"Hey Ranboo-" Toby jogged over to the taller boy in the hallway. The lunch bell had just rang, and he'd wanted to catch him before they met up with the others
"Hey Toby-" Ranboo waved as the smaller boy approached, "What's up?"
"Just wanted to make sure you were ok after the other day. You seemed pretty spooked, y'know?"
"Oh yeah-" Ranboo said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, "thank you-" he looked around, then gestured for Toby to follow him. They peeked into a classroom, and when they found it empty, They quickly ducked inside.
"I'm gonna be honest, I was a little more than freaked...I saw the news story, and part of me started thinking he was talking about me...then the rational part of my brain reminded me that he doesn't even know I exist, so...probably not.." Ranboo explained, "Still couldn't help but worry though...no ones broken into the treasury before..."
Toby nodded, "Yeah...it's a bit scary..but I do think you're safe. My guess is that he was looking for Tubbo."
"I mean, that makes a lot more sense than me, but why would he be after you..?"
"We've...fought before" Toby admitted, "just once though."
"You're serious?"
"As a heart attack big man- remember Niki the other day? That trouble I helped her out of? She's the girl I saved that i told you about a little while back-"
Ranboo's eyes widened, "that is both incredibly cool and seriously scary-"
"You're telling me-" Toby sighed, "she actually figured it out herself, scared the hell out of me a bit to be honest." He chuckled, then continued. "As for Schlatt, the good news is he won't be able to find me easily...Or at all hopefully, but I might as well be prepared for the worse, yeah?"
Yeah- yeah no that's smart." Ranboo nodded
"Oh, that reminds me! I've been meaning to add you to a group chat- the Tubbo group chat as I like to call it." Toby explained, "It's for the people who know my identity, and it can be our sort of support system. If anyone is in trouble, or anything like that, we can reach each other!"
"How many people are in it?" Ranboo raised an eyebrow
"Well, including you, three." Toby said sheepishly, "other than you There's me and Niki-"
"Well I'd be honored to be part of this group chat-" Ranboo nodded, grinning, "now let's get to lunch, I'm starving-"
They made it to the lunchroom, sitting at their usual table with their friends.
"Where were you two?" Quackity asked
"Oh, just homework stuff...I was helping Toby with something for a class-" Ranboo answered, Toby nodding next to him.
The rest of the day went normally, much to Toby's relief. He checked his phone a few times during the day, seeing Ranboo and Niki introduce each other again in the group chat and talking and stuff. He smiled, glad they were getting along.
That night, his bandana was in the wash again, much to his chagrin, but he did still want to be sanitary as a hero. He'd been borrowing Tommy's bandana and it hadn't been an issue, he always threw it in the wash with some other stuff and Tommy was none the wiser. He didn't wear it too frequently. It was his "party bandana" as he called it. Toby's hoodie had been washed earlier, and his head actually felt better than it had been, so he wanted to go out and do some hero work. He saw Tommy's bandana in the clean clothes and grabbed it, heading upstairs.
That evening had a deeper chill than they usually did, Toby wasn't sure if it was an omen or just the weather. Probably the latter. He wished he had added goggles to his costume before, they helped his eyes against the cold, and could serve a lot of practical uses outside of just helping him hide his identity. He made a mental note to thank Niki for giving him the idea-
YOU ARE READING
To Be a Hero
Action|Cross Posted on Archive of Our Own| In a world where a small percentage of people are born with powers, Toby was born with a power considered villainous. As a result he kept it a secret from everyone, including his family, and gave up on becoming a...
