It was late.
The stars were shining in the midnight-black sky, the pale half moon stark against the inky background.
Ranboo always marveled at the stars, a certain nostalgia coming over him at the sight.
He couldn't remember why, but considering his enderman heritage, it must've reminded him of the end.
He heard the end was an island of pale stone, floating in a void empty of stars, at least in a human's eyes. His conversations with Edward revealed to him that enderman saw it differently. That in an enderman's eyes, the end was littered with stars and constellations, endless swirls of condensed gas filling the void. He spoke of end cities and an abandoned civilization, raided by creatures called shulkers and endermites.
Ranboo wished he could remember what it was like.
A shiver ran down his spine despite the cloak he wore to ward off the cold. Ranboo looked down at the snow that glittered all around him. He had to admit that where he lived now was beautiful, and that he was grateful for the home that was given to him. Offered to him by Phil.
Phil, oh Phil was great. The old geezer was the best thing that happened to Ranboo, maybe besides Tubbo.
He doesn't know what he would have done without him. After L'manburg.
The avian was… was so great. Ranboo had a word for how he felt. He was nervous to think it let alone utter it.
Phil was a father figure to him, he couldn't deny it, not really. That man had adopted seemingly any kid that came his way, from what Ranboo heard. He wondered if he wasn't good enough to be Phil's son.
Not that he thought Phil would think of him that way, but… Ranboo's just pretty weird, and kind of hard to live with. He doesn't feel like he deserves what Phil did for him, or Technoblade.
The two of them were more accepting than anyone he's ever met, and that's ironic considering they both have expressed having trust issues.
Wilbur lied to Phil.
Tommy betrayed Techno.
So Ranboo understood if they acted distant, but to him, they were family. It's not like he acted any differently either, it was just their way of communicating.
He heard shuffling in the snow behind him, so he turned around to face Phil. Philza looked excited, wings bristling and eyes shining with something Ranboo doesn't recall ever seeing before.
He looked quizzically at Phil, or his chin anyway, tilting his head in curiosity.
"Hey Ranboo! I've got something I'd like to show you, if that's alright." Phil said, smiling in anticipation.
"Um, sure! Phil... what- what is it?" He asked, fiddling with the fabric of his suit.
"This way mate!" Phil said with an unusual bounce in his step. Phil led Ranboo deeper into the forest, to the bicolor-eyed boy's surprise.
After a short trek through the snow, they arrived in a clearing with a large stone platform in the middle. Phil's crows flew above them, some landing on Phil, but the rest flying in a circle above the platform.
"Watch this." Phil said with a hushed voice.
And so Ranboo watched, he watched as the crows flew faster and faster, until they looked like a blurry black tornado. The sound of their caws echoed out, sounding like they could reach the moon. And slowly, they slowed down, feathers flying out in all directions as they zoomed out into the forest, landing on the tall spruces that surrounded them.
Left in their wake was a tall figure, not as tall as Ranboo, head to toe in black. Their flowing garments ruffled in the chilling breeze and they lifted their head, which adorned a tall black hat with a veil that blurred their features.
"Hello my angel, and void." She addressed them, smile faint under the dimming fabric.
" Kristen-" Phil ran up to the mysterious woman, arms reaching out and they embraced on impact. They laughed, twirling each other around fondly. Phil's wings wrapped around her in an intimate way Ranboo had never experienced.
Phil gently lifted his arms from her and turned to Ranboo, who had been standing a bit awkwardly to the side, watching. "Ranboo, this is my wife, Kristen." He explained, stars in his eyes and a sparkle in his voice. Ranboo had never seen Phil exude this much pure joy.
"Hello young one. My angel has told me much about you." Kristen's voice was soft and gentle, but alluded to a power beyond any imagination.
Ranboo cleared his throat. "Uh, h-hi. I uh, didn't know you were married, Phil. I-I mean-! I know you had Wilbur, so I guess I assumed you had someone , but it just- ah, it uh, never crossed my mind?" That sentence physically pained him to say.
Phil chuckled lightly, no anger or annoyance could be found in his gaze.
"It's okay Ranboo. Kristen doesn't have the ability to show up often, I'm just glad I have the chance to introduce you to her. It's been so great to have you here, and you mean so much to me." Phil said, a fatherly aura emanating from him.
Aaaa, how is Phil so? Nice? Like, what?
Ranboo really really wanted to give him a hug right now. SO much.
Mmmmmm, but he probably shouldn't. Part of him really wanted to do something else though. To get back at him of course.
"That- that's… wow, okay ehah. You, you mean a lot to me too Phil, just… SO much. You and Techno. Thanks." Ranboo managed to get the words out, even with his stutter, he sounded so certain. Because he was, he doesn't think he's been more certain of anything in his life.
Dang it. Stupid… tears.
At the sight of Ranboo's tears falling down his face, Phil and Kristen rushed towards him, readily wiping them from his sensitive skin. Sometimes it sucked to be half enderman. Ruining the mood and everything.
And then he felt it. His breath hitched in surprise and for a moment, he wasn't sure what to do.
They had hugged him. He'd never felt so… loved.
It seems he'd experienced a lot he hasn't before tonight.
"You're a wonderful boy Ranboo. You're a part of our family, even if I'm not there. I'm watching, and I have to admit, I've grown to love you the way I did Wilbur. I have to thank you for being in Phil's life. And for being there for everyone else you care about. That's what I love so much about you. You never abandon anyone. You didn't abandon Tommy. You didn't abandon Tubbo. You didn't abandon Technoblade. And you haven't abandoned my angel." Kristen spoke, and Ranboo looked reverently down at her, the pain from the tears non-existent in his current euphoria of being seen and loved and everything he's ever wanted. He felt a connection like no other to the two pressed against him. He doesn't remember his parents. But he can't think anything other than they're right here .
"Thanks mom and dad, I love you too."
He found that he didn't regret his words one bit.