Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ranboo was busying himself with waiting for Tubbo, who was out buying more things for the house. He started with simple cleaning, not noticing the few crows that perched around the ground around their farm. The task was mundane, and rather boring for a fourteen-year-old but Tubbo and him had agreed.
Next, Ranboo ventured into the forest. The forest was no easy place, the villagers always told Tubbo and Ranboo never to go there, that the fairfolk would snatch them away. Ranboo thought this was silly; Tubbo did not.
Ranboo stood up, the crows flapping back, their shiny black bodies easily doing so. Letting out angry caws at the lanky teenager. To which Ranboo quizzically looked at them, before walking towards the forest, he had to do this task before Tubbo got back, otherwise Tubbo would get upset. ("RiSkINg SaFeTy fOr wOoD").
Ranboo's journey was easy, the crunch of leaves under his feet, he didn't notice the crows getting louder, or the other animals getting silent.
Ranboo continued on, he eventually spotted a nicer, thicker stick by a fae circle. (It was probably a log.) Ranboo crept closer, bending down to grab the stick-log.
Nothing happened, and he went on his way. That was how it was supposed to end, at least.
Ranboo eventually made it back, and Tubbo was waiting with his scrawny fourteen-year-old arms crossed. "Really, Ranboo? Again?" (He sounded like a mom.) "We needed wood!" (Now Ranboo sounded like the teenager arguing.) "You coulda asked me!" The burned teenager asked, long bangs covering what was most likely an angry expression.
"But nothing happened MOM!" "Fine but you're cooking dinner!" That was something both dreaded simply because they usually burned or undercooked everything, they really needed (but couldn't have) a cookbook.

Ranboo stared blankly at Tubbo, going to grab the cooking things, his favorite, a spatula, a pot, etc.
As he was cooking, the night grew quieter. It wasn't that unusual for the two that lived outside the village.
Except for Ranboo -the oddly tall human - leaned out the window to stare outside. He could see a pair of inhuman red eyes staring back.
He never told Tubbo.
But he didn't sleep that night.
And that was the start of their nightmare.

Chapter Text

Tubbo was humming peacefully, the now fifteen-year-old staring at the newly gifted cookbook, the villager Niki had gifted it to Tubbo. Tubbo was rather excited, though the two couldn't afford sugar, they could make sweeter milk and thus, cake. Something Tubbo had only had once, as a mere young child. Given by a fairfolk. His parents had gotten rid of the changeling before the seven days, and thus Tubbo was alive. 

Ranboo never believed him, but Dream was where Tubbo had gotten his scars. He had burned him for fun, blown him up with a firework too. 

(Tubbo couldn't look at them anymore without crying.)

"Tubs! I milked Betty!" Tubbo turned and smiled, him and Ranboo liked to call themselves platonic husbands. (They weren't married, but they wore twine on their fingers.) 

"Now we can make the cake." Ranboo was rather awkward, they both were. That was why they got along so well.

Tubbo bounced on his feet slightly, taking the milk from the other.

The cake was burnt, but it tasted okay. It tasted worse when Ranboo wanted to add M&M's, three tubs of frosting, and spelled "POG" wrong. (Then again, poor orphans typically couldn't read or write in this day or time.)

It was bad.

Very bad after that.

"That cake was so bad." Ranboo said while laughing. Tubbo nodded (he ended up spitting his cake out.) 

They went to bed peaceful that night, at least Tubbo did.

It was the next day Tubbo noticed something off, Ranboo was more skittish. Then he noticed the feeling, the prickling feeling under his skin as he ventured around their farm. 

He went towards Betty, the sweet older cow was shaking. 

And bloody.

Tubbo stared wide eyed. Her young calf Henry was safe thankfully, but Henry couldn't provide milk. Were the fairfolk angry? Had something come from the woods? There were more creatures. Satyrs typically were peaceful creatures, but it made Tubbo suspicious, he knew Ranboo was too skittish to insult a fae, but could he have not been polite enough? Maybe he moved wrong? Grabbed the wrong stick? Tubbo hoped it was just a wolf. 

And then he snapped from his thoughts, Betty, the sweet milk cow was hurt. And he was just standing there. 

When he got closer, Henry mooed, and Tubbo saw Bettys eyes were empty. Dead. Tubbo could feel the tears. This was his milk cow of three years, cow of five.

He was sobbing, the ground beneath his feet usually a soft comfort wasn't. The green grass that swayed seemed to agree, and the forest was silent. Henry was trailing behind him.

"Tubbo!- Wait- Whats wrong, Tubs?" Ranboos voice changed from loud and upbeat to quiet and soft, "So-something got Betty." Tubbo's voice trembled and stuttered. 

Ranboo looked absolutely terrified. "I- Tubbo I went near a faery circle." 

