Tubbo always woke up early to watch the sun rise. He would get out of bed just as the faintest hints of the sun crested over the horizon, and in those early hours before the sky was bright he would climb the hill behind their house. Working his way through the scattered forest. He always found himself at a boulder that sat just far enough from the cliff face that Tubbo thought was comfortable. It was on this boulder Tubbo sat and waited patiently for the sunlight to breach the horizon and run across his face. After a moment he would dash down the hill just in time to catch his husband, Ranboo, lethargically dragging himself upright, in time for Tubbo to hand him a not yet asked for cup of coffee or tea (which he always guessed correctly), and the two would begin their day together. For the two of them, the routine work on their small apiary was comforting in different ways. For Ranboo, the consistency kept his memory sharp, and instead of fearing what had or hadn't been done after an episode of enderwalking, he always knew the next task was to complete. Structure eased the stress of having to remember. For Tubbo, the ins and outs of caring for the bees kept his mind at peace, and keeping the insects happy and healthy was a rewarding experience. A far cry from the frenetic days of the War. The couple felt the warmest kind of invincible, like the strong hug of a good parent. Now, if this were a story about the world, or about gods among men, or weapons of war, you may fear that their heaven is to be invaded by some maleficent force, and they should have to fight tooth and nail to defend it. But this is not that kind of story, for the wars have already been fought, and the gods are yet to rise. For in the present (which is the time in which we all live, mind you), they had each other, and if it is enough for them, then so is it enough for this story. The rolling countryside they lived in would have been envious to you or I, gentle hills with soft grass, and patchy forests that let the light in. Perfect for strolling or laying or sitting comfortably, which Tubbo frequently did as I have said before. But as spring became autumn, Tubbo noticed Ranboo wandering off more and more often in the late afternoon. After the apiary had been tended to and the meal of the day caught or foraged, but before their evening meal, Ranboo would kiss his husband goodbye and wander into the plains until the sun had gotten low. It wasn't every day, and the first few times Tubbo thought nothing of it. But soon it was once a week, and soon after twice. Suspicion is the wrong word for what he was feeling, it was more like worry. One night, as two fresh fish sizzled over the fire stove, Tubbo asked, "So, where did you get to today?" Ranboo replied, husky and quiet, "Oh, nowhere in particular, I think there are some mountains to the north of us." "There are. That's where Phil and Techno have settled, Snowdin or Snowburg or something, we might have a map around somewhere." Ranboo's eye's lit up in excitement and his thin tail swished quickly through the air, "We should visit them! They can't be more than a few days walk right?" Tubbo shuddered at the thought of showing his face near the fabled Blade, that man would take him out faster than powder kegs beneath parliament. But seeing Ranboo's toothy grin made him acquiesce. "I don't see why not," said Tubbo, "We'll have to prepare a few supplies for the trip, and it would be best to call ahead." "Thanks boo! This is going to be great." Ranboo flung his long arms around Tubbo's shoulders. They were so long his hands dangled at Tubbo's legs. Tubbo hugged back in response, feeling the small pit forming in his stomach at facing Techno for the first time since the war. Over the next few days the two of them worked extra hard to gather resources for their trip. Ranboo foraged for hours upon hours, and would return in the evenings with armfuls of Mallow and Purslane and Rosemary, and smelt awfully nice when he laid down to rest in the evening. Tubbo spent the time fishing, attempting to keep his mind off of what awaited them at the end of their journey. But as is often the case, if you try not to think of something you will find that it is all that plagues your thoughts. They also remembered to pack some bottles of their most golden honey, a gift for the residents of Snowchester. Only once did Ranboo wander off in the late afternoon, and although he said he had been foraging, he had woefully few herbs and greens for having been gone so long. They packed and wrapped, cooked and