Neutrality Order (TomBoo)

N.E. - Chapter 12

Techno gave Ranboo a side-glance as the leader walked into their hideaway before turning his eyes back to his phone. "The others are out doing whatever shit they do to get food," he said. "So go shower before Charlie catches the smell of Tommy on you."

"Fuck off," Ranboo said, though he didn't have as much bite in his voice as he normally would have. He sounded somewhere between neutral and wistful, something that Techno didn't quite like to hear.

"So, you fucked?"

"Shut up."

"Gross."

"Shut UP."

"Though I take it he didn't like your dick enough to join you for-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Ranboo snapped his hand out, swatting Techno's phone out of his hand and shattering it against a wall before he began upturning and hurling around decrepit furniture, screaming his head off the entire time. Techno wisely kept out of the way until the tantrum was over and Ranboo sank to the floor, fingernails digging into his scalp hard enough to draw blood.

It wasn't fair

It wasn't fair

IT WASN'T FAIR

Why did he let Tommy leave!?

Why didn't he try harder -BEG, even- for Tommy to join him!?

Why was the ONE single light in his life so fucking UNREACHABLE!?

A hand jerking him up by the collar and another slapping his face made his thoughts and actions stop, forcing him back to the present. He stared up with soaked eyes at Techno, who was risking literal life and limb just by being near him enough to snap him out of it.

"Get a GRIP, man!" Techno snapped his expression hard to read because of his scars but his eyes were hard and tinged with a hint of fear. "Calm the fuck down. Breathe. THINK" He let go of Ranboo's shirt, seeing him at least get a solid grounding for his legs before standing. Ranboo took in a slow, shaking breath before letting it out, the sound almost rattling as his shoulders dropped, almost going boneless. "You good?"

Ranboo nodded slowly. "...yeah," he replied. "...yeah, I'm good."

"Good. Done getting your shit together?"

"...yeah."

Techno gave a jerky nod, stepping back in case Ranboo's silence was quiet murder contemplation. "...it was a bad idea to go," he said. "You're in too deep and you just dug yourself deeper."

"I know."

"So why? He's going to stop you."

"I know. He knows. But he won't." Ranboo brushed his bangs out of his face, residual tears crusting on his skin and making him itch even worse. "He knows what we stand for as well. And he's being selfish in his own desires. He told me so himself."

Techno frowned. "So you're holding out on him joining us."

"Of course. But I'm not holding my breath either." Ranboo let out another shaky sigh, looking up at the ceiling. "His creed, his desires, his mission statement...they're so complex and selfish...they'd be villainous if they weren't so noble. I've seen a crack in his foundation, but I couldn't bring myself to shatter it when I had the chance." He looked down at his hands, seeing the finger sleeves still in place from when he put them on before bed. "I will not be the one to break him. I will be the one to catch him when the heroes do it for me." He clenched his fists. "They won't take his mission seriously. He'll be called a villain for what he wants. Why chase after someone fated to be pushed right into my arms?"