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" The prickly feeling returned, Tubbo ran to his room, well his and Ranboos, they couldn't afford two.

Tubbo cried that night.

The next he saw a fae. He was a tall, lanky blonde boy. He had curls, and bright blue eyes. He smiled at Tubbo, waving. The night made the faery creepier, he had golden wings that unfurled, and skin paler than a human. He was unusually tall for a human, but shorter than Ranboo. 

And then Tubbo felt the prickly feeling, his instincts told him to run. Never to come back. But he couldn't upset the faery. So Tubbo waved back. The prickly feeling grew stronger, he wanted to cry. Or die. Or hide. Or run. 

The faery grinned wider and stepped forward. Before a loud CAW! Sounded through the silent forest. The faery stared back, waving his other hand in a silent goodbye, before leaving Tubbos farm.

"RANBOO!" Tubbo screamed. 

"'Ubs?" Came the tired reply, it was probably late. But Tubbo had gotten up for a glass of water, which was on the ground laying forgotten. 

"I saw - I saw a faery!" That was when Tubbo began sobbing. 

"What?" 

"I saw one! He- He had wings!" 

"Wings?"

Ranboo looked skeptical as he guided Tubbo back but listened to Tubbos frantic rambling. "And, and he had very, very, very big wings..."

Tubbo woke up the next morning with a headache, the pounding made his head made the prickly feeling worse, except his brain was muddled and fuzzy, as if he were drunk, he supposed. The prickly feeling usually was less, he always assumed Ranboo was half-faery, seeing his unusual height and colouring. Yet the fact that the human had survived going near a faery circle confirmed it, and Tubbo, Tubbo wasn't even scared. Ranboo had been his friend for a long time, since they were very young, and if he died because of his mistake?

It would be better than being alone.

Tubbo left the room, he was wobbly like a newborn calf. Like Henry was, "Ranboo?" He called out.

No answer, but he heard the sizzle of a grill.

However, the person wasn't Ranboo.

It was a faery.

Chapter Text

There was a faery cooking in Tubbo's kitchen. Sure he may not have had a Private property sign, but he DIDN'T let fae in. 

The fae looked like a carbon copy of the lanky faery, he had long straw like hair, and darker wings. But he was sure he had the same eyes. He however, was short for a fairfolk.

"Tubbo! You're awake, the others are feeding Henry. how 'bout you get Boo?" 

That moment was when Tubbo's fate was sealed, as it was when a fairfolk learned of a human's name. He wanted to know why, why this faery was here, but his body was moving without him, and he was in Ranboos room (well, his and Ranboos room.) 

"Boo, wake up." Tubbo said, and it was like his soul lightened. The prickly feeling back. And even stronger in this room.

But why?

Ranboo was curled into the blankets like a pretzel, but he noticed odd patches on his (platonic) husband's skin. They were black and white, and covered him entirely.

Tubbo screamed, which made the faery run in.

"Tubbo? Whats up, mate?" He noticed what Tubbo had noticed, 

Tubbo was practically in a nightmare, he literally had nightmares like this. Of being attacked by faerys. Being with Dream again. Being gone. 

It was then he really began panicking, you see, dear reader, Tubbo had once not been an orphan. He had lived in a cottage, a lively thing full of the noise of seven happy children, grandparents, and parents. That all changed when Dream came.

You see, something about human children - helpless - human children is more appealing than adults to faes, not that they don't take adults, but six-year-old Tubbo was perfect for Dream's whims. 

When Tubbo was freed on the fifth day, he returned to a dead house.

And every house he returned to was dead.

Except for Ranboos.

Because Ranboos a faery. 

Tubbo was pulled from his thoughts when a hand was in his hair, and he could hear more footsteps.

More faery.

"Shi- the foods burning, Tubs." 

The hand in his his hair stayed, so it was a different fae. 

Tubbo tried to squirm away, but the hold only tightened with a whiny "Technoooo Tubbo doesn't want to cuddle with me!" 

The voice was musical, with a British lilt to it. Tubbo squirmed again. The lanky arms tightened their hold (He didn't even notice there was an arm wrapped around his waist.)

"Wil deal with it yourself, you big baby." a monotonous voice responded. Tubbo guessed 'Wil' was pouting at this point, and went limp. There was no escape from the fae after all.

"Aww look how cute he is Tommy!" 'Wil' called out, to which there was a sound of agreement.

"Boys what do we do about the bi- er, Boob boy." (The one Tubbo guessed was Tommy spoke), 
"If we leave him, he'll just try and steal Tubbo back." The one they called Techno voiced, his rumbly voice sounded emotionless, but Tubbo knew better. That was how Dream would sound somedays.

"What if we leave him in the forest?" Wil spoke, at least they gave Wil a normal sounding nickname, who wanted Techno as one. It sounded so fuckin' weird.

