Where is Your Rider?

But these bones never rested while living

Neither Ranboo or Tubbo went to school all week, just waiting for news about Tommy. They were told he was lucky that he wasn't closer to the explosion, that he was mostly free of shrapnel, that his hearing loss would probably be minimal.

Neither of them felt very lucky.

They drove to the hospital as much as possible, staying beside Tommy as much as they could. It was mostly Tubbo who insisted on this, wanting to be there when he woke up. Ranboo didn't want to see his friend like that, hurt and asleep.

It was too damaging for Tommy's memory. Tommy was brave and invincible. That's what Ranboo thought of his friend, since they met. He knew so much about Tommy but never had that image been shattered like it had in that moment when he found Tommy in the warehouse.

Tubbo sat by the cot, just watching Tommy. Ranboo was reading a book in the corner, though the words blead together. It was hard to focus on reading when his friend was just laying there, hurt.

They stayed there for hours until Tommy suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes fluttering open. Ranboo stood up, dropping the book and running over. He looked over at the two, confused.

"Hey, Ranboob, Big T. What's going on? Where am I? Did we do it?" Tubbo started to sob, hugging Tommy tightly.

"You're such a fucking asshole! How dare you do that to us!" He yelled, pulling away from Tommy, who was very confused.

"What happened?"

"There was an explosion. I went to go find you, you're lucky you weren't closer to the explosion." Ranboo explained, leaving out the three figures. Tubbo nodded.

"Yeah, there was a guy named Phil who helped us out. He's apparently paying the hospital bills."

"Oh God, hospital bills?" Tommy asked, confused, grasping at the sleeve of Tubbo's long green shirt.

"They're covered, boss man. You just need to get better." Tommy shook his head.

"But, but we're not done!"

"We don't know that until we get the USB. By the way, Ranboo maybe you could talk to them about getting Tommy's belongings?" Ranboo nodded, standing up.

"I'll go do that now, and find a nurse." He murmured before heading out the door. Tubbo looked back at Tommy, frowning.

"We're gonna figure out who set the explosion. Promise." Tubbo whispered, holding out his pinkie. Tommy nodded, linking pinkies, a weak smile on his face.

***

They had to wait two more days until Tommy was released. Phil was there to pick them up and to properly meet Tommy. They followed him out to the parking lot, where they separated, going to their van.

Tommy laid in the back seat while Ranboo drove, Tubbo in the passenger seat.

"I don't like that Phil guy. Why was he so willing to help us?" He huffed.

"I don't know but we don't have to deal with the money, so we have to at least somewhat trust him." Ranboo sighed, keeping his eyes on the road. "What other option is there?"

"You are far too trusting Ranboo. He could be dangerous." Tommy commented from his place laying down.

"I'm gonna have to agree with Tommy on this one, boss man. We don't know who he is, what he wants."

"I know that, but," Ranboo tightened his grip on the steering wheel, "we have to trust him. He payed for the hospital bills with no prompting, pretended to be our parents when we're not even related, offered to drive us home, doesn't that mean anything? Anything at all?"