and body and seeping deep into the blood of its victim; he realises belatedly he should have asked for help. By now it’s too late.

He plants his feet and sweeps away from the claws that swing at him. His cloak flutters about as he charges back in, swinging his arm up to cut at the hands that swipe down. He feels something give way to his blade, soft and fleshy and the dreamon screeches in pain, jumping back and holding a shoulder that spurts out a dark, almost pitch black, liquid. He watches it drip to the ground with an almost horrified fascination.

“I see,” the dreamon spits, venom lacing the voice. “So that’s how it’s gonna be.”

Techno says nothing as he jumps, about to swing down his sword when he falters, allowing a hit to come to his side. The pain barely registers as the dreamon towers over him.

For a moment, rather than the pitch black being with a green cloak and ivory white mask it was Ranboo, smiling up at him as the sword nearly made contact.

“I believe we should both have a fairly even footing now.”

He jumps back into the fray, prepared this time to not falter in his attacks.

He batters his sword as hard as he can, barely able to fight back fits of nausea when the dreamons face twists and contorts into that of his family.they clash then separate, then once again.

Techno begins to fear as he grows tired that this beast would never be felled by his hand.

One final clattering of his sword against skin and bone and a porcelain mask proves that idea wrong.

The two of them stand separate for a long time, heaving in breaths as the Dreamon raises a hand to the mask.

The mask shatters with the soft touch, revealing a rotting, nearly human face but far too covered in pitch to be fully recognised as such. A sickly grin twists the face as they fall to the ground, dissipating until only the cloak remains sprawled out in the just as green grass. Techno stands triumphant for a moment, letting his sword fall to the grass, the flowers and greenery around the blade fading into the darkness as the earth begins to wither from the touch. He tries to take a step and falters, collapsing onto the ground in a heap.

The blood flowing from between his fingers is like a flame against his fingertips. Wounds he hadn’t noticed before suddenly alight with flame. He groans in agony, trying to apply as much pressure as he can, but his hands shake with the effort. Why he hadn’t brought potions he may never know but Prine above did he wish for them now.

Technoblade?

A voice whispers in the back of his mind, quiet and unbelieving. He grunts when he tries to get up.

More voices follow.

No, wait, not now. Not like this!
Please just get back up!
You have people who need you still!
Just wait a few moments more. We still need you!
Technoblade’s not supposed to die!

He chuckles as he allows himself to lay in the soft and gentle grass, smiling into the earth as he speaks quietly, “well, Chat, I suppose this is it. If you can tell everyone I love them.”

The voices clamour about in his mind as his vision begins to darken at the edges before fading entirely.

And for a moment, as he slumps forward fully…

The world goes quiet.

Techno had always thought of death like sleeping. A long rest that simply would never end. And, as he pries open his eyes it certainly feels like that. Heavy, like he had taken a long slumber under a mountain of blankets with the cold threatening to break through them. Hibernation was nothing new to him, he had always done it as a kid when it got far too cold outside or even if he just needed a long rest. Gave Phil a few heart attacks because of that.

But it’s different this time, in an almost familiar way.

“Hello dear,” a voice, all floaty and high pitched says as the warmth around him begins to fade, leaving only the brightness as his vision finally clears from the blurriness.

“Hey mom.” He replies, slowly standing on still shaky legs with only a bit of help from Kristen. “Uh, long time no see?”

She laughs, an almost wet, sad thing, carefully pulling him close to hug him and kiss his hairline.

“So, that’s it? I’m dead, aren’t I?”

“You aren’t dead, not quite.” Another voice speaks up from the total darkness beyond. “Your soul can never truly die.” The familiar voice says, all too soon Techno knows who it is. He had known for a while now that something was off about his friend. Exedi looks quite a bit different here as they finally materialise, in a realm of the gods. Almost etherially beautiful and much less human looking. They seem to take in his rather confused and perhaps slightly concerned face in and laugh. “Consider this a sort of limbo, a suspension between worlds.”

“Something keeps you tethered to that world.” His mother says, he takes a guess as to what this something could be.

“Ranboo?”