"Good idea Wil!" Tommy praised.

"Foods ready!" 

It was waffles.

Tubbos favourite. How did they know? 

Probably how they knew everything. 

Tubbo didn't eat, it was warned against.

"Tubbo whats wrong with your food?" Wil asked, (Tubbo couldn't help but notice that he was not only on the faes lap, but also that they had left Ranboo away. Probably in the forest.) 

"Uh-"

"Tubbo eat." He ate.

He hated fairfolk.

He hated the ones in his home.

"Why are you all in my home? Wheres Boo?" 
"Well, dad wants a new son and you seemed perfect!" Tommy booped his nose. (It sucked. His fingers were clawed.) 

He hated it.

Chapter Text

Tubbo hated the normal conversation they held, the sweet and welcoming one.

"How was your day, Wil?" 

That shit.

He guessed they were a fae family. 

The faeries weren't leaving, and he couldn't. He couldn't stop eating either. Hands moving robotically to eat the waffles. A food he'd once loved, now he wouldn't be able to eat this ever again, without thinking of the robotic movements, the inhuman claws in his hair. (He also hated that they felt good.) 

He was just a dog for them, a pet until they were bored. The lanky one -Tommy - was rambling about Tubbo's cow. Henry. The calf, a sweet calf, as if they hadn't killed Henry's mother. 

He couldn't speak, he could only eat, and watch.

Eat and watch. Like a dog, or a bunny. A bunny trapped in a den of wolves. 

The inhuman hand stopped. Tubbo was glad. "Teeechnooo he won't talk." Wil whined, staring at the pink haired faery, the faery in question was, well built heavily. 

Tubbo saw him as the highest threat, Techno was calculated, with muscles too. (Unlike the rest, which were slim like most faery. Aside from Tommy, who was lanky.) 

"Hes's bein' forced to eat Wil." Came the flat voice. Tubbo guessed that the brunette fae was pouting.

Tubbo continued eating, he almost ate the plate until the one they all called dad released him. ("Tubbo stop.") Tubbo screamed and tried to run at that moment. Which was probably stupid. But who could blame him? 

The fae. They did. 
"TUBBO!" Techno's flat voice sounded more like an inhuman growl; it wasn't even a command; yet Tubbo stopped. It sounded terrifying. 

Tubbo stood there until the muscular faery stood closer and picked Tubbo up. Tubbo squirmed but was shushed by another fear-evoking growl.

"Tubbo sleep." Tubbo was out like a light.

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When Tubbo woke up, he knew he was in the faery realm. It sounded peaceful, calm, like he was in a dream. Something too magical for a human.

But where the fuck was Ranboo?

That was his next coherent thought before a clawed hand sifted through his curly hair, and Tubbo drifted off again.

Chapter Text

Ranboo was probably an average human, at least, he thought so.

(It didn't matter that he had the burning beneath his skin, that when Tubbo introduced himself, he felt happier. In a powerful way.)

Ranboo woke up groggily that day, limbs burning. 

"Boo, wake up." (Tubbo said this rather flat.) Ranboo heard Tubbo scream.

(Did his faery side show?) 

Ranboo heard more footsteps, a faery. (Another one, in his house. Faery knew not to intrude on each other's houses.) "Tubbo? Whats up, mate?" The faery asked, Ranboo opened his eyes. (He could feel the heightened vision, the new colors.) 

Ranboo sat up, his human eyes were brown and blue, but his faery's form were red and green. (And so much better.)

Another faery ran in, this one a brunette. (Ranboo did not hiss.)

"Why are you in my house?" Ranboo hissed, he noticed the brunette faery petting Tubbo's head. 

"Shi-" The faery sniffed the air, "The foods burning, Tubs." The first annoying faery left the room.

Tubbo tried to move away from the brunette faery, to which the faery responded with a glare at Ranboo, and then a whiny; "Technooo, Tubbo doesn't want to cuddle with me!" (Tubbo shouldn't be forced to, Ranboo hissed again.) 

"Wil, deal with it yourself, you big baby." A pink faery responded. (Ranboo blanked the rest of the conversation out, glaring at 'Wil'.)

Ranboo was startled from his thoughts when the pink faery picked him up, it was around after breakfast at this point (why hadn't he moved?). 

"Ranboo sleep." The faery hybrid was out cold within the next few seconds.

"Ranboo wake up. This is where you'll be staying, we have your human now." The pink faery said, Ranboo glared. "Why did you take Tubbo away?" The faery didn't respond, instead he began walking away. "Ranboo stay until I'm gone." 

When the pink faery was gone, Ranboo began panicking. They had Tubbo. His human friend. (He ignored the feeling in him that wanted a changeling, Tubbo was too good to be a faery.) 

