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Ranboo took a steadying breath, he could do this.
He started determedly across the thick snow that separated their houses, periodically clenching and releasing his hands. He was going to do it, he was going to talk to Techno about Micheal and Tubbo. He had to tell him at this point, at least if he wanted to stay friends with the blood god. Telling him was worlds better than if Technoblade just found out about it himself. This gives him a chance to process it and for them to talk about it before they have to really confront it. Plus, if Techno trusted him enough to let him into his secret anarchist club, Ranboo could trust him with the other people he cared about...Right?
Ranboo slowed to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. Dear prime, what if Techno did have a problem with it. Ranboo dug his nails into his palms, because what if Techno did exactly what he feared he would do. What if this was a mistake, what if Techno tried to...
”NOPE!” Ranboo interrupted himself, clapping his hands to his face. “We are not going there. Lack of trust is why there are so many Goddamn problems on this server. We’re going into Techno’s house, and we’re going to tell him-.”
“Tell him what, Ranboo,” Technoblade asked.
“ALJHFDKJHS, HEY TECHNO!” Ramboo shrieked, grabbing his chest. The very person Ranboo had spent the last few minutes debating and worrying right there. The piglin had apparently been watching him from the entryway of his house while Ranboo had been talking to himself, fun. “Uh..hahaha How long have you been there?”
“Long enough.” Techno said ominously, crossing his arms over his chest. “You aren’t exactly subtle, or quiet.”
“Ah, true true.” Ranboo mumbled, wringing his hands. Glowing Netherite in the middle of the day didn’t exactly scream casual visit with your neighbor. Ranboo knew he should trust Technoblade enough to face him without it, but he couldn’t help but be scared.
He could feel Technoblade’s eyes on him, neither of them socially comfortable enough to speak first. He was pretty sure it was still his turn, but again, he was scared of having this conversation. This felt like the dream conversation all over again, except somehow worse than admitting he was a literal sleeper agent possibly working for a dream! He bit back the building whine, why was this so hard.
Technoblade startled him again by sighing. “I- Kid do you want to come in or something?” The man offered tiredly, rubbing the side of his face.
Uh. No. Ranboo thought instantly. If the conversation went wrong, Ranboo wanted the space to run as fast as his long as shit legs would get him before Technoblade had the chance to grab something to kill him with. “Uhm. No. no I think this is an outside conversion, y’know just in case you want me to leave.” Ranboo said nervously. “For convenience sakes.”
Technoblade frowned at him, pushing off the doorframe. “I’ll be honest, Ranboo. You’re not inspiring a lot of confidence here. Do you want me to get Phil, ‘cause this is sounding like an emotional chat.” Technoblade offered, gesturing towards Phil’s house. “He’s like a house away and emotionally equipped for all sorts of things.”
”No, no. Phil is, uh, already aware of...everything.” Ranboo admitted awkwardly, regretting the decision to wake up this morning more and more the longer the conversation went on. What was past Ranboo thinking.
”Alright.” Techno drawled, settling back against the doorframe. “Can we hurry this along then Kid? It’s cold, and I don’t really want to stand out here too long without like, a good reason.”
”Right,Right,I-Yeah, We can do that.” Ranboo rambled, purposefully putting his hands to his sides. He can do this, he practiced it enough to the villagers in his basement. “Technoblade, I’d like to think that at this point that we are friends, and friends tell each other things. I mean, you told me about the syndicate and everything. Friends trust each other.” He had this, he thought as he started to pace, as long as he kept going maybe he could-
“I suppose you could call it that.” Techno said faux-casully.
“Ah, please wait until I’m done.” Ranboo pleaded, glancing at Technoblade. “I..I need to get this out.”
”Sorry, sorry.” Technoblade apologized, waving him on.
”Right. Thanks...Where was I,” Ranboo muttered, going back to his pacing.
”Friends trusting each other.” Techno prompted.
