notus

Chapter 15: i'm only honest when it rains

Chapter 15: i'm only honest when it rains

They didn't get rid of his chair.

It still stands there, still pushed into the dining table. Almost as if, any moment now, Tubbo will walk into the kitchen - yawning and bumbling his way into his seat.

It's something Ranboo's noticed quite a bit, around the house.

Techno would still cook for six, instead of five - muttering about all the extra food they had. Phil would still pass around chores as if there were another set of hands - only to take up the extra work himself. Wilbur would tell stories, speaking loudly as if he wants to draw the attention of the whole house - even though they were all sitting around him.

And Tommy. Tommy called him Tubbo, once.

It was an accident. A slip of the tongue. They didn't talk about it - never mentioned it. Both unwilling to tear that wound open. They said nothing.

It was better that way.

Autumn leaves slap against the kitchen window, sent into a whirl by the wind. It rings in his ears, and it's hard to claw his way back into the present.

But the present is all he has, so Ranboo does.

"-echno? Isn't he going to come for breakfast?"

Phil hums, occupied with cutting his pancakes into little bite-sized pieces. "He ate earlier," the man says. "Autumn's...a busy season. You know that."

Tommy harrumphs, leaning back in his chair. "Well, yeah, but-" He gestures. "Techno's never missed breakfast with us before."

Gently, Wilbur elbows him. "Lots of things aren't the same as...before," says he. A reminder, understanding. "Come on- Sooner you finish your food, sooner we can go check up on him."

And Tommy, ever Wilbur's baby brother, relaxes at that. He still huffs and sulks and picks at his food, but it's so painfully clear how much he trusts him - how much he believes him. His words, his smiles, his reassurances - it's his lifeline.

If Wilbur says they'll check up on Techno, and make sure that he's okay - then that, is exactly what they'll do.

Phil sighs, not unkindly. "Just don't annoy him too badly," he reminds the two. "He's got his head all over, what with the harvest and Pissbaby getting sick-"

Ranboo's fork drops to the plate with a too-loud clatter. "She's sick?"

The others jump and stare, startled. The Prince had kept his silence, lips pressed tightly together, throughout the whole morning and the night before - his voice still soft and obviously unused, based simply on the hoarseness of his tone.

Ranboo clears his throat. "Wh-when? When did she get sick?"

Phil tilts his head, slightly. "Erm- Probably yesterday...or the day before? Techno's handling her, but-"

And the man falls silent. He drops his gaze back to his plate, drawing circles with the syrup. "...mate, I don't want to get your hopes up-"

Ranboo stands from his chair, abruptly. "Not hungry," he simply states. He hurries out of the kitchen, out through the front door, ignoring Phil and Tommy's calls-

Then, as soon as he's outside, he runs. His footsteps fly across the path, barely connected to the ground. His wings flap, instinctively aiding in his bolt. He swerves around the potatoes, mindful of the crops even in his panicked daze.

"Techno-!" Ranboo barrels into the barn. "Techno?"

Techno isn't in the barn. For a moment, Ranboo stands alone - surrounded by all the life, all the motion, yet completely and utterly alone.