Ranboo ended up having a panic attack.

He also saw a bear, he remembered for a moment he was more than human. Inhuman, He was a faery. With long claws, and sharp teeth. 

He ate the bear. 

Ranboo found a quaint cottage somewhere in the woods with one human in it, his name was Karl. (Ranboo killed him.) 

The odd feeling of death made Ranboo's fae side feel happy. Ranboo was scared.

He slept warm that night but had to run when a warlock and necromancer came home for Karl. 

(He didn't get away.)

"Guys I'm fine, he's just a lost faery child." The human - Karl - was arguing with his fiances. 

"He killed you!" Argued the warlock, "He probably needed a house. You probably killed someone, besides I'm fine. You guys brought me back." 

(The warlock was terrifying, so was the necromancer.) 

The fiery warlock turned to Ranboo, ready to question him.

"Why'd you kill Karl fae?" 

Ranboo didn't answer, he didn't want to really, but he needed to sleep. And to find Tubbo.

"I - I need to find Tubbo." Ranboo finally answered, if his hands were free, they'd be awkwardly moving. 

"Who's Tubbo?" Questioned the necromancer (He had a scar on his face and was rather short compared to his fiances.) 

"My- my partner. A group of faeries came in and they knew our names, and they stole him." (Ranboo was not crying.) 

"Is Tubbo human?" Karl asked kindly.

Ranboo nodded. "Very, I think they replaced him with a changeling." 

"Well, as you know I'm Karl, whats your name?" 

(Ranboo was not stupid.)

"I'm a faery." He said flatly, hissing at Karl. (Which made both the necromancer and the warlock glare.)

"What can we call you then?" Karl asked sweetly. 

"Boo." 

"Well, Boo, these are-" 

"Q, and Nap." Answered the necromancer gesturing at 'Q' for himself, and 'Nap' for the warlock. 

"Will you help me find Tubbo?" (If he had to he would force Karl and learn Q and Naps names.) 

"Yes." 

Chapter Text

The flu has caught me and I will be searching the interwebs for entertainment and will be back later with more writing! This is in no way a permanent hiatus, its just because I was way too dizzy earlier to write this. <3 

I am drinking and eating as much as I can, and am on the medication recommended by my doctor, <3 its mild flu, no hospitalization, but it still sucks. 

<3

I am actually listening to a ton of music! I haven't done that in a while, typically I ignore the sounds. (D&D fan music is really cool)  

Thank you for your time, dear readers, 

-Introvertedbee101

Chapter Text

Tubbo was scared. The fae had a room for him, when he woke up, it had the things he liked. The books he wished to read, random trinkets he'd see and like, his favourite bee. 

And they acted like it was all normal. Techno, the pink haired one, sat in front of Tubbo. Reading the Art of war: Childrens version. The faery seemed pleased with himself, sitting Infront of Tubbo with a smirk. (Probably more of a blank face but let Tubbo narrate!) 

Tubbo didn't voice his opinions on how bad this was, he knew the faery could get bad. (You had to survive to leave.) 
"TUBBO!" The lanky one called, "Its my turn now!"

Thats another strange thing the faery had developed, bonding time. It wasn't enough just to kidnap him; he never was alone. Even in the night there were those inhuman eyes staring at him. 

It was a week later, and Tubbo still had no escape plan, no moment of truth. The faery were smart. They left no openings for the brunette, and Tubbo, Tubbo was afraid. 

He was stuck. It had been a week, and a week meant he was actually stuck forever. "Oh, Tubbo I'm so happy its been a week!" The lanky blonde faery expressed, crushing Tubbo in his hold. Tubbo was defeated, stuck in a family he had never wanted, and couldn't get out of. The blonde nuzzled his cheek into the brunette's hair, "I've always wanted a younger brother!" Tubbo went limp in the blondes hold, there really was nothing he could do.

"Wilbur and Tech are so happy! Even if they don't seem like it." The crushing grip grew tighter with another set of arms.

"Hey dad!" 

Ranboo was searching, searching with Karl, Q, and Nap. The two didn't trust him, but Karl was naiver, he had memory issues. 

"Ranboo, its been a week. The only way to find him now is making a deal with the faery who have him." Q said annoyed, he was probably annoyed to be away from his house for so long. 
"You know that won't happen!" 

Ranboo stormed off, he had to find his friend, had to.

It was about an hour later, and he found something. A bright green faery ring. 

This was his chance to get Tubbo back.
Ranboo stepped forward into his fate, unknowing of what was lying ahead. "I want to make a deal." He voiced. In front of him appeared a fae, bright green, with a smiley face. 

"And what is it, child?" 

"I need help finding my friend."

It took a week for the faery to show him Tubbo, through a crystal ball.

After that Ranboo couldn't remember.