Tubbo plopped down on the step outside of the orphanage, the cold concrete making him cringe a little when he put his legs on it. The cool air brushed upon his skin and blew through his hair, he shivered. It wasn't the best idea to wear shorts and a t-shirt in this weather.

"It's fall right now… soon, it will be winter. Christmas is in the winter, it would be a year by then. A year since I got here…" He whispered to himself. "nine more years… then I can leave this shitty town…"

Tubbo lived in a small, small town. Not many people outside of it knew it even existed. It was far away from other towns and nobody left often, unless for trading or other important business. Nobody came or visited either, not like there's much to sightsee, you can see the whole town just from the front.

The buildings were worn out and looked like they would fall apart any day now. Barely anything grew, the soil was only good enough to let a handful of crops live. And they had little to no rain every year.

It's not a place most people want to live in.

And Tubbo certainly didn't. But he didn't have much of a choice.

He's a small, orphan boy that has nowhere to go. No family. No friends. Nobody.

The door to the orphanage creaked open, "Tubbo!" an older girl–Niki–said, walking up from behind Tubbo. "What are you doing out here? It's so cold!"

She plopped down next to him, making sure her flowy dress was gently under her legs, not letting her skin touch the concrete. "Should I get you a jacket? Or a sweater maybe?"

Tubbo looked at her, she looked like an angel. She probably was one. Niki was like an angel that blessed the lonely town. No one could disagree. She was even nice to him–the boy no one cared for.

"No. I'm okay Niki, shouldn't you be getting ready? The town is having a party for it being around of hundred years tonight, right?"

Niki perked up, "yeah! Everyone wanted me to be the representative of the town.." her voice started to go down. "It's.. a lot of pressure."

Her eyes fell to the ground, she didn't look sad.. just, anxious.

"I have no idea why I was chosen... Why do I have to represent the town?" Niki lifted her legs to her head and tucked her head into her knees softly.

Tubbo raised an eyebrow, is she seriously questioning why?

"Everyone in the town loves you. That's why" was he allowed speaking for everyone? He probably wasn't. "You're like a… a…" he tried to find the words. "A.. angel? Like a blessing.."

"You think so?" she laughed a little, it was muffled but Tubbo still heard it. He looked down to the dirt on the ground, ants were walking in a line next to the concrete stairs.

"Yeah. I do."

"I…" she sighed, "thanks."

Tubbo cringed, he didn't do anything, why was she thanking him?

Niki stood up, brushing some dirt off her dress with her hands. "That means a lot."

"Yeah, It's nothing."

She smiled, "it's everything to me." Niki ruffled his already messy hair, "I better be going as you said. Oh! And be careful, okay?"

He looked at her confused, softly pushing her hand away from his hair, "'be careful'? What do you mean?"

"A well-known group of bandits was seen at the next town over. Their really bad people, they k—" she paused, "hurt. They hurt people and steal things. They are dangerous people."

Tubbo titled his head, "how do we know when they're coming? Or when they get here?"

"A blonde-haired guy—people call him "Angel of Death"—hangs right outside the borders of the town. He's a warning. A symbol that tells the town that their fate is decided…"

She paused to catch her breath, "another guy people say has brunette hair and usually wears a beanie, finds someone who isn't doing well mentally." She pointed to her head, "He corrupts then. So they m—ahem, hurt their fellow town folks."

"Then two others came into town. One, a pink-haired person, hurts everyone, he lays eyes on. the other, a younger boy probably older than you by a few years, make sure no one escapes."

"Finally, the last bandit comes in. A younger blonde-haired boy searches the town for anything valuable.

They're the most feared and well-known group of bandits in the world… if you see any of them, report to the attorneys immediately!"

Tubbo could only nod.

Bandits weren't unknown to him. His parents were attacked by a small group of bandits when they had to go out of town for business. But 'the most feared and well-known group of bandits in the world'…? That title seemed big.

