Chapter Text
“It moved! I can feel it- I know he moved. Please, Ranboo, I-”
“Enough, Tubbo.” Ranboo tilted Tubbo’s face up. Tubbo searched his mismatched eyes, blank and unfeeling. “You know very well that Quackity and Schaltt would be very disappointed to hear you speaking of Theseus again.” The clawed fingers dropped from Tubbo’s jaw and he screwed his face up, turning away from the god in front of him.
“You haven’t come into your powers yet,” Ranboo continued. “You-”
“I can’t come into anything with Theseus.” Tubbo’s eyes glared upwards, feeling a small headache form under his horns. Ranboo’s eyes widened, surprised. Tubbo was normally so obedient to his family- “I was Bonded with Theseus before he went missing. It has been years, and I am telling you all that Theseus is still alive.” Tubbo could feel it in his chest, the other half of his soul-- a compass leading him forward.
“You seem so sure.” Ranboo’s voice dropped, and Tubbo’s stomach twisted. He hated making them upset. “You forget that we arrived on the scene when Theseus vanished. Phil, Technoblade, and Wilbursoot all searched for years. Technoblade tore through Hell, Wilbursoot descended to the mortals and ripped every village apart, Phil- Phil even killed some of the gods. Nothing and no one has found Theseus.” Tubbo couldn’t help the tears forming in his eyes, and the fist Ranboo had balled came undone.
“I don’t say these things to hurt you, Tubbo, but you need to let go. We’re worried about what this has done to you,” Ranboo stroked Tubbo’s cheek gently and Tubbo looked up at his older brother. “We know you miss him. But he is dead. You may grieve as much as you want, but you need to let him go.”
“I’m sorry, Ranboo. I just-” Tubbo sniffled, fist coming up to wipe at his tears. Ten years ago, Theuseus was three and Tubbo had just turned four. They had gone to play a game on the outskirts of Phil’s kingdom, chasing the bees in the wind near the cliff Phil had always told them to avoid, and when Tubbo had turned around-
There was nothing left but a broken piece of rock falling off the edge.
Tubbo had screamed and the gods had come running, flying in Phil’s case, but Theseus was gone. There was no small body at the bottom of the cliff. Technoblade had spent months drowning in the ocean, filling his lungs with seawater and trying to taste for any blood. Wilbur had called the sirens from the depths of the ocean, who all claimed that if they had seen Theseus fall, they would have caught him and returned him safe. Even if Theseus had died, there should have been a body.
There should have been an answer. And Bonded as they were, Tubbo knew what none of them did. He knew his hope kept their’s all alive for years, but it all dwindled. Tubbo was the only one who believed now.
“You don’t need to apologize, Tubbo. I know how hard you took Theseus’ death. Mortals are very fragile, and until you come into your godling power, we can’t let you outside. Do you understand?” Ranboo’s eyebrows were coming together, skin folding over the lines dotting his face. Tubbo nodded. “Good boy.” Ranboo’s hand came down on Tubbo’s head, gently ruffling the soft hair. “I will see you tomorrow morning for breakfast, alright? Don’t tell Schlatt I told you, but he was gonna take you down to the worship festival tomorrow night. Something to look forward to, hm? Quackity is quite determined to win that stuffed goat this year.” Ranboo smiled. It didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Tubbo nodded again, and with a soft goodnight, Ranboo left the room.
“I know you’re alive, Theseus.” Tubbo glanced over to his bed, the pillow soft and fluffed. His fist bunched and he strode over to the blankets, settling in and ribbing the white pillowcase off. “And I’m going to come find you.”
Ranboo, the god of shadows.
Quackity, the god of mercy.
Schlatt, the god of punishment.
Schlatt and Quackity were Bonded, the way Tubbo and Theseus were. Mercy and Punishment made Justice, Tubbo and Theseus made… something. They didn’t know yet, not until Theseus came back and they grew into their godly inheritance together. Ranboo was young when he was adopted by Schlatt and Quackity, and Tubbo followed decades later. Their little makeshift family.
Each god had their own symbol, a Blessing etched into mortal’s skin. With the black freckle beside Tubbo’s left eye, he could call Ranboo’s shadows to take him straight to the god. Quackity’s blessing quieted his mind whenever the storm… happened, fixing Tubbo’s terrible thoughts with quiet gold whispers. Schlatt’s blessing appeared as the small horns on Tubbo’s head. When called on, it gave Tubbo heightened strength and a Charm to his words.
If Tubbo wanted to pull this off properly, he’d have to block them out, which is exactly why he had the servants sneak in… this!
He pulled the enchanted cuff from his pillowcase, small fingers caressing the metal. It pulsed with magic, strong enough to block the gods’ influence. Tubbo could do it, he was strong enough. He would go out there and find Theseus, and bring him back to his family. He’d have to do it without the gods’ blessings, but Tubbo was sure he’d be fine. He’d have Theseus with him soon enough, anyway. And together, nothing could stop them!
Tubbo fit the bracelet around his wrist, taking in a sharp inhale as it clicked into place. The magic seeped from the marks, drawing into the bracelet until the silver had turned black with suppression. Tubbo knew that the gods couldn’t sense him when he was asleep anyway. Ranboo had said goodnight.
It was go time.