“Them.” His mother touches the side of his head, letting it linger there for a moment before sliding it into his hair and resting it there.

“Call it a fit of devotion. But they will not let you die like this.” Exedi says, great big arms coming up to cross over their chest. “You have a choice here.”

He considers the two gods closely, looking deep into both of their eyes before he speaks next.

“What are my options?” He shrugs, figuring it would be worth it to hear them out.

“There is really only one.” Exedi says, a hand coming down to rest carefully on his shoulder. “We make you a god, or you stay here forever.”

He considers the words carefully, thinking them over before Kristen begins to speak once more. “It’s alright if you want to think–”

“I have a few questions.” He feels a bit guilty about interrupting the all powerful god but she just smiles back. “I was a blessed, but Exedi told me once those who are abandoned normally become dreamons, why didn’t—“

“Well, do you remember your god?” Exedi asks back, face coming down to better meet his gaze. He shakes his head slowly, watching as the god sighed. “I suppose that’s no surprise, you didn’t seem to remember me when I came back.” They chuckle at the casual world shattering words spoken. “I’m sorry for leaving you alone for so long, I’m sure that often times it must have felt like you didn’t have anyone looking out for you. But you were always in my thoughts.”

“And, my family?” The gods look at him in surprise, a small smile gracing his mothers lips. “What will happen to them if I go back even more immortal than before, won’t they still die?”

“There is something about your family, and your friends, that seems to make them favoured by the gods. You will not need to worry about them.”

“Then lets get this over with.” He says, spreading out his arms and waiting for whatever was to happen next.

“Rest now, Technoblade.” His mother says, placing a hand against his face and closing his eyes, he allows it and for a moment he feels himself fall backwards.

For a moment he is back to the floating of sleep, the void falling around him in gentle waves.

He wakes in a field. Flowers blossom around him with a soft breeze rustling the grass, his hands grasp at the dirt and feels it dig itself beneath his nails. It feels right. He sits up and feels dizzy for just a moment before the world stops turning on its axis and rights itself before him. The world is quiet, his mind is just the same. No more familiar hum of voices at the back of his mind. It is blissfully, and lonesomly silent.

“Thank you, Chat,” he whispers to the wind as it curls around his hair making it fly out in all different directions.

If he focuses, he can almost hear a whispered, “thank you, Blood God” in reply.

Chapter Text

Ranboo could remember. They could remember a lot of things now that the static clouding his mind and the voice guiding them away from his memories was gone. Eidvyrt had talked about how their kind had unnaturally good memories, now he could see that. They knew what the other had meant by that. Their memories stretched to the beginning.

He remembered when his mother left them, whispered final words as she carefully placed them in a crack in a wall, a final kiss goodbye. And he knew it was for the greater good, but it still stung. The loss still hurt. The ache in their chest that never really faded fully.

They could remember when Technoblade found them, how he was the first one to take notice of him in a long time, days maybe. They could remember the feeling of being held again and how it almost seemed to burn, in a good way though. In the best way.

They could remember all the friends and family he had made over the years. Tubbo, his parents. Eidvyrt and Exedi. Phil and how they had first met, Wilbur, Fundy and even Tommy who had hated them.

It felt amazing to finally have the cloud cleared away, to see everything so clearly. But, it also hurt more than they would like to admit.

He could remember the day he found out about Technoblade leaving them.

It was coincidently the same day that their memories came back, and the voice suddenly went quiet. He had wandered down the stairs to see Phil alone at the kitchen table, the dim light from the slowly rising sun casting an almost sad grey about the room. Apollo and Steve were still sleeping in the living room. Unaware of what was to come.

Their presence goes unnoticed for a while until Phil looks up to where he stands in the doorway. Their tail flicks when they notice the dark bags under his eyes, the puffiness in them. As though he had been crying for a long time.

“Phil,” their voice comes out like a squeak. Ranboo takes a moment to breathe and continues. “He’s gone isn’t he?”