double checked, and their last night in bed Tubbo spoke up about his anxiety. "Not gonna lie Ranboo, I'm a little worried about all this." Ranboo propped himself up on his elbows to look at Tubbo. "About what? The trip?" Tubbo grinned meekly, "Um, yeah. Actually." "Is everything okay? You don't want to go? Why didn't you say anything?" "Babe, hey, relax. I want to go. Mostly. I just don't know how Techno is going to react." "Why would he react?" "Dude. The last place I saw him was, you know, L'Manburg." "Oh? Oh..." realisation flooded Ranboo's face. "Boo I didn't even realise." "It's fine. It should be okay." "Techno is a good dude, it'll be alright. Besides," his brow furrowed and he flashed a toothy grin, "I'll protect you!" Tubbo laughed, "Sure. I bet you will." "Oh, are you doubting my primo combat skillz?" "Did you just say skillz with a 'z'?" "That's it, prepare to die human scum!" With a playful growl Ranboo launched himself at his partner, throwing them both off the bed.
The next morning the two got up early and were off just as the sun was streching up over the horizon. Tubbo wondered what that comfortable boulder up on the hill looked like, him not being on it. Ranboo was already striding across the plains, and his much shorter husband had to hurry to keep up. Soon they settled into a rhythm and were talking merrily. As they crested a low hill Ranboo pointed ahead of them, "Look, the mountains! This is where I was when I first noticed them." Tubbo nodded and looked around. He couldn't see anything that should be keeping Ranboo for hours at a time. "What were you up to out here last time?" Tubbo prodded, hoping he sounded casual enough. Ranboo didn't seem to notice, "Um, just exploring. Going out further that I normally do." Maybe he was just being paranoid, and had no reason to be. Prehaps Ranboo really was just walking around. But something still ate away at a little corner of his mind. As their journey continued, the mountains seemed to grow ahead of them, and the air became much colder. One night they slept under an enormous tree, another beneath the wide and brilliant sky. They ate slices of bread and cheese for breakfast, plates of greens for lunch, and cooked herb stuffed fish for dinner. Soon enough Tubbo was sleeping in the winter jacket he had packed, but the cold didn't faze Ranboo too much, even if his tail seemed to have frosted a little overnight. They soon came to the foot of some climbing stone hewen steps that reached into the fog and snow above them. "Is this it?" Asked Tubbo, who hadn't been to Snowchester before. Ranboo walked up to the steps and brushed away a clump of snow that had settled over a cairn. Atop it was an etched rock that read, 'Sub to Technoblade'. "I think this is the place" he laughed. They climbed the steps carefully, and after an hour both realised how high they must be. They took a rest on the carved stone. "I doubt they get a ton of visitors." Tubbo said as he munched into some bread. "That's probably by design, in some circles Techno is a pretty wanted guy. And Phil, after what happened with Wilbur... Well I imagine sequestering away feels pretty comfortable." Tubbo opened his mouth to reply, but as he did something swooped out of the mist and stole the last of his bread. He cried out in surprise. Ranboo laughed and when his husband looked at him in shock, he pointed up a few steps to the jet black crow perched on the snow covered step. "Hi Phil!" he called out, waving to the bird, which surprisingly bowed back. "Sorry for not calling, but we'd love to visit if you'll have us." The bird hopped up and down, before seemingly being scolded by an unhead voice, and the bowing again. "Okay, let's get to it then!" said Ranboo, but Tubbo suddenly didn't want to climb any further. He suddenly wanted to run down the steps, through the snow, and back to his farmstead with Ranboo in tow. But he was already getting up and following Ranboo and the crow. He worried the whole time, what would be awaiting them at the top? An anbush? A trap? The Blade waiting with a drawn bow and a murderous smile. But then they breached the cloud layer. You see, Snowchester is build on an unusually high plateau, and clouds tend to grow more dense around the tips of the mountains, blanketing the environment in eternal snowfall for all but a month of the year. But Snowchester sits above that snowfall, and so when Tubbo finally climbed high enough, it felt like he was standing atop the world. For as far as he could see in any direction, was the clearest blue sky and rolling