Niki sighed, "aa… sorry. Did I scare you? We'll be okay, our town is probably so unknown that they'll forget we even exist. Don't worry, okay?" She patted him on his back, "I need to get going now… see you at the party Tubbo!"

She waved him goodbye and she walked off. Tubbo gave a small wave back.

He looked back to the line of ants. They were still working, do they ever stop? Don't they have a family?

Tubbo cringed at himself for thinking such sappy things about a bunch of ants. He stood up, making sure to step on the line of ants, and tried to feel no remorse.

"This sucks!" He muttered to himself, "I don't want to go to that party, I wasn't even invited. But Niki…"

He started to walk. Nowhere practically. Soon, he walked to the edge of the town. It was bordered by a small metal fence. Not to keep people out, just to remind people where the town stopped.

Another gust of wind blew softly. Making Tubbo shiver slightly.

He really should have worn something more. Why didn't he think about this before he walked so far away from the orphanage?

While complaining about himself to none other than himself, something caught his eye. Maybe not 'something', but 'someone'.

Someone that Niki had just described… what–?

There sat an older blonde-haired man, styling a green and white bucket hat and baggy clothes. He casually swung his legs back and forth as he sat on the fence, looking bored.

"Huh…" Tubbo stared at him confused. Was it just him, or did this guy look like what Niki just described to him as the guy called "Angel of Death"?

Despite his rather unsettling nickname, he didn't look scary. Not at all. He looked tired, trying his best kind of dad almost.

Tubbo's staring must have caught his eye because he looked around before setting his sights on Tubbo. The "Angel of Death" sent him a glare, then something like realizing flickered across his face before it softened.

Tubbo gulp, If this was the "Angel of Death"… does that mean the rest of his group is gonna raid the town and hurt everyone…? Are they gonna hurt him?

The Angel of Death jumped off the fence and started towards Tubbo.

Fear engulfed Tubbo and he could feel his legs lock. He can't run away. What was happening to him!?

"Hey mate, uhh… what are you doing over here near the border of the town? Did you tell your parents?" The Angel of Death asked him, bending down just enough to be on the same level as him. This guy… doesn't seem bad… did Tubbo get the wrong guy?

"Um. I—I was just walking.. and ended up over here… I don't, uh—my parents don't care." Tubbo's voice cracked, and the fear he felt in the presence of the Angel of Death(or the guy he thinks is him) didn't leave him.

"Oh?" The man paused, "they don't care?"

"No." Tubbo grasped his hands together, "no one in the town minds If I go too far out…" prime, he needs to stop telling everyone he meets his sob story. It's pathetic.

The Angel of Death's face filled with pity. "Well, I don't want you to get hurt, okay mate? Tell your parents they should keep a better eye on you, and don't go so close to the border! It's dangerous." He ruffled Tubbo's hair.

"Okay… I will!" Tubbo felt bad for lying. Lying about having parents(alive ones anyways), lying about no one carrying(Niki carried, Quackity carried most of the time, and Purpled carried about him)

"Good." The man then turned away, jumping to the other side of the fence and walking off.

Fear finally left Tubbo, his legs let out from under him.

"Ack!" he fell, "ow! Prime…" he whined, rubbing his tailbone. "W…who was that guy?"

"Tubbo!" a sweet, familiar, voice called to him from behind. He turned his head to see Niki running–or the best she can run in heels and a dress–over to him.

"Ah! Niki! What are you doing here–?"

"That's not important! You weren't at the orphanage when I went back! and why are you on the ground? And, why are you so close to the border!" she panted in between talking, was she that worried about him? Hasn't it only been a few minutes?

"What time is it?"

Niki raised an eyebrow, "umm, around six pm-ish–? You didn't haven't answer my questions, Tubbo." she grabbed Tubbo's wrist and helped him up, stumbling a little.

"Oh, um, sorry. I just went on a walk… I didn't mean to get so close to the border, I swear!" he took a deep breath, "I… s..w…s….on….e…" he mumbled.

"What?" Niki asked, she couldn't hear him when he was mumbling so quietly.