”Yes! Being friends mean you have to trust each other, even when it scares you.” Ranboo said, giving Technoblade a grateful nod. “Even if you don’t think of yourself as my friend, I consider you one of mine. And, as your friend, you shouldn’t have to find out about this from someone other than me.” He took in a deep breath, steeling himself for the next bit. He stopped and turned back to Technoblade, looking at his nose to at least facimilate eye contact. “I got married. Platonically. To Tubbo.”
Technoblade stared at him, his ears flicking as he seemed to process what Ranboo said, or was getting bombarded by Chat. Both were equally possible at this point.
Technoblade suddenly shook his head, refocusing on Ranboo. “I.HEh?”
Not quite processed it yet, maybe. “I..Um, I got Platonically married to Tubbo. Like, not a romantic marriage but like a friendship marriage. We like each other a lot but like not like, like that, y’know?” He rambled, oh god why was he rambling. “That would be weird considering we’re children, not that dating someone when you're in your late teens is weird! Everyone just does their own thing I guess, as long as everyone agrees with what’s going on. Though I guess it’s already weird that we’re married so young, I guess. We just kinda did it, with like a coin flip. It just happened. One day si-”
”Ranboo.” Technoblade interrupted finally with a growl, rubbing his temples. “Are you telling me you married the government, Ranboo.”
Oh, he sounds mad, but Ranboo had something pre planned for this, and he had reread it before coming here. “No, No see I married Tubbo Underscore, the seventeen year old person. Y’know, like how I’m friends with you, Technoblade the person, not the Blade. Choosing people over sides is kinda my whole thing.” He said pointedly, shoving down any of his concerns behind his need for his friends and loved ones to be okay. Even if he has to keep them safe from each other.
Technoblade opened his mouth, paused, and closed it. “Touche, Main character.” He said, sounding almost amused. Ranboo felt a tentative sense of hope root in his chest, did..did that work? Technoblade paused, and scowled. “No, chat. Chat stop with the blood. We’re not murdering the main character. He has plot armor. Wha-...Who’s Micheal? Chat stop spamming..., Chat that is Ranboo. You know him.”
Ah, fuck. Chat how could you do this to him. “Uhm..Actually, That’s kinda related to the uh, marriage thing.” Ranboo started hesitantly.
Techno, who had been rubbing his temples in an attempt to ward off a headache looked at him with a raised eyebrow. When Ranboo kept hesitating, he made an impatient motion for him to continue.
”Uh..Me and Tubbo might, possibly have adopted a child...who we name Micheal.” Ranboo said, getting progressively quieter the longer Techno stared at him.
”A child.” Techno stated flatly.
”Mmhmm.” Ranboo hummed.
”You couldn’t have started with something like a Dog or something.” Technoblade demanded, sounding a little incredulous. “Just jumped straight to shared custody of a child.”
”Well, we couldn’t just leave him in the Nether. He was all alone, save for his chicken.” Ranboo defended, unable to help his relieved beem. He knew that Technoblade would probably take a while to process this, given it didn’t involve battle tactics, Ranboo’s protagonist status, or anarchy.
Technoblade inched back a little, “I...You know what. It is too early for this, Mr. Protagonist.” He said warrily, as if Ranboo was going to act on his pleasant feelings in his direction. “If..You said Phil was aware of the whole child..marriage situation?” he waved a hand in Ranboos general direction. Ranboo bit back a laugh as he nodded. “Good. He raised a child, I think. Go to him if you need advice. Come to me when you have Orphans to obliterate.”
Ranboo laughed, “Uh Yeah, yeah. Can do.” He said, waving as Technoblade closed the door in his face.
Ranboo turned on his heel, walking back to his house. When he walked back into his house, he walked to the nearest stretch of clear floor, pulled off his armor and slumped to the floor. “Huuuuuh. That was so stressful. Let’s never do something like that again.” He muttered into his carpet. Friendly obligation completed, he could now cross Technoblade off the list of people who were a danger to Micheal.
He pulled his journal out of pocket with a determined wiggle, flipping to the first clear page. With a small hum, he started writing everything that just happened down. He didn’t want to forget he could trust Technoblade fully again.