Chapter Text
When Technoblade said that he was going to help Tubbo get Ranboo back he didn't put much faith in that.
Rescuing a kidnapped child and reviving the dead are two completely different things.
And yet here they are, with Dream standing with a book right in front of them.
Techno standing just in front of Tubbo in an almost protective manner.
He brushes this thought off though.
The Blade called in a favor.
And Dream wasn't going to live another day to call out his.
Tubbo didn't trust Dream at all, he wasn't really believing that the man would bring Ranboo back so easily like this.
But explore all possibilities or some shit.
So he was nervous.
Not standing still, eyes frantic searching for any sight of something going wrong, hands too close to his ax and feet shifting.
Technoblade probably noticed his anxiety but didn't say anything.
Good.
When Dream tattoos began to move and glow in a green light, the floor began to shift in a black matter, all his alerts began to blast in his ears.
The man reached to the floor sinking his hand in like it was sand and pulling a body out.
Tubbo was in shock, the events not really sinking in on his head yet.
He could hear Technoblade let out a surprised 'heh?!' and Dream saying something stepping back.
He couldn't pay attention to any of that though.
No. His eyes glued to the figure sitting up confused and scared on the floor.
Body trembling and wet, hair longer and mostly white, with some strands of black picking out.
A broken horn and black and white skin.
Red and green eyes locked with his and for a moment the world stopped.
A flash of all kinds of different emotions washed through their face, as Tubbo crossed the distance between them in long steps.
Tubbo throws himself in Ranboo's direction, locking them in a tight hug and almost throwing both of them to the ground.
Ranboo was crying, still silent in shock as their shaky hands traced up Tubbo's arms, reaching to his face, gripping it gently and firmly.
"You're really here." A whisper left their lips incredulous.
Eyes locking, as both of the boys took in the features of their spouse.
"Yes! Yes, I'm here! You're back!" The ram responded, frantic, feeling something wet dripping down his face.
Ranboo let out a painful wail.
And Tubbo realized what was running down his cheeks.
Tubbo wasn't allowed to cry.
He didn't allow himself to cry.
He was not supposed to.
Not supposed to show weakness. Be strong, be a man.
He was not a crybaby.
He didn't cry when l'manburg was gone.
He didn't cry when Tommy died.
He didn't cry when Ranboo followed right after.
He didn't cry when Michael was once again in his arms after weeks.
He didn't cry looking at his spouse's killer.
He didn't cry when Michael asked where his father was.
He didn't cry when everyone looked at him with pity. When Tommy came and hugged him tight, holding all his pieces together.
But now.
Now he could feel the tears running down his face.
And he couldn't stop It.
And he didn't know why.
Ranboo was there and they were alive, holding him close to their chest and Tubbo was crying.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry…" They whispered in his hair desperate, frantic.
They were sobbing, voice rough and weak, cracking every word spoken out.
Apologizing.
Because of course they would.
It's Ranboo.
"Don't you dare." His voice cracked, body trembling, holding Ranboo tight."Don't you dare apologize, don't–" A sob.
"Don't you ever leave me again!" And he pulled back, looking into their eyes and they were as beautiful as he remembered.
His chest was tight and his head hurt and he felt weak.
More tears flooded his eyes. "Shit–" He desperately tried to wipe them off. "Why I can't– Why can't I stop crying– Fuck!" He sobbed more, why couldn't he stop?
He tried wiping them off but it wasn't working.
He wasn't supposed to cry!
He was supposed to be strong for Ranboo, not crumble down in front of them.
Big shaky hands grabbed his own, pulling them back to expose his face, and gosh how he wished he was strong to deal with this.
"I'm sorry…" Ranboo whispered again, looking as broken as he was.
Tubbo's heart clenched and he swallowed back more tears.
"Don't." He tries, voice firm but shaky at the end. "It's not your fault." He leans forward bumping their foreheads together, closing his eyes tight.
"I love you."
And he couldn't hold the sob that came with that.
"I love you so much and I'm sorry I left I swear I–"
He couldn't handle anymore.
He grabbed the back of the enderman's head and brought them close in a harsh tug, lips clasping together.
And for the first time they were kissing.
It was messy and desperate and so fucking needed.
It tasted like tears and longing.
Full of sorrow and saudade and affection and need.
And Tubbo clinged to It like it was air.
Ranboo gripped him hard like they were scared he would disappear.
He gripped back, just as hard, as If to prove that none of them would go anywhere.
The ram began to lean back laying on the ground, bringing the taller with him, holding them close.
When they finally broke out the kiss, with Tubbo giving the enderman little pecks on the lips holding their face close, already missing the contact.
Ranboo still had tears running down their face, eyes hazzed but glowing, claws gripping tightly on the ram's shirt.
And gosh how he missed having them on his arms.
Ranboo sniffed. "Our first kiss" Their voice was all wobbly and wet.