"I.. um, I met someone… near the border…"

Niki's eyes widened, a look of fear and confusion. Tubbo didn't feel any different than her.

"What do you mean you met someone near the border?" she questioned.

"There was a guy.." he answered back, his voice noticeably quieter than hers.

"And what did they look like..?" she tried to make her tone softer, and gentler, but the original tone didn't fade away.

Tubbo gulped, "blonde.. Uh, I think he was wearing a hat? It was green–I think, and his clothes looked baggy... But he wasn't scary! I mean, at first, he was but—"

"At first?" she quirked an eyebrow, "what do you mean by that? Did you–did you talk to him..?"

"I–" Tubbo couldn't finish his sentence. He knew that he wasn't talking to strangers–especially strangers outside of the border. "I.. only for a second…he asked me—"

"Tubbo!" Niki cut him off. "That man could be dangerous! He might be the Angel Of Death!" she put her hands on his shoulders, "please don't tell me you told him anything."

"no…I didn't…." he lied again, right through his teeth.

"Hahh… good, that's good." she put two fingers on the bridge of her nose, "we need to tell the mayor or authorities. How long ago did you see him?"

"Not long ago, only a few minutes before you came."

"Okay, come on, we need to tell them. Fast!" Niki intertwined her hand with his, gently pulling him along.

Tubbo nodded.

For how bad the Angel Of Death was talked about, if that guy he did met was the Angel Of Death, Tubbo didn't think he was so bad. At least from his experience.

Was this the 'right thing to do?

Tubbo's gut feeling was telling him it was not.

"And your sure this was the Angel Of Death?" the mayor asked, for what felt like the tenth time.

"It must be!" Niki answered, "and, shouldn't you be taking this more seriously! Why are you treating this so lightly?"

The mayor put his elbows on his desk, intertwining his fingers and holding his head on them, "sigh… Niki, we don't have any real evidence. We can't just go off of what some kid said he saw."

"But shouldn't we be looking more into this!? The group of bandits that the Angel Of Death is with was just in the next town over, we could be their next target!"

"I know, I know. We'll take processions, alright? And if we get one more report of a sighting of the Angel Of Death then we'll that this more serious—"

The mayor was cut off by the door to his office flying open. The man, one of the higher-ups in the town, looked terrified–as if he just saw a ghost...

"MAYOR!" the man ran to the Mayor's desk, ignoring both Tubbo and Niki enterally, "there's a problem! A big, big problem!"

"Huh? What is it? And is it that important?" The mayor glanced toward Tubbo and Niki.

The man finally noticed the two, "ah, I'm so sorry for interrupting.. but this is urgent." He bowed slightly before turning back to the mayor.

"We got a report from a farmer, blacksmith, and bakery owner–all who live or work close to the border–that they saw someone sitting in the fence of the border.." the man caught his breath, "we're thinking it, the Angel Of Death.."

The mayor looked speechless. He turned his head to look at both Tubbo and Niki.

Niki gave him an 'I told you so kind of smile. Tubbo, on the other hand, gave him a worried look. He didn't want the Angel of Death to get hurt, he didn't hurt him, and he was nice to Tubbo.

"You were right. We are his next target." he said to Niki, standing up, "we need to get prepared. They have a pattern of attacking three days after the Angel Of Death has been seen."

"What are we going to do now, mayor?" Niki asked, grabbing Tubbo's hand from under the table to show him some comfort.

"Sigh… Niki, can we have the kid leave for now? We need to discuss some important matters."

Niki thought about it for a moment before nodding slowly, "Tubbo, can you go back to the orphanage by yourself? I'll come to see you tonight, okay buddy?"

"Okay.." Tubbo said softly, he got up and left the mayor's office.

As he should the door to the office, he heard the mayor start talking again, "there's something that I want to try… It might just save our town… you won't like it but please, hear me out."

Then the door shut, and it was silence.

Tubbo glanced at the clock hanging from one of the orphanage's walls, 10:24 pm.

