Chapter Text
Ranboo remembers the first time he got bitten quite well. The pain was probably the worst thing he ever experienced, it was like poison slowly burning him from inside out. He remembers fighting and losing and crying, hoping someone would find him and help. He died alone that day.
When he woke up again, hours later, his heart was still beating and he still could control his body. In front of him was a zombie, the same one that bit him, staring directly at his eyes. The zombie didn’t move and neither did he, both in a staring competition where Ranboo was sure he was going to lose.
The boy remembered every single feeling of desolation and despair he felt while thinking those would be his last moments, he didn’t know how much time he spent staring at that damn zombie thinking that everything was going to end soon. He remembered the feeling of death taking him, dominating his body. Something changed inside him since then and Ranboo wasn’t exactly sure of what exactly.
Sometimes it was like he was thrown back and everything came back at once; all the pain, the fear, just like that day. He felt it when the explosions happened. When Techno grabbed his wrist and put him on Carl’s back with screamings getting closer behind them, his mind could only play the same memories again and again.
He didn’t hear a word Techno said during the ride, he wasn’t even sure if the man said anything at all, the only thing Ranboo could concentrate on was the smell and the sound of death following them. Following Technoblade, to be more exact. Neither Carl or Ranboo were on the zombie’s menu but that didn’t ease any of the young boy's worries.
It could be considered luck, some people had said it was God’s gift before, but Ranboo could only think about losing all he had again and being alone. The promises that were made earlier just looked like mere ways to make him stop crying, make him stop being a baby. He felt stupid for beliving that they were truly safe in any given moment, like a kid that needed ressurance to be able to fall sleep.
“You alright?” The voice calling was the familiar monotone tone and for a moment Ranboo thought he was imagining it.
His brain wasn’t fully working, it was like life was happening around him but he could do nothing about it. It took some seconds to realize they weren’t on the streets anymore even if he could hear the dead’s calling coming somewhere near, Ranboo didn’t even know how they ended up there. He didn’t really care to be honest, he always had a bad memory anyways.
It was a sudden movement that made Ranboo focus again, that was Techno kneeling in front of him. It made the boy jump scared but as soon as he saw the long pink hair falling like a river he calmed down. They weren’t safe, but Techno was there so it was fine.
“Boo, are you hurt?” The pink-haired asked again, with a more firm tone.
Even on his knees, Technoblade was taller than him, which made Ranboo look up. Techno had green eyes just like him, and now he could see the brown roots coming from the top of the older’s head. He was sure that if it wasn’t for Techno’s pink hair and his own single white streak they would look alike, maybe one day he could be taller like Techno, too. He wanted Techno to see him grow up.
The screamings outside got louder.
“No”, the boy finally said. His voice was hoarse and tiny, if Techno didn’t pay attention he probably wouldn’t be able to hear him. “I’m- I’m not hurt…. Are you hurt?”
Techno shook his head and gave a small smile. “I think I am ready for another round, actually.” The man tried to joke, but it didn’t really land well and Ranboo just gave a dry forced laugh. It was worth the attempt at least. “Listen, once we get out of here I’m making us both a hot bath and some noodles. I think we deserve it.”
They might never even get out, Ranboo had no idea where they were and Techno was still making empty promises. But Ranboo wasn’t a baby anymore, he knew the truth. If the zombies, from whatever they were, discovered them, there was only one that would be able to keep going.
“Are you- Are you sure you are ok?” He asked again because he needed to know. Needed to make sure.
Techno’s shirt was filled with blood, his hands holded his ax strongly and if it was one week ago he would probably think he was in danger. But right now all he could think was how much he wished none of the blood was from the pink-haired. He was so worried that he could feel his own stomach aching from anxiety.
"I am, the blood isn't mine." Technoblade said it with a little bit more serious voice and it was enough to take some of the worry away. They couldn’t afford any injury at that moment, if Ranboo could he would avoid it at any cost.
“Wait- Where is Carl?”
“Fine, he is fine.” Techno’s hand went to the top of Ranboo’s head, brushing some of his messy curls. “I sent him away, he knows the way to the next bunker. We wouldn’t make it out with him, they were catching up.” At every word he said, Ranboo’s heart squeezed harder. Carl was the fastest way to travel around that they had, without him things could get worse. “We are in the middle of a raid right now, Carl would be trapped with us, but without him I can find a way.”
The boy wasn’t buying all the confidence the other was putting into this plan. Ranboo was scared, tired, lost and craving for one single moment of peace. Yet, the other had kind eyes and a soft smile on his face, the way he talked looked like the world outside was just fine.
He always found that trait of the other weird, since when they met, but right he found it extremely annoying. The overly optimism and blind sight for the real danger was like a constant stage of denial and Ranboo didn’t need that. He didn’t want that.
“We are in an old building right now, I locked the doors but I’m pretty sure we are surrounded.”
They were in the middle of a raid , the thought came when hundreds of screams were heard from outside the building. They weren't safe, they could die there. Both need to move, to run.
Neither of them would stand another running marathon.
"We are locked." Ranboo retorted, voice whispered and angrily broken. He was ready to burst in tears again and Techno couldn't say they were fine this time, because that would be a lie. "We can't– We can't leave anymore…"
"We will figure it out" the screams got louder, hungrier. They needed to escape the city immediately. "I will get us out.”