The blonde goes still, shoulders tensing. Then the dam seems to break as sobs slowly begin to overtake Phil. Tears falling slowly as his breathing begins to grow harsher. Ranboo walks closer, slowly as the man begins to speak.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Ranboo feels their own tears beginning to prick at his eyes. They lean over and carefully wrap the man in a hug as he continues to cry. They let him hug them close and sob into their ribs, their tail flicking with worry as his own tears begin to fall into the blonde hair below. They sniffle as a hole burrows itself into his heart.

The day after, when Phil and he had gone out they found a sword rotting the world around it and an all too familiar green cloak. The guilt sinks deep into his gut as they carry the sword carefully back to cover it in a protective cloth and bury the only thing remaining from their mentor–no, that word did not fully articulate what he and Technoblade were–his father.

After that they didn’t go outside much. Staying in their bed all day as days passed by. Phil came by with a plate of food and a gentle hand on their shoulder, or simply coming by to sleep with Ranboo, wrapping him up in dark wings and warmth as they both cried once more. Eidvyrt came by as much as they could. Speaking to them in a language no one else understood.

“He was a brave man,” they would say, brushing back some of their hair and looking into his eyes as they once again filled with tears. “Worthy of far more than he got.”

Eidvyrts visits always made them feel a bit better.

It was nearly two weeks after the fact that Tommy came into their room.

When Ranboo saw him coming into their room they glared and turned to face the wall away from him. The boy didn’t seem to mind, sitting on the edge of their bed.

“What, are you here to kick me while I’m down?” They growled, letting a staticy lilt into his voice. “Cause if it’s from you it’s not gonna work.”

“Prime, I know I’m an asshole but I’m not that bad.” He shot back, not moving from his place on the bed, Ranboo glared harder at the wall. Tommy sighed. “Look, I’m sorry.”

“No you’re not.”

“Yes, I fucking am!” He yells, stopping to take a deep breath to calm himself enough to continue. “Just ‘cause I wasn’t with him for long doesn’t mean he didn’t mean things to me too.” Ranboo doesn’t see the way tears begin to gather in the youngers eyes. But they hear it in his voice. “So, ‘m sorry. For everything.”

Ranboo doesn’t say anything. They aren’t sure they can forgive the other just yet. Not while they are still so broken up over the matter at hand. But, he cannot stop the tears that begin to roll down their cheeks, or the hiccuping breaths they breathe. A hand comes to try and stifle them but it doesn’t work quite as well as he hoped, making it harder to breathe through the tears. Tommy says nothing as he places a hand on their side, rubbing a careful circle into their skin.

After that conversation the next day they take the first steps outside for the first time.

The sun warms their skin slowly, piercing his eyes as they squint into the light. The first breaths of fresh air almost ache in their lungs. But it is a lovely day outside.

He is aware that Tommy is following them. He had been doing that a lot recently, sitting outside their door at night while they slept, coming in every so often to chat. They had noticed, so they grabbed one of their old training swords, then another one before they set off.

The clearing is familiar as the sun trickles in through the leaves. They begin their stretches upon placing down the wooden practice swords.

They ignore the eyes burrowing into his spine for the moment as they focus in on their routine. Arms up, breathe in, arms down, breathe out. Down to the left, breathe in, upright, out, right, in, upright, out.

Once they are done with their warmup he turns to face the boy that had followed them out here, picking up one of the swords and tossing the other towards the younger.

“I’m guessing that no one ever taught you how to fight.”

“Yeah, sorry I wasn’t raised by famed warrior Techno, The Blade.” Tommy snorts as he exits the tree line.

Ranboo grins, tossing one of the training swords over to the boy.

“Let’s begin your first lesson,” they jump at the boy with slight glee as he scrambled to pick up the sword and defend himself. It reminded them of their first training seasion. “First rule, always be prepared.”

By the time they are done they are both coated in a layer of sweat and dirt and laughing breathlessly. Phil doesn’t even say anything to them as they enter, just gestures them both towards the wash basin with a find expression.

It is three months into training that Tommy admits what was on his chest.