clouds flowing as if they were an ocean beneath him. Snowchester might have well been a rocky island in this sea. The sun was high and cold, and the air smelt crisp despite it being mid afternoon. A short distance away was a collection of cozy looking houses, as well as a few horses. Tubbo wondered how on earth they'd gotten horses up here in the first place. Bounding toward them from one of the cabins was Phil. As he waved to the two, a wing of his stuck out and waved as well, it's striking black on the pure white of the snow reminded Tubbo of his husband. "Ranboo! Hey!" he called out merrily, "Hope the way up wasn't too cold!" "Barely felt it," replied Ranboo as Phil came to a stop before them. Tubbo thought he looked much older than he had during the War. "But this ball of shivering certainly did." Tubbo had been so preoccupied with his thoughts he hadn't even noticed how cold he was. "I-it's n-n-not that-t bad." he stammered out through chattering teeth. Phil laughed, "Welcome to Snowchester Tubbo. Come inside, you'll acclimatise soon enough." The three began to walk toward the cabins, but as they did Tubbo heard a crunching in the snow, and a shiver ran down his spine. "As I live and breathe." a gravelly voice called out.
Technoblade's hulking figure came into view, on his shoulder was an enormous log, taller and more wide than Tubbo's whole body, including the puffy jacket. He set it down with a thud at the foot of a house. The piglin's body was practically steaming in the fridgid air as he made his way to the group, and he pulled out a pair of small round spectacles and rested them on his nose. "Ranboo, what brings you out this far?" "Techno! It's great to see you," he smiled cheerfully, though Tubbo was now shaking for a completely different reason, "I figured hadn't visited in a while, and then I found out Tubbo had never been here! Can you believe that?" For the first time the Blade looked down at Tubbo, who could see the breath firing out of his snout. It reminded him of a bull ready to charge. "Hey dude." he said with a nod, and Tubbo croaked out a "Wh-what's up." Techno's gaze held a moment longer before, "Come with me Ranboo, I need your help with something." His hand grabbed Ranboo's shoulder and led him off toward another of the squat buildings, allowing him only a moment to glance behind and wave goodbye happily to his husband. Said husband stood in the cold, now all too aware of his shivering, not knowing what to do now. "Let them catch up," said Phil warmly, "Let's get you inside." It wasn't until dark that Techno and Ranboo returned to the main house. Phil had been busy preparing the feast fit for the four of them, glazed chicken using the same honey Tubbo had given a few hours earlier. He had insisted on helping, but Phil insisted much harder that he rest his feet by the fire and enjoy a read. Their bookshelf was large but predominately self published works. There was *Waiting for DreamXD* and *Purpled's Travels* among others, Tubbo thumbed through one of Technoblade's old manifestos before feeling worried again and deciding the fire was enough entertainment. After a hearty meal where mostly Ranboo talked, Techno stood and went into the kitchen. He started rooting around in the many homemade cupboards and barrels, cursing and knocking over objects of various size and value. "Techno will you just tell me what you're looking for?" Phil called over the din, "This is ridiculous, we have guests." "They get it Phil, relax." And then after a moment, "AHA!" Techno strut back into the room holding an ancient looking glass bottle full of a bronze brown liquid. Phil put his head in his hands, "You cannot be serious." "What?" exclaimed Techno, pouring everyone a glass "It's a special occasion, and you won't find another excuse for ages." "What is it?" asked Ranboo, scowling at the pungent smell. "Expensive. And very good." Techno replied, smiling, and tapped glasses with everyone. One drink went down, and then another, and another, and before long Ranboo was snoring loudly sprawled across Tubbo's shoulder, and Techno, whilst he seemed to be sitting perfectly comfortably, Phil assured Tubbo that he was fast asleep. After a long silence, "Phil, can I ask you something?" "Of course man, anything." "Is it suspicious if someone keeps dissapearing." Phil stared for a moment, "I'm going to need more context buddy." "Fine." he checked himself to make sure his voice was lowered. "Ranboo has just been, leaving, for hours at a time, and I don't know where he's going and I'm just... worried." "Well