He was lying again. Ranboo felt that in every word he spoke, the way the soft tone hid the fact that Techno had no clue of what they were going to do. It made the boy angrier, frustrated. They needed to leave, but Ranboo had a feeling that it wouldn’t happen and he hated it. Hated that it looked like the last moments they would have.
“Let’s go, Boo.” Techno holded the boy’s wrist once again, but more gently this time. Ranboo grabbed his hand instead, squeezing it. He couldn’t let Techno go. The pink-haired only smiled and squeezed the hand back. “We need to go.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere safe.”
There is no thing like a safe space. He wanted to say, but he didn’t. Instead he let Techno guide him through the building, not letting go of the other’s hand. The screams that were so loud before were getting quieter the more they explored the insides and Ranboo could finally breathe a little. The silence helped him think more clearly.
Techno gave him a lantern to help illuminate the place while they searched for something that could help, the man was hoping for a map of the building or even a map of the city so they could plan some escape route. Ranboo did not speak much but did everything the other asked to. They didn’t let go of each other’s hand and Ranboo was kinda thankful for that, something about it gave him a little bit of a safety feeling.
They searched the main hall and ended up discovering the stairs that lead to the rest of the floors, it wasn’t a high building so Techno said that it would be good to check up the ceiling and get a better look of the streets. Ranboo followed.
Ranboo had killed zombies before, even after the bite, he knew how to do it. But they would need more than that, they would need a distraction and a lucky chance. The dead were attracted by the sound and light, something bright and loud enough could get half of the raid away from them; something like… an explosion.
“I don’t think we are alone, kid.” The man said when they reached the second floor, his eyes were concentrated and he had a slight frown. “The explosions from before, back at the house, weren't made by those things.”
“You think it was on purpose? Like, someone did it?”
“Yeah, probably.” He shook his head nervously, something Ranboo noticed he did when was thinking about something. “It attracted the raid here. I don’t think it was for defense, either.”
“What do we do then?”
“Be careful, stay close.” And then he stopped walking to look at the boy, face smoothing but still in a serious semblance. “If we cross paths with them, let it to me, I’ll handle it. Got it?”
Ranboo nodded. “Got it.”
“Good.” Techno messed up his hair quickly and let out a proud smile when Ranboo made a little angry face. “Let’s go, kid.”
They climbed another four floors till they got to the terrace. Before they opened the door, Techno stopped him and made a silence sign. He stopped and listened. Walkers, on the other side, grunting and screaming.
They will catch you. You will die, Ranboo.
Ranboo froze, the back of his mind yelling danger and begging him to run. The older didn’t even see the way the teen’s body was trembling in shock, making another sign that Ranboo didn’t understand before opening the door without warning and slamming a zombie’s head with his ax.
The teen couldn’t do anything, he stood there by the wall completely still while hearing the swing of an ax and the dying noises of the undead. He saw blood and gore and his body didn’t move. He couldn’t. He would die if he passed the door. He didn’t want to die.
He had to help, he needed to help. But his mind didn’t respond, didn’t follow his commands. Techno could be in trouble right now and Ranboo was going to be standing there like an idiot because he was such a baby and useless thing.
No… No, he couldn’t think like that. Techno teached him what to do when this happened. Yeah, he had to breathe and concentrate on something. That was easy, he could do it, yeah, just like Techno teached him.
He just had to breathe in. Oh, there was a sign on the wall saying ‘DANGER, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR’. Breathe out. He could hear the ax hitting flesh and bones. And breathe in again. He had a knife on his hip, he didn’t use it once since they started the trip. And breathed out.
Slowly, but surely, Ranboo came back to himself. Techno was still out there, killing those monsters. The man didn’t scream for help, didn’t need to. He was fully capable of ending all the zombies there, they both knew it and the older had already said how he even preferred that the boy didn’t get too much involved. But Ranboo hated it, hated being so useless.
So he passed through the door. He had a knife, he knew how to use it. Ranboo was going to take at least one of them down, needed to.
The child reached for the knife, grabbed it strongly and marked his target. Techno was fighting three others a little far away from his side, if anything went sour Techno got his back. It was fine, he could do this, he could help.
Ranboo raised the weapon.
He was ready to jump right into the thing but somehow he wasn’t able to finish the job, something stopped him. Something pulled him back, grabbed his wrist and forced him to drop the knife. Something was pointing something sharp to his throat.
He didn’t understand. How could he? It happened too quickly. Suddenly the knife was on the ground, the zombie was still alive and something was holding him, threatening him. After a few seconds his brain processed the person, taller than him and way stronger too. Ranboo looked up and felt the cold blade against his skin, the guy wasn’t even looking at him; crazy eyes staring directly at another figure.
Technoblade stood right in front of them, axe in hand and zombie under his boots. He was tired, Ranboo could see it, but his eyes burned. The memory of twenty dead bodies came to the teenagers mind.
“Drop your stuff or I will kill him.” The stranger pulled his hair to the side and pressed the dagger harder. It hurted like hell but he did not scream. “NOW!”
Techno dropped his head to the side, bloody hand closed into a fist. He pointed the axe to the top of the stranger's head. He didn’t seem worried at all, he seemed furious at best. Ranboo never saw him like this before.
“You have ten seconds to let the boy go.”