Shouldn't Niki be back by now…? Tubbo whined, I wonder what the mayor's plan is… if it protects the entire town, then Niki must agree!

He then heard a creaking sound, he turned his head to see Niki coming from the door to the orphanage. Tears welled up in her eyes and seeing Tubbo only made them flood out.

She ran up to him, stumbling on her own feet, and hugging him as hard as she can.

"Niki…?" Tubbo mumbled, returning the hug, 'what… are you okay?"

"Y–yeah, I am... I'm okay Tubbo." she lifted her head and forced a smile, but quickly brought her head back down after seeing Tubbo's face, "I–I'm so, so sorry… I didn't want to—I'm sorry…" she cried.

Tubbo didn't know what to say, what was he supposed to say? And what was Niki even talking about—? It just confused him.

"It's okay," he said, still not knowing what the hell was happening.

"It's not 'okay'... even if I disagree with him, he would still do it!" she cried again.

Tubbo tried his best to comfort his sister—that's what he thought of her as that's why it hurt so much to see her cry—but she wouldn't tell him why she was so upset.

And that was the part that hurt him the most.

"What am I supposed to do again?" Tubbo asked.

"Just stand outside the border, okay kid? Oh, and if you see the Angel Of Death give him this," the mayor handed Tubbo a folded-up piece of paper, "don't read it, just give it to him if you see him alright? We'll come to pick you up later today."

"I can't read anyways… but okay." Tubbo took the paper, it was so small.. was this paper so important that Tubbo had to personally give it to the Angel Of Death himself?

Before Tubbo crosses the border to the town, Niki wanted to speak to him. She hugged him, she looked as if she was about to cry. "I'm so sorry… I'll come to get you as soon as it turns seven pm okay? Oh prime, please be alright…"

Tubbo still didn't fully understand, he was just waiting right outside of the border, it couldn't be that unsafe, could it? Maybe Niki was just overreacting…

"I'll be okay Niki! Promise!" He hugged her tightly, trying to show her comfort.

Niki nodded, "I know you will. Guess you should go before the mayor gets too mad…" she giggled, "see you later tonight!" she ruffled his hair before going to stand beside the mayor.

"Just sit on the other side of the fence. Yup, right there. You're doing us a big favor kid, your practically a hero!" The mayor smiled, it didn't seem all that kind though.

Tubbo titled his head a little, "I am?"

"Yup."

Tubbo didn't understand how he was a hero, he was just giving the Angel Of Death a piece of paper. Not that he didn't like being called a hero, or being praised, which after his parent's death he barely got.

He hopped the fence—which was surprisingly easy—and sat down, waving goodbye to the people of the town as they all slowly left him alone.

Hours later, he was dowsing off, until he heard light footsteps.

"Kid? What are you doing?" The familiar voice almost immediately woke Tubbo up.

"Ah! Angel Of Death!" Tubbo scrambled to his feet, "the mayor wanted me to give you this! He said I would be a hero if I do."

The man cringed at the name he was called, before taking the paper out of Tubbo's hand and reading it. He was disgusted with what the note had said.

"What the fuck is this?" He spat.

"I don't know what the paper is, they just told me to give it to you… is it something bad?" Tubbo questioned,

"Yes, it's very bad. They said you would be a hero?"

"Mhm… am I? Did I do the right thing?" Tubbo asked another question, pure innocence in his eyes, the innocence of a child.

The man took a moment to collect himself, "come with me uh— what's your name?"

"Tubbo."

"Okay, Tubbo, I'm Philza or just Phil. I want to take you to meet my family. I have two sons your age, you guys can play together! Doesn't that sound fun?" Phil held out his hand.

"Do you and your family hurt people?"

Phil hesitated, "no, no we don't." His voice didn't have much confidence.

"You don't? Mh, Niki and the mayor must have got the wrong guy then! They kept saying you were the Angel Of Death, but you didn't seem mean. I should go tell Niki!" Tubbo was about to run back into town before Phil stopped him.

