Whenever Ranboo had remembered the look on Technoblade's face when he had given him his re-creation of the Axe of Peace, he got the warmest ever feeling. Like a sunflower was blooming in his chest, and his cheeks hurt cause he was smiling too wide.

Of course, that was just rent . Technoblade explained that himself, despite his appreciation of the gift. It was just rent, and only once! Ranboo still hadn't done anything else to earn his keep at the commune since he got here. And it's been five months.

So now he was working on more, at least, he couldn't just be useless . Phil and Techno gave things to each other all the time and they were best friends . Ranboo was only a good acquaintance, at best. So surely he'd be required to do so much more to prove himself worth keeping around.

And this time he was going to give something to Phil as well, since even though the commune was technically Technoblade's as it started out as his cabin, there was an unspoken truth that it was really both Techno's and Phil's.

He lifted the needle he had been threading through the deep forest green and gold haori. He had plated enchanted netherite armor underneath the folds of fabric, so that it would breathe easily. The plates were very thin and light, a softer silky material underneath so that it wouldn't irritate Phil's skin or make him uncomfortable. The red embroidered designs were based off of the Enderian speech symbols for bird, freedom, and flight.

Ranboo had a certain pride for his work. He put so much time and thought into it, and yet, he still wasn't sure it was enough. So he had also added a detachable flap that could cover and protect the full length of Phil's wings. The fabric was a thicker material with reflective scale-like netherite plates.

He set aside the project, satisfied with its completion.

Now for Technoblade.

Ranboo had already given him pretty much the most powerful axe on the server. So that meant Ranboo had to make sure his next item was better. He had noticed that Technoblade was especially bored lately. What with the only real drama being in Ranboo's head at the moment, and there was NO way he was going to tell them about THAT, there was nothing to do but grind and farm.

So, he thought… maybe he wouldn't be overstepping it if he asked to be Technoblade's apprentice.

BUT THAT WASN'T ALL.

Because if it was then surely Techno'd be SORELY disappointed.

There was also the map Ranboo had been working on. It covered… a LOT of land. Including some very prosperous adventuring prospects. Hopefully Technoblade wouldn't mind if Ranboo invited himself to them, as a future apprentice anyway.

And last, but not least. The rings.

Now, Ranboo wasn't sure… he didn't know if they'd be accepted. They were special rings. Matching rings. Three of them.

They signified unity and intimacy past normal friendship.

And as Ranboo pointed out to himself before, those things didn't exactly apply to a sort of good acquaintance.

He got up from where he was sitting on his bed, a groan escaping his lips from the discomfort that comes with sitting in one place for too long.

As awkward as he knew this was going to be, he was obligated to, so he gathered his creations and set out for Technoblade's cabin. After all, how could he not repay their kindness? If Phil hadn't offered a place for Ranboo to stay after Doomsday, he wasn't sure where he would've gone. Snowchester wasn't founded until a few weeks ago, so even though Tubbo had offered, it was long after Ranboo had already started living here.

Alright, time to go and actually present what he made.

Ughhghh, he was dreading this. Confrontation was not his thing. Ever. Except maybe for Techno and Phil. And here he was. In front of Techno's door. Knocking now.

And the door opened to a casual Technoblade.

"Oh! Hey Ranboo, what's up?" Techno asked, hand moving to brush some of his long hair off his hog mask.

"I uh… I got some things for you and Phil. I-if you wanted them, anyway." Ranboo replied, eyes moving down to Techno's chin rather than his eyes.

"Oh, sweet! Free stuff." The piglin hybrid exclaimed, seeming to be in a good mood.

"I was um, hoping to give them to Phil also, at the s-same time? So I can uh, go get him. Uhhh, where is he?" He said nervously. Don't overstep boundaries.

"No need to go get 'im, I'll just shoot him a quick message with my communicator." Technoblade said, looking down to his wrist and sending the message.

Stupid, stupid… of course he'd use his communicator. Shouldn't have bothered. Don't need to speak up. Just disappear.

"Hey mate! Techno said you got something for us?" Phil asked quizzically as he came up the ladder. Apparently he had been there.

"Uh, yeah! Just…" Ranboo grabbed the gift for Phil out of his inventory, it was wrapped with a little white bow, honestly pretty unnecessarily. "H-here, this is for you." He handed it out towards Phil while the trio retreated inside of Techno's cabin.

"Really? Well, what is it?" The avian said as he grabbed the moderately sized package from Ranboo's hands.

"Y-you'll see." Ranboo said, not sure if he should keep it hidden. He did kind of want to surprise them, even if it was expected that he gave something.

Phil sat down on Technoblade's sofa in front of the crackling fire before slowly unwrapping Ranboo's gift, the soft wool fabric used to wrap it falling onto Phil's lap as he held the garment out in front of him.

A surprised expression crossed Philza's features, his hands gently holding the haori like the world would crumble if it fell. "R-ranboo…" Phil's voice caught in his throat, looking towards the lanky boy in front of him.