Tubbo flew around the room as quietly as he could, nabbing clothes and sheets. He tied them all together, hands flying out to catch the lamp that had almost fallen. Tubbo stuck his head out the window, the wind whipping at his face. It was harder than usual, maybe Phil was upset?
Tubbo tied the other end of his makeshift rope to the window sill. He pulled it, feeling the fabric hold firm. He gathered the rest of it up in his arms, peeking out the window again. He could go back, but once he threw it, it was over. They would know he was trying to sneak out.
Not trying. Against the nerves pelting against his stomach, Tubbo’s face hardened. He was sneaking out. They could be mad at him when he came back with Theseus.
Tubbo chucked the fabric out the window. He swung his backpack over his shoulder - packed with waterbottles and any food ration he’d been able to steal from the kitchen - and swung a leg experimentally over the edge of the window.
“Just hang on, Theseus.” Tubbo’s hands shook as he hung from the window, slowly inching his way down. The bracelet jangled against his skin, catching on some of the ties. “I’m on my way!” Tubbo hit the grass, softly, with the tips of his feet.
Technoblade had showed him how to fall silently, the same blank expression as his hand had waved. It had trembled and Tubbo had pretended not to notice. If Tubbo had anything to say about it, Technoblade would never be sad about Theseus again.
Tubbo set off into the woods, backpack bobbing. He needed to get some serious ground in before the sun rose, or he’d get dragged right back.
He took a sharp, cold breath. For Theseus, Tubbo could do anything.
--
By the time twelve o’clock had rolled around the next day, Ranboo was starting to get worried. Tubbo hadn’t even come out of his room yet. He was usually up around ten… did he not sleep well? Maybe he should go check on him.
Ranboo gently slid into the shadows behind his throne, sighing at their cool nature. When he emerged from under Tubbo’s bed, he started shrieking.
Schlatt and Quackity abandoned their paperwork and work, rushing to Ranboo’s aid.
They found a window wide open, a rope of fabric leading out of their mortal’s room, and one Tubbo short.
---
“He can’t have gone far, Ranboo.” Phil’s voice would normally be soothing, but today it just grated on Schlatt’s nerves. He and Quackity had been so busy with work… souls needed to be judged before heading into their afterlife, and the lists had been piling up. Schlatt paced as Quackity’s head hung in his hands, Ranboo shaking by the shadows in the corner.
The gods had all gathered, murmuring amongst themselves as Wilbur pulled up a map.
“Do any of you have any idea where he might be headed?” Wilbur’s eyes narrowed, a harsh light to them. They were all thinking of what had happened to Theseus -- godlings like Theseus and Tubbo were so rare.
“Y-yesterday he wouldn’t stop talking about Th-” Wilbur’s gaze shot up and pierced Ranboo like a bullet. The god felt a terrible pit in his stomach, a lump in his throat as Technoblade’s hand drifted closer to his sword. None of them liked being reminded, but they could all see it in the bags under their eyes. “Theseus. He was talking about Theseus.” Ranboo looked away. He didn’t think he could face them and bring up their dead child. “He seemed to think that… that Theseus was still alive. And that he could feel him moving again… but closer this time. He only ever says anything when he thinks Theseus is moving closer.”
“So he’s gone off to chase a ghost.” Quackity groaned, burying his face further into his hands. Schlatt’s eyes narrowed.
“Wait. You never said anything earlier about Tubbo thinking Theseus was closerSouls don’t move.” Schlatt almost whispered the words, putting a hand by his mouth. “Souls don’t- they stay in their afterlife. Even if Tubbo could have felt Theseus after his…” a glance to Phil, who’s eyes were shadowed in the brim of his hat. “Passing… which, even rare, is possible. They were Bonded so young and so naturally, too. But he shouldn’t be able to feel Theseus move.”
“And in all of our records, we’ve never once seen a trace of Theseus’ soul.” Quackity propped his chin on the table, eyebrows furrowed. “Even if he was. Destroyed, it should have left something behind.”
Phil stood, his chair screeching behind him. “Theseus is dead.” the man’s eyes shone under his hat, burning acid catching Schaltt’s. The wind began to spin around the room, flopping Technoblade’s braid around wildly. “We searched everywhere, there was no sign of my-” Phil curled into himself as he collapsed back into his chair, his throat trembling. The wind died down. “There was no sign of my son.”
“Dream.” Ranboo flicked his hands, eyes finding the mask hidden in the opposite corner. The last god. The god of reality. “Would a Bond function across separate dimensions?”
All eyes were focused on the green-clad face as he shifted uncomfortably with the attention.
“...I don’t know. It’s never happened before.” Dream looked away, crossing his arms. Ranboo could almost see the cogs swirling in his mind. “But… I would consider it possible. Possible enough. Or maybe Tubbo could just be chasing an alternate version of Theseus, not our Godling Theseus.”
“You said there were no versions of Theseus across other dimensions.” Wilbur stared at Dream from his seat.
“I did. And I am still very sure I didn’t find any. I even let Technoblade into most of them to search himself, and still. Nothing.” Dream clenched his fist. “We don’t know what happened to Theseus. But speculating about it won’t help Tubbo. I’ll comb through the world, figure out his location. I’ll try to keep as many dangers away as the rest of you search. Technoblade, can you track him?”
“I will try.” Technoblade’s grip tightened on his sword. He let the pommel go, standing. “Ranboo, show me where he left.”
“Alright.”