RUNAWAY

CHAPTER NINE

"you two should go asleep, i will stay awake and keep an eye on everything," neither boys argued with ranboo as they used a jumper each as a blanket, along with a bag as a pillow, ranboo prompted himself up so his back met the tree and went on his phone, glad he charged it during the train rides so it was the full 98% charged.

"wake me up when you get tired so we can switch," tommy said, ready to take the next shift. ranboo nodded and put his earphones in so he was distracted. he doesn't like being left to his thoughts, but he always is. with his playlist on shuffle, he cuddled into himself to keep warm.

after a while, he saw a male come towards them, and took out his pocket knife just in case, but also kept it hidden so he didn't start an unnecessary fight. "are you alright?" a person who seemed to be just older than himself said as he moved closed.

"uh yeah?" it came out more as a question than an answer, he still wasn't sure of the person and stood up, hoping his height will be intimidating enough- thinking back to what tubbo said about him.

the person seemed to register the tallness, but still moved forward, ranboo meeting him in the middle, "i'm jack," he had his hand out to shake and ranboo put his empty hand out to take it.

"i'm marcus," he said, using the name on his id, "what are you doing?" he asked, looking back briefly to make sure the other two were still asleep, he looked back and vaguely remembered him as the person that gave tubbo the address.

"i was taking out the bins when i saw yous, need any blankets or food?" ranboo now felt bad that he judged this jack character so harshly. he was about to kindly decline the offer when he noticed how low the temperatures went down.

"can i get two blankets for them," he quickly added to the end, "only if you have them." jack nodded and left while ranboo stayed with his friends.

he came back not even five minutes later with three light blankets, along with three pillows. "anything else?" ranboo quickly shook his head at that.

"thank you so much," jack followed him over to where ranboo threw the blankets onto the two sleeping teenagers bodies. he kneeled down and lift tubbo's head up, replacing the bag with the much comfier pillow.

"thank god these are heavy sleepers," he whispered to jack while doing the same to tommy, he wasn't too good in social scenarios. but was trying his best to seem friendly.

"you don't have to answer, but why are you finding the za's?" he asked and ranboo knew he couldn't tell him, jack noticed the hesitation and quickly spoke up, "don't answer it," he pushed the question aside and ranboo invited him to sit down.

"i was just asking because i'm close to them, we were neighbours before they moved," jack said freely, "me and phil's sons used to play so rowdy," he laughed. "i hope they find their son soon."

ranboo had to stop himself from looking at tommy and looked at jack for him to continue, "that's actually why they are in the netherlands, they were told he might be there," ranboo left out a soft smile at the fact that tommy is still being searched for.

"who's that, boo?" tubbo mumbled out, sitting up. ranboo waited until he was mostly awake to answer.

"jack, the guy who gave you the address," he answered, tubbo lifted his hand up for a second as a wave and the other returned it. "you should get to bed, it's late," he said, and jack didn't try to stay much longer- wishing them well.

when ranboo yawned, tubbo realized how little sleep he had been getting, "go to sleep, my turn," the younger went to argue, but when another yawn escaped his mouth, he just lied down and used the supplies jack gave them.

the next he woke up, it was three am, time for their first bus of many, they folded the blankets and ranboo added a fifty note into the middle of the pile that they left at jack's door.

they ran off and was quick to pile onto the bus that was deserted as expected, and ranboo was forced to sleep on the bus while tommy and tubbo stayed awake for once, he only woke up after five hours has past in the seven hour bus ride. he didn't notice how tired he really was.

"you talk in your sleep big man, did you know that?" tommy said when ranboo opened his eyes, while tubbo poked his cheek, he only stopped when ranboo went to bite it. "i now have blackmail pictures," tommy laughed, showing the newly woken male tubbo's phone.

tommy sat back in his seat and watched as his friends bickered with a smile on his face- he was finally feeling like a real person, he is so glad tubbo forced himself onto the trip, and so glad he brought ranboo.

"this is our stop," the two must've left him in his daze since the bus ride finished faster than expected.

"where is this friend of yours?" tommy asked, and tubbo looked up since he was also interested in the answer, ranboo didnt answer yet, looking around to try find the familiar face.

"aha!" he said mostly to himself, and tommy felt him get dragged to a bench that held a twenty something year old on it. they were wearing tinted glasses as well, and wore a button up matched with some jeans.

"ran, my guy," the person called eret stood up when she saw the trio walk towards her. "hello, i'm eret," he said, getting a small wave by both teenagers, and she gave ranboo a quick hug. tubbo never felt so short.

"here you go," they looked at each I'd and gave it to the person matching the photo, "brother to mr. marcus lore here?" he joked, the two teenagers were fascinated with the id, you couldn't tell it was a fake.

"i'm off, more people to see, and more stuff to do," she said a simple goodbye and they watched her walk away, only looking away when he was no longer in their sight.