"That's incredible kid." Technoblade mentioned, voice soft and apparently also moved by the gift.

"I uh, it's got n-netherite and stuff so that it protects you and it's not uncomfortable, I-I hope." He stuttered, not fully understanding their reactions.

"I love it." Phil said, words full of admiration and love. So much that Ranboo didn't think he'd be able to handle it. This was such a different experience than before, when he had given the axe to Technoblade. He hadn't been expecting this. If anything he thought they'd nod and be done with it.

Technoblade cleared his throat. "So… where's mine?"

Philza let out an amused huff at that. "Oh come on Tech', be patient will ya?"

"Whhaaaat? I want free stuuuffff…" Techno grumbled lightheartedly, glaring playfully at his close friend.

Ranboo quickly got out the map he had meticulously drawn out, every detail sharp and vibrant.

"H-here! It's a uh, a map. So that you don't have to go searching for mansions or anything. You can just look at the map and go, 'oh! There's the temple, Ranboo already found it so I can just go there.' and, yeah." He sputtered out quickly, tongue fumbling over his rushed words.

Technoblade stared at it before noticing Ranboo's hand was still outstretched and carefully took it. His fingers brushed over the markings on it, marveling at the weeks it must have taken to travel and mark everything out.

"You did this all by yer'self? Where'd you find the time?" Techno managed to ask, eyes still glued to the fragile parchment before him.

"I just, did it, when I could." Ranboo responded, feeling incredibly unhelpful. Unfortunately he couldn't bring up the courage to ask for an apprenticeship. "But uh, could I maybe, come with you? Sometimes? I mean, I know I've already been there, but I wasn't like, geared up for loot gathering or anything and y-yeah, just kind of, would like to do it with you…"

Technoblade was shocked into silence yet again. Ranboo secretly enjoyed his ability to do so.

"O-of course kid! Uhhh, yeah I wouldn't mind you being there, for uh, just someone to carry it all. Nothin' more or anythin'." Techno shakily replied. Super awkward. But Ranboo loved it.

"Oh come on Tech', admit it, ya love the kid." Phil teased cheekily.

"Never." Techno answered, but it lacked finality.

"What's the occasion anyway Ranboo?" Phil asked, genuine curiosity seeming to emanate from his stance, head forward and feet back.

"W-well… you guys offered me a home, so I was just, making sure that I paid you back and stuff." It seemed that the two legends of history in front of him couldn't believe what he'd said, even though it was true.

"What? You don't need to pay us!" Phil said indignantly. Not targeted towards Ranboo himself, but the notion that Ranboo would need to pay to live near their cabins.

"You already did anyway? The Axe of Peace, remember?" Technoblade added.

Wait… so he only needed to pay once? Oh. Well… he didn't exactly regret making them gifts anyway. Because there was so much more he was still thankful for. Mostly the just, tolerating his presence, but still.

"I still have o-one more gift…" He said uncertainly, he wasn't sure they would even want the last one. But he had to try. It just meant… so much. To him. And he didn't expect it, but he hoped it would to them too.

"You don't have to, y-y'know, actually take it. I just… wanted to offer it, at least." He cringed, why was he SO bad at communicating aaaaaa.

"Ya really don't hafta', but if it's what you want I'm sure we'll appreciate it. Plus, free stuff." Techno said, with a matter-of-fact tone at the end.

"Pfft-" The serious tone from before broken by comedy once again.

Ranboo hesitantly pulled out the three rings. They were all made of gold, with rubies and emeralds encrusting the edges. He put one on his own hand and held out the others, one to Tecchno and one to Phil.

"They match." He said, those words having an impact greater than the face value of them. They said 'we are together, we protect each other'.

"God, Ranboo- this, these are…" Phil stuttered out, gingerly putting his ring on while Techno did the same.

"Beautiful." Techno uttered simply.

"You made these? For us?" Phil asked, some sort of doubt clouding his eyes.

Ranboo didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to think, mostly because he didn't really know what they thought. Did they not want them? Or, maybe they did and he was just stupid. "W-well… yeah, I did. I thought… I thought you might not like them, but-"

"We love them!" Phil said, interrupting him. "How could we ever, not love them, fuck- Ranboo, these are just, so great."

"Thank you." Technoblade said, looking up at Ranboo. He could tell he was trying to suppress his emotions. But he couldn't ignore the moisture gathering at the corners of Techno's eyes.

"Well, you deserve them, and I thought that, well… you guys did a lot for me." He looked down, embarrassed.

"I'm so glad we mean this much to you Ranboo. You, thank you…" Phil spoke, enamored with the jeweled ring on his finger, just above a silver one engraved with wings.

And then he felt warmth.

In his chest, and in his heart. And around him.

Because Techno gives the warmest hugs.

And Phil's wings were like a blanket.

And he was home.

"How do you feel about becoming my apprentice?"