notus

Chapter 9: snow, like fallen stars / at first i thought you were a constellation

Chapter 9: snow, like fallen stars / at first i thought you were a constellation

The days begin to blend.

Times of harvesting potatoes, kneeling in the dirt by Techno's side. Times of chilling in the barn, with Pissbaby's head in his lap - laughing, at whatever wild theory Tubbo has about the universe. Times of curling up in the armchairs near the fireplace, in the living room - living, truly, for and in the moment.

And Ranboo is content. If the mornings and nights were paint, and the world was a canvas, then this time here would be a masterpiece.

They were in the living room.

Ranboo lays on his stomach, comfortably cushioned with a soft carpet beneath him. The fire roared a gentle warmth, crackling with tales and promises.

And he has Tubbo, leaning against him. He hums a gentle tune, running fingers along Ranboo's feathers - preening, carefully, caringly, lovingly.

Phil and Wilbur chattered, their voices a steady drone of constant. Gently debating, on whatever mind-bend Wil's come up with this morning. Echoing that, Technoblade snored softly, succumbing to the low energy of the lower temperatures.

Then, enters Tommy. A blur of blonde, red and white.

"Motherfucks!" He wears a wide and eager grin - stumbling and leaping in his mad dash to the windows. "It's snowing!"

Tubbo jolts upright, sparked by Tommy's contagious energy. "Snow!" He grabs onto Ranboo's arm, yanking him upright - dancing, slightly, with giddy excitement. "Come on come on- Let's see!"

"Wha-" Ranboo yelps, as he's dragged to his feet. They stumble, bumping into each other - but Tubbo is bursting with laughter, and so too, Ranboo finds himself.

They hurry to the window. Where there was a beam of sunlight, shining through heavy clouds - now, it's speckled with small moving shadows, wafting from the clouds above.

Tommy's already there, standing with his nose pressed against the glass. The Golden Boy grins at the snow, like fallen stars, and exhales a breath - fogging the glass.

And so Ranboo sees the snow, and has never seen anything more.

"Woah..." He presses his hands against the window, and it's cold. Flakes of white sky stumble down, speckling the afternoon sunlight. Outside is a place he's familiar with, and has never seen before, all at once.

"Snow...?"

Tubbo presses against his side. "Snow!" he says, beaming up. The Goat Kid laughs, pleased with such a simple sight.

And Ranboo realises that he has seen something, so much better than snow. Something so much more.

The three of them stand before the window, watching the snow fall.

The window is cold, but Ranboo is warm.

"You sure you don't wanna go with them?"

Ranboo glances up, blinking, meeting Phil's gaze - curiously concerned, intrigued and wary.

The man gestures out the window - from it, through the frosted glass, they see three figures playing in the snow.

The silhouettes of Tubbo and Tommy race after each other, kicking up the freshly fallen snow. The Goat Kid leaps forward in a tackle, and they topple to the ground - the snow erupts, gentle puffs of solid cloud. Wilbur stands over them, doubled over in wheezy laughter.