“I felt bad,” he says through sips of his water. Still a bit out of breath and panting as Ranboo turns to him. “‘Cause I had done all these terrible things to you when you were literally being controlled into things you never wanted and I acted like that was my problem. Then you lost your dad and—“

“It’s okay,” they interrupt, staring down at the dulled iron swords. Tommy had gotten good enough for an upgrade and their training grew slightly harsher in return. “I get it. It must have been scary for you to see me like that.”

“It’s not okay.” Tommy grumbles into his hand from where it rests holding his head up. He turns to Ranboo with a grin. “So that’s why I’m gonna take care of you.” The blonde said simply, as though it were just a fact. “‘Cause you need someone to take care of you.”

“I-“ their voice catches somewhere in their throat and they hold back the tears to crack a joke. “I’m literally a year older than you.”

“That’s not the point!” Tommy is entirely serious as he speaks, glaring at Ranboo like they had personally offended him. Maybe he had. “You had to live a hell of a lot harder life than me, so you need someone to take care of you every once in a while. So I’m gonna do that, even if it’s hard work. ‘Cause your a kid who lost way too much and you deserve some goddamned rest and someone who cares about you because the one person who has done that your whole life is dead and I know you need a friend right now.” He pauses and takes a deep breath, sighing it out with a deep exhale. “So I’m gonna do that.”

The tears that were prickling at their eyes begin to fall as they lean against the boy. “Thank you, Tommy.”

===

Techno had been gone for a while. It was something he could sense deep in his bones. Like the world had changed while he stayed the same. For the first few months he wandered around, lost and disoriented on what he was to do. Upon stumbling into the first town he could see he knew suddenly that he was far, far away from home. The village was unkind and very inhospitable for him.

He wandered around some more before finding out his coordinates from a fellow traveller while he took rest in another town, this one a bit more friendly towards his kind.

He was far from home indeed.

For the next few, it must have been at least a month, maybe a year or so, before he found himself on more familiar land. With a familiar house in the forest and a familiar garden out front being tended to by a familiar form hunched over.

They notice his approach and call out, “I’ll be in in a second Phil, just gotta deal with these final weeds.”

He doesn’t move at the voice, so much older, deeper than the one of his child who he hadn’t heard from in such a long time. He watches them unfurl into his full heigh with a bit of awe. When Technoblade had left he still had a good head over Ranboo. Now, it seems, the reverse was true as the figure towered over him a good couple of inches. He waits patiently as the child he once knew, wipes their brow of sweat and turns slowly to face him. When their eyes meet it seems to bring tears to his eyes that he cannot stop. Ranboo drops the tools he had been holding.

“Hey, uh, been a while–” He is cut off as a weight hits his chest and causes his breath to leave him in a sudden wave. His arms are full of a sobbing teenager who seems to have no intention of letting go any time soon.

“You’re an asshole,” Ranboo mumbles into his shoulder as they heave a breath through another sob. “You aren’t allowed to leave and just come back like that, dad.”

“Yeah, uh, sorry kid.” He feels his hands move on their own, as if he was not in control. But he is in full control when he finally bundles Ranboo back into his arms and begins to cry silently as well. “I’ll try not to do it again.”

Ranboo laughs wetly, pulling back to look at his face with a grin, still wet with tears.

“You got old,” they tease, nudging his face with their fist gently.

He scoffs, ruffling their mixed hair with affection. The braid he had taught them to do still hanging off their back a few flyaways hanging loose and free. “And you got tall.”

Ranboo giggles, wrapping an arm around him and dragging him off in the direction of his home, now a bit bigger like he had wanted to make it. “I’m sure the rest will be happy to see you.”

“Nah, Phil’s gonna kill me again.” Ranboo frowns at that, a soft sadness entering their eyes. He pulls them closser and chuffs. “Then he’ll bring me back again, somehow.”

“I really did miss you, Techno.”

He looks at this kid who has gone through way too much, who can’t be more than fifteen at this point and has lost him and gained him again and he pulls them close just one more time and doesn’t move from the hug for a good few minutes.

“Yeah, I missed ya too.”

And he walks into his home, his kid under his arm and the smile has return. And, until the end of time, he rests and lives as happy as a man could be.