Ranboo is sick and touch starved and straight up not having a