"Wasn't exactly what you imagined, huh?" He let out a choked laugh, sniffing and trying to control his tears, wiping his spouse's face.
Ranboo didn't respond, only regressing back to sobbing, hiding their face on his chest.
"I know, I know…" He stroked their back, holding them close in a hug. "I will work on my romantics more."
The enderman lets out a pained laugh in his chest, body jumping with it.
"See? Now you're laughing at me, I'm struggling here." More laughs between cries and sobs. "Is this funny for you? Oh, the disrespect–"
"Uhh."
Oh shit.
He looks up, gripping Ranboo harder at his chest, eyeing the threat.
Technoblade stands there awkwardly, holding a sword in his hand, dripping with blood.
Oh yeah…
Technoblade was there.
They stared at each other, the piglin not really sure of what to do and Tubbo analyzing the situation.
"Do you… Need some time…?" The man asked unsure , looking really uncomfortable in being there.
Tubbo felt his cheeks getting hot as he propped himself up with Ranboo, who didn't let go of him, both sitting up to look at Technoblade.
He wiped his face with his arm, sniffing, trying to hide the fact that he was crying.
Ranboo looked at the man gripping hard at the brunette shirt.
"Hey kiddo."
Ranboo didn't respond, instead just sniffing and wiping at the tears as it ran down their face.
He was going to have to heal that up later.
Techno didn't seem to react, just looking briefly at Tubbo as he got up on his feet, bringing the enderman with him.
Their legs were weak, having to lean on the ram for support as they walked.
"We better get going before it gets dark." The piglin says unclasping his cape and throwing It at Ranboo's shoulders, getting on the other side of the enderman, to help with the walking.
Tubbo didn't like that very much, but he wasn't going to complain.
He was just helping.
"You brought your horse right?"
"Yeah, It's right ahead."
The younger only hummed with that,The two of them at each side of Ranboo, walking in the direction that the man pointed.
They were going home.
It was difficult to readjust to being alive again.
Ranboo had a problem with sleeping, every time they closed their eyes, they seemed to get back in limbo.
Tubbo never complained about staying awake with them until they calmed out, he was clearly tired, but would never say anything about It.
The enderman felt guilty, but was shushed everytime they tried to bring It up.
When the ham finally allowed himself to sleep, Ranboo always watched, as his chest rose and fell and his breath calmed.
They were living in the enderman's house in the Antarctic for now.
Having friends and family close was good for Ranboo.
And they were happy they didn't have to hide their family anymore.
Michael was thrilled with having another piglin to Interact with and he was more active than ever.
Tubbo never stopped worrying and working on new projects, he never stopped having nightmares and bad days, but he seemed happier.
Playing pranks on Phil and Techno with Tommy and spending more time with his family, with Ranboo.
They were getting there.
Sometimes the world was too much for Ranboo.
They would just shut down, mind wandering out of their body and going somewhere else.
In these times Tubbo would stay there, by their side, holding their hands and picking at their fingers.
He talked to them until they were grounded to the living world.
Welcoming Ranboo back with a warm smile and a cheery voice in their ear.
Sometimes they would forget.
And Tubbo would talk with them, showing them pictures of memories and drawings that Michael did and they would cry because, how could they forget their son?
But Tubbo never blamed them, so they shouldn't blame themself too, right?
"Sometimes It's like I am there again."
They're not really sure why they say that to Tommy.
Both the boys are sitting outside, snow sinking at their feet and cold air hitting against their face.
It was grounding to feel the cold.
"I dream with It." The blond responds, eyes distant somewhere in the snow.
Ranboo hums.
"I can still feel the sword…" They don't finish, putting one hand against their chest.
"Yeah, It sucks." Tommy says kicking at the snow.
"Does It ever go away?"
"What?"
"Everything."
There's a pause as the blond stares down, thinking.
"I don't think so." Tommy drags, still not looking at Ranboo. "But we could learn how to live with It."
Everything seems so good.
So perfect.
And that just doesn't sit right.
Don't get Tubbo wrong.
He loves having a constant in his life.
But that never seems to last.
Everything that he has is taken away from him and it's just so weird to have it back.
To have a home.
And yet he can't stop the warm feeling in his chest when his small family is together.
When Michael is learning how to speak with Ranboo.
When his spouse looks at their son like he is everything that matters and then looks at Tubbo with the same look in their eyes.
It's weird to have someone who loves you.
It 's weird to love just as much.
And it 's scary.
Because he doesn't know for how long this will last.
And he isn't sure If he even deserves all of this.
But then in late sleepless nights, with Ranboo holding him close, whispering sweet nothing in his ears, trading kisses in the morning, caressing him like he is the most precious thing in the world.
He could think that this will last forever.
He has a family again.
He have a home.
His home is based around loud dinners and cooking together, meaningless fights and sweet kisses, game nights and sleep overs, warm hugs and occasional chaos.
Tubbo has a home again.
And he only hopes it lasts forever.