Midnight Arson (Platonic! Ranboo x Tubbo)

Chapter 33: The Guest of Honor

Ranboo blinked away his blurry vision as the curtains finally fell, raising his hand against the bright sun. Gods, he had missed the sun. Spending countless hours in the dark, musty dungeons of The Eggpire made him appreciate the star's comforting warmth. Oh, how he'd miss it after he died.

A wave of dizziness passed over the creature, causing him to sway and stumble. But instead of falling over, something flat and vertical had caught his weight. When Ranboo looked to investigate it further, any sense of fatigue was instantly drained out of him: it was a glass wall. Panicked hands reached out to meet wall after wall, completely surrounding the being in glass- he was trapped. No. No, this can't be happening, Ranboo spiraled. Someone tell me this is a dream. Please!

The enderman raised his gaze, his eyes darting about. Where had Bad taken him? The glass enclosure had been set up on a makeshift stage, impromptu in nature and poor in quality. The venue itself was the outdoors, deep in the heart of one of the many woods on the server. It was hard to tell his precise location, but Ranboo knew it couldn't be that far from town.

Before him sat rows upon rows of chairs, all filled with the residents of the five major nations. The attendants all stared back at the enderman, some with fear, and some with regret. They must know about the execution, the sentient thought. Gods, please don't let Tubbo be here. He shouldn't have to see this...

Ranboo cursed under his breath the minute he saw him. Even from where he stood, the enderman knew his husband was livid. The goat hybrid was on his feet, his face the same shade of red as his suit. His fists were clenched by his side while his mouth spewed what Ranboo could only assume were obscenities and threats.

Ranboo's gaze slid to the people sitting by Tubbo's side, and he instantly froze: Philza and Michael. Philza had brought Michael. The old man stared at Tubbo with intense worry, concern dipping his lips into a frown while he bounced a sleeping Michael in his arms. What are they doing here?! The enderman panicked. They can't be here!! Why-?!

And then it hit him. In the depths of The Eggpire's secret caves, Bad had promised to make his death as slow and as agonizing as possible. The demon hybrid had kept his word, inviting the enderman's family to watch his final moments. Ranboo grunted in frustration, his teeth clenched and his jaw set. That despicable soul. Bad would pay for this, the entire Eggpire would pay for this...if he could make it out alive.

"YOU MONSTER!! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?! LET HIM GO!!"

Bad shook his head with a small chuckle. "Why, if it isn't Tubbo Beloved, President of Snowchester. Tell me, Mr. President, did you know your husband was a terrorist?"

"Don't you dare speak of Ranboo that way!" the goat shrieked. "He is NOT a terrorist."

"Then explain why he was on our land, Tubbo. Was this an act of war by Snowchester?"

"NO!! THAT'S INSANE!!"