VERSAILLES // Ranboo X Reader

20

When you woke up, the cuff was back on and Ranboo was sitting on the edge of his bed, idly swinging his feet back and forth, the other end clapped around his wrist again. Sunlight streamed in from the window above your beds, making the white side of him seem even more radiant than usual.

You pushed yourself up off the bed, cracking your spine as you did so. A quick glance across the room revealed that Arlow and Brigand's beds were empty, so you turned to Ranboo. "Did you put this back on?" You asked, jangling the chain. 

He nodded. "They got up to go get breakfast, so I put it back on." Ranboo said. 

"They didn't see, did they?" You asked. 

Ranboo shook his head. "I put it back on before they saw." He said. "It was kind of hard, 'cause your hand was under the pillow, but I got it." He grinned, and you couldn't help but return the gesture, smiling at him and reaching over to ruffle his hair. 

"You could have just woken me up." You said. "It would have been easier then."

"Yeah, but you looked so happy asleep." He said. "I didn't want to ruin that."

You couldn't help but smile again - he was just so sweet. Time and time again on this journey, it was just the little things he would do that would make your heart twinge in affection for him. It was the little things, like how he was still wearing the pendant that you had draped on him in jest, that made your eyes soften at the edges and a smile cross your lips.

Thinking about it now, if you had to pick one person of the group to say you were closest with, it would probably be him. Arlow and Brigand were great, but there was something about the quiet conversations you had shared before you went to bed, and the jokes he would whisper from behind you while you were riding that created something you didn't have with the other two. 

Speak of the devil though, and he shall appear. 

The door to the room swung back open, and Arlow paraded in, holding the door for Brigand, who was carrying a tray full of food - breakfast from the innkeep no doubt. 

"Ah, you're up." Arlow chirped in greeting, closing the door behind Brigand. "Sleep alright?"

"Slept great." You said, shifting so that you were sitting on the edge of the bed, your knees almost touching Ranboo's. "What did the innkeep send up for breakfast?"

Brigand set the tray down on a table that you had moved to the center of the room, revealing one of the most delicious looking loaves of fresh sourdough bread you had ever seen. There was a tray of butter to go along with it, and a bowl of sliced apples. A pitcher of fruit juice sat in the middle of the tray, completing the meal. 

You got up from the bed, going to grab one of the chairs from by the windows, Ranboo following along to take the other. There were only three seats, but Arlow seemed perfectly fine perched on the arm of Brigand's chair, so it worked. Breakfast was passed around, and for a moment you ate in silence, just enjoying the still warm bread and the melting butter. 

Brigand spoke around a mouthful of bread. "We should probably take stock of what we have today."

Arlow hummed in agreement, twirling a slice of apple on the tip of their finger. "I'm sure the horses are probably dying to get those packs off them too."

You would have to leave the horses behind when you went down into the stronghold, meaning you would only have what supplies you could carry. That thought was scarier than you were willing to admit - you were used to having everything you needed with you, but there was no way you could carry it all on foot. 

"The weapons could probably use a solid cleaning as well." Brigand pointed out. "Hopefully there's a weaponsmith in town."

"I think I remember passing one on the way in." You said. "Or at least, it was some kind of forge. I could see the chimney."

"Why don't you go investigate that today then?" Arlow suggested. "Brig and I can unload all the horses and take stock of what supplies we have, and you and Ranboo can bring the weapons to that forge you saw and get them all cleaned up. Divide and conquer."

Ranboo glanced to you. "Sounds good to me."

You downed the rest of your fruit juice. "Sure thing." You said. "We should probably take some of those emeralds with us when we go just to give them some kind of payment."

"We still have quite a few." Brigand said. 

The conversation changed tide then, as Brigand idly noted that the heat had caused him to kick off his blankets during the night, and starting up the argument about climate again. You just smiled as you ate your breakfast, watching the sun rise fully through the window. 

Part of you hated that this was coming to a close. You had grown used to spending your hours with Arlow and Brigand and Ranboo, and soon you would be plunging into the unknown and finishing the journey, one way or another. After that, you would go back to Templeswift - back to your routine.

Of course, there was part of you that missed that. But you would be loathe to leave these newfound friends. 

Still, you knew you would have these memories forever. The four of you, sat around a cramped table, listening and laughing as Arlow and Brigand went back and forth about the weather. You leaned forward to grab another slice of apple and your knee bumped against Ranboo's. He grinned, bumping you back as you retreated back to your seat, apple in hand. The chain rested between your seats, draped over the arms of the chairs. The morning sun lit the room fully, and you could see the dust flakes floating through the air. 

You would miss this, back home.