what are you worried about?" Phil leaned forward. "You know I don't even know. I just. Maybe he's meeting with somebody? Or preparing something bad?" "You think he's going to hurt someone?" "No, no way. It's just... why won't he tell me? I thought we were supposed to share everything?" Phil thought for a while, and after long enough that Tubbo thought to break the silence, he spoke, slow and deliberate. "You know I didn't know Trixtin painted for nearly two years?" "Wait, seriously?" He had met Trix once or twice, and had seen her paintings. She was talented to say the least. "How could you not?" "I mean, it's not like it really came up in conversation that often, and we lived in seperate houses so I guess she just put the paintings away?" "How did you find out?" "Well we moved in together, and pretty soon I found her old paintings, and I asked her and this whole world just opened up to me! It was a side of her I'd never seen before." "That's... actually really cool Phil. But she could've told you earlier? Was she ashamed?" Phil paused again to think, a log shifted in the fire, and then he spoke again. "She wasn't ashamed, definitely not, but I think that it had been, well, her thing. Something she didn't have to share with anyone. That was just for her and noone else. And even though we were together, she still wanted to keep a part of herself just to herself." Tubbo thought back to the sunrises he'd watched from the rock, a practice he kept from Ranboo, and nodded. "It's important to just, be with ourselves sometimes, you know? Even in a committed relationship, secrets are not a bad thing." He smiled knowingly, "So relax Tubbo, I don't think there's anything to worry about." Techno stirred in his sleep, snorted, and woke up, snapping Tubbo from the quietly intese energy that sat between the two men. "Shit, did I pass out? I cannot sleep in this chair again. Night kids." "I am absolutely older than you." replied Phil, but Techno was already stumbling down the hall. Tubbo jostled Ranboo from his sleep, and after thanking Phil, led him to the guest bedroom, where Tubbo fell asleep the moment he lay down. The next morning the two loaded up for their trip home. You may be wondering why their visit was so short, and whilst visiting friends is nice, the responsibilities of the farm called their attention. Tubbo, zipped up in his thick jacket, looked to Ranboo, "It's going to be a pain walking all the way down those steps again." "At lease we won't be able to tell how far down the ground is?" he suggested unhelpfully. "Hold on." called Techno from behind them. He had dissapeared that morning as Phil helped them pack, and now was returning with a small sack. Phil seemed to recognise the satchel immediatelly, "Really Techno? I didn't take you as the giving type." "Oh shut up, I'd feel bad if the kid had slipped and died." he reached in and handed Ranboo a small green orb, about the size of an egg. "An ender pearl!" he exclaimed. "Just throw it that way," Techno pointed south, "and throw hard, you don't want to end up landing halfway down." Without thinking, Ranboo ditched his pearl into the clouds. He turned around, and suddenly stopped grinning. "Oh shit, hey could Tubbo get one as well?" "Yeah, course." Techno said. "I'll see you next time Kid." "It was great to see you. You too Phil! I hope you enjoy the honey, Tubbo and I are loving taking care of the-" and suddenly he was gone, leaving a few motes of purple in his wake. Techno turned to Tubbo. "Here." "Thanks. It was good to see you both." He threw the pearl as hard as he could. "Come back soon yeah? And remember what I said." Phil said quickly. "Hey." said Techno, looming over Tubbo, "I don't like you too much. But I like him a lot." he nodded toward the sea of clouds Ranboo had just teleported through, "And if he likes you, I might be willing-" And Tubbo was in the snow, faintly hearing Ranboo call his name. Up on the mountain, Techno looked at Phil a little sheepishly, which is difficult for a pig, "I probably should've timed that better." Phil rolled his eyes and made his way back to the cabin, "You think?"