"Actually! Uhm, they want me to adopt you..! Yeah, uh, that's why I came all the way here to your town to pick you up all the way here. I'll make sure to tell them they got it all wrong, okay?"

Tubbo's eyes light up, he was being(or maybe already was) adopted!? Was this why Niki was crying?

"Woah! Really! I thought no one would adopt me!" He grabbed Phil's hand. "Let's go then!"

Phil laughed, "okay, okay! I and my family travel a lot, and we set up camp just a little bit this way." He pointed to a forest-looking area, semi-covered in tree leaves and a bit overgrown looking.

"Cool!"

"I'm home guys!"

"Hey Ph—uh, who is that?" a monotone voice was the first thing Tubbo heard as he step foot into the temporary campsite.

The voice came from a tall pink-haired man, he seemed strong and a little threatening…

"He's your new brother! Tubbo, this is Technoblade or Techno for short. He's my second oldest. Techno, this is Tubbo." Tubbo gave a small wave to the pink-haired—ahem, Techno.

Phil leaned towards Techno, "I'll explain later." Tubbo pretended not to hear.

"Um, okay… Wilbur is uh, you know what, and Ranboo and Tommy are hanging out. I'm just waiting for Wilbur to give me and Ranboo the okay to go in."

"Alright, come on Tubbo, I'll introduce you to my youngest boys." Phil gave him a warm smile and started to guide him further into the campsite.

Tubbo could hear to boys talking—bickering?—he never really had friends his age, were they going to be nice to him? Or cast him out as the kids did in the town?

"YOU PRICK!"

"How am I a prick!? You hit me!"

"Your so fucking tall, that's why!"

"Wha—what does it have to do with my height!"

A blonde-haired boy with some bandaids on his face was yelling at a taller boy with half-half hair and wearing a mask and glasses, who was almost yelling back.

"Tommy! Ranboo!" Phil shouted, and they immediately gave him all their attention.

"Philll! Ranboob is being a bitch!"

"How! I was just saying hi to you!"

Phil laughed at their endless bickering, "before you guys start again, I want you to meet someone,"

They didn't realize the extra person right next to Phil until he said something.

"Hi…" Tubbo mumbled, prime, this was so awkward…

"Hello!" the taller boy said, "I'm Ranboo."

"HELLO! IM TOMMY!" the blonde boy practically yelled.

"I'm Tubbo.."

"Tubbo, why don't you stay here while we discuss some, uh, important matters? Okay?" Phil put a hand on Tubbo's head.

Tubbo nodded, why does everyone want to leave him in the dark? What was so important anyways?

"Good, come on Tommy, Ranboo."

"Okayyy…" Tommy huffed, walking beside Phil, Ranboo did the same.

Now, Tubbo was alone. He could hear faint voices, but something inside of him told him he didn't want to know what they were talking about.

"What? They thought if they gave us a sacrifice then we wouldn't hurt them?" Techno sighed, "their so desperate… prime."

"So, what are we gonna do? That's fucking messed up! We can't just do nothing!" Tommy spat.

Phil thought for a moment, "we'll just do what we normally do."

"What about Tubbo then? Are we going to give him back? Drop him off somewhere else?" Ranboo questioned, "he seems so nice…"

"Don't worry, he's staying with us, just, don't let him know what we do for now, okay? We don't want to scare him away," Phil smiled.

"Did you already tell Wilbur?"

"Yup, he knows. Let's hurry this one up and get out of here."

Techno smirked, "I'll get on it as soon as Wilbur is finished."

almost as planned, Phil got a message from his phone.

Wilbur: done.

Phil grinned, "you better get going then. He's finished."

"Good, come on, you two." Techno started to walk away, Ranboo following close behind.

Tommy jumped out of his seat, "I'll grab everything fast!" he said as he ran to catch up with them.

Phil waved goodbye to them as they left for the town.

Tubbo's officially a part of their family now.

He was like the light to their darkness.