Chapter Text
Puffy came in halfway through Ranboo's breakfast, a panicked and urgent look on her face and announced the worst thing possible.
"Niki's missing!"
Techno had immediately jumped up from his seat, the scraping of the chair making Ranboo wince.
"What." Techno had said, taking a menacing step forwards. Puffy backed away nervously.
"I-I don't know!" She said, looking more scared for Niki than for herself, and maybe there was guilt there, too. "I don't- it's just.. we sort of had an argument."
Phil got up too, seething. "You what?!"
Puffy flinched. "A sort of argument, I meant. It's- just-" She was looking more ashamed by the second. "She wasn't eating and she told me she could hear Wilbur, and then she told me to go away and- and I did-" She swore under her breath. "Fuck, I should've stayed, I should've-"
"Hey, hey." Techno said. "We'll find her." He said, with an air of finality. "Ranboo, go to your place. If this is one of Quackity's accomplices, I don't want you anywhere near him."
"But-!" Ranboo tried to reply, but he got two withering looks from his closest friends and gulped. "Okay yeah I'll stay home with Tubbo and Michael sure no problem."
They started discussing plans, which Ranboo recognized as his cue to go. He sighed, got up, and picked up his things. He drew it out in hopes that they would say, 'y'know what Ranboo, stay here', but nope. Eventually, he left, a quick goodbye that was ignored.
He sighed as he walked towards his house, then smiled faintly. At least he would have Tubbo and Michael there.
When he got home, however, he found a note that said in what Ranboo recognized as Tubbo's writing, heya sexy ;) me and toms are giong out to get sum wood for an inclsure for Shroud, tommy's pet so dont be worried if we're not there. Love, 'bo
Ranboo sighed fondly, then brought out his communicator. He hesitated, though. He didn't want to tell them Niki was missing, he didn't want to worry them, and after about a minute of careful consideration, Ranboo messaged them both.
You whisper to Tubbo_: hey could you come home?? i wanna watch the office
You whisper to TommyInnit: tommy wanna come watch the office w me and tubbo?
He considered adding a smiley face to their messages, but ended up vetoeing the idea. After Tommy's.. experience, it probably wasn't smart.
After he got two quick replies, he decided to go visit Michael. He hadn't seen the piglin in.. God, two, three weeks? Something like that. With everything about Techno in prison, then Quackity, then helping Tubbo and Tommy gather materials, he'd forgotten about his son.
He got up the stairs, only to hear a voice. He tensed, knuckles whitening on his axe. If someone was up there with Michael... somebody bad... oh, they were gonna pay.
Tentatively, he climbed up the ladder, as quietly as possible, and turned around, prepared to fight, only to freeze in place.
Pink hair with a bright white highlight was the first thing he registered. Then his brain rebooted and he realized it was Niki.
She was playing with Michael, gently cooing at him, and he was making excited little piglin grunts in return.
"You like my ring?" She was showing him her newly instated Promise Ring, and Puffy had a matching one now, as well. Michael reached towards it, making grabby hands, but Niki pulled her hand away, giggling. "I'm afraid you can't have that, it's very important to me." She booped him on the snout, and he huffed, blinking. She giggled again, and he gave a few squeals that sounded suspiciously like giggles, too. "I do have..." She reached in her pocket and brought out a small gold bracelet. It looked rough by the edges, ever-so slightly burnt. Probably from the nether, then. "This!"
He gurgled and reached for it. Niki giggled and handed it to him.
"Oh, you like that, yeah?" She smiled at him. Her tail swished behind her. "Well, it's yours now."
Suddenly Michael sniffed the air, one of his ears pricked up, and swivelled round, then beamed. Well, as much as a zombie piglin could beam, anyways.
"Papa!" He yelled. Still firmly holding onto the bracelet, he raced towards Ranboo.
Ranboo smiled down at him. "Hey, buddy!" He said, and scooped him up. Michael did a piglin grunt and showed him the bracelet, clearly pleased. "Oh, that's pretty! Where'd you get it?"
With another small grunt, Michael pointed at Niki, who waved hesitantly.
"Oh.." He said, "You got it from Auntie Niki!" Niki's eyes widened and she smiled self-consciously.
And with that, Michael promptly started chewing on the bracelet, obviously pleased with himself. Ranboo chuckled faintly, then turned to Niki.
"Where
were
you?" He said, then winced at the accusatory tone. "Sorry, didn't mean to use that tone."
"I... just needed a breather." She said, rubbing the back of her neck. "After everything.. I couldn't handle it."
Ranboo nodded. He could get that. He just.. wished Niki had told them. He huffed. "Well, I'm gonna tell the Syndicate, because they're worried out of their
minds
right now."
Her eyes widened. "Sh-" Remembering Michael was there, she quickly changed tack. "Sugar! I forgot to leave a message... sugar.."
Ranboo rolled his eyes, then brought out his communicator. Michael made an excited squeal and made grabby hands towards it. Ranboo placed Michael onto the floor so both his hands were free, and Michael proceeded to sit by his feet, staring longingly at the communicator.
You whisper to Technoblade: niki's okay she's at mine
You whisper to Ph1lza: niki's okay she's at mine
You whisper to CaptainPuffy: niki's okay she's at mine
CaptainPuffy whispers to you: Thank fuck
Technoblade whispers to you: thank prime
Ph1lza whispers to you: tell her she's a bitch for making us worry
Ph1lza whispers to you: THATS A JOKE BTW. PLS DONT
You whisper to Ph1lza: dont worry i wont
Ranboo chuckled and put the communicator back in his pocket. Michael did a dissapointed grunt and trotted over to Niki, who chuckled and knelt down again to pat his head, taking care not to touch the undead side. With a jolt, Ranboo realized that technically they were both undeads.
Niki seemed to take no notice. She picked Michael up and placed him on her lap, then tickled him. Giggle-like squeals came out of him, and she laughed right along with him.
Ranboo couldn't help but smile at the scene. There she was, his basically sister, playing with her basically nephew. It was... sweet. Nice. Simple.
I swear on my three lives I will not let anything happen to you both, he swore to himself, watching Niki bounce Michael on her knee, who let out peals of delighted squeals.
He grabbed his communicator, Michael for once taking no notice. He had a good feeling about that night, and messaged Tubbo.
You whisper to Tubbo_: hey
Tubbo_ whispers to you: Hey sexy ;)
You whisper to Tubbo_: niki's gonna join us tonight :D
Tubbo_ whispers to you: oh pog
You whisper to Tubbo_: could you relay to tommy the message? im watching michael rn
Tubbo_ whispers to you: k
"Hey, Niki's joining us for The Office tonight." Tubbo told Tommy as they walked back, already a third of the way there because they left early.
"She's what?" Tommy asked, tense for a moment, before a genuine smile made its way onto his face. "Oh, that's cool. Will Michael watch with us?"
Tubbo shrugged. "Probably."
"Pog." Tommy said. "I am the best uncle in the world. I can't wait to meet my nephew again."
"He's not technically your nephew." Tubbo pointed out.
Tommy pouted. "Let me have this, Tubbo."
Tubbo smiled. He was glad he was able to have some semblance of normalcy. Then he smiled even more so after remembering Niki was going to watch with them. She was getting better.
This was good.