It wasn't long before Ranboo found Tubbo, still shaken from the ambiguity of Techno's parting words. But he hadn't been stabbed, or even punched, up there in Snowchester, so it wasn't so bad, he thought. The two journeyed back, Ranboo talked about the training he'd done with the Blade, and a great conversation he had with Phil over the night's washing up. And while Tubbo remained mostly quiet for the trip, his mind was busy thinking of all Phil had said. It didn't take long for the two to settle back into their routine despite the week away, Tubbo continued watching the sun rise, Ranboo began wandering off once more. I would love to end this tale on that note, that Tubbo let go of his curiosity and leave Ranboo be, or at least understand the necessity for a secret. But that isn't what happened, not at all. Tubbo was gutting fish when Ranboo walked in and gave him a kiss, wordlessly turning and heading out of their house. It was a little code that had developed to let Tubbo know he wouldn't be seeing Ranboo until the evening. But this time, Tubbo stared at the half-gutted fish in his hands, counted out a minute, and then went to follow the enderman. Despite Ranboo meandering and stopping to smell roses, Tubbo struggled keeping up silently. After about an hour, as Tubbo was climbing a particularly steep hill, as he came to the top of it he had lost sight of Ranboo. This was surprising, as it was very hard to lose sight of something in such a gently hilly area, he could still look back and see his house for goodness sake. After a moment of looking, he heard it. Music. A piano of sorts, seemingly eminating from all around him. He followed the sound and came to a well hidden cave entrace, covered by hanging vines that had wilted in the autumn cold. Tubbo dared not rustle them and disturb the sound, and instead peaked through as carefully as he could. A few steps inside the cavern he saw Ranboo, sitting at an enourmous grand piano. It was not painted or decorated, made of plain wood with a few vines snaking up it's stocky legs. But the sound it produced was divine. And then Tubbo turned to his husband, playing effortlessly with his eyes closed, as if he never needed to open them again. He thought of putting his hand out and pulling the vines aside, of him exclaiming to Ranboo his talent and skill. But Tubbo didn't. He simply remained for as long as he could before the sun began to sink, and hurried back to the farm. Ranboo later asked Tubbo why he was so quiet over dinner, but Ranboo wouldn't say. His mind was too full of Ranboo's lovely reprise. Ranboo woke the next morning before the sun was up. He was feeling bleary and tired, and his hands ached from playing the old piano for so long. He tried to roll over and wrap himself around Tubbo, until he realised that it was his husband that was already awake and waking him. "Wake up hon, I want to show you something." "It's still dark, how am I supposed to see whatever you're gonna show me?" Ranboo gave himself a mental pat on the back for that early morning zinger. "Will you come on? It's a surprise" "Fine." he groaned, and stretched out of bed. He pulled a shirt on and turned to his husband. "What is it?" "Follow me." and Tubbo left the building. Ranboo followed. "Since when do you get up this early?" He asked as they headed up the hill and into the forest. "Since for a while now, and hurry it took you long enough to wake up." "We're in a rush for something? Boo what is going on?" "Nearly there." They climbed higher, and Ranboo noticed the dirt track leading up this way. Was it just Tubbo's feet that were responsible for this? They came out onto a small clearing, in the center of which sat a large boulder. Tubbo went and sat down on it, and motioned Ranboo to do the same. He did so, and put his hand over Tubbo's. "This is awfully romantic, but did it have to be so early?" "See for yourself." replied Tubbo, and pointed out at the horizon. Ranboo felt his eyes go wide as the sun broke into the sky. It was brilliant, how he watched the colour flood into the world. And then he felt the first heat hold his face, and sighed. "When did you find out about this?" he asked, not turning away from the sunrise. "Basically our first morning here. I've been coming ever since." "Holy shit." Ranboo was gobsmacked, sometimes he felt Tubbo leave the bed early, but he always assumed it was to make breakfast, not to come up here. And especially not so often. The two sat in silence for a time, and then began to laugh, Tubbo turned to him. "What?" "It's just amazing. I really thought I knew everything about you, and then you go and pull this out of your sleeve. It's kinda magical." Tubbo scooched a little closer to his husband, and Ranboo put an arm around him. Ranboo spoke again. "Do you ever feel like that? Like despite our relationship, you're still discovering things about me?" He turned to Tubbo, who had a soft grin on his face, and was surprised by the sincerity of his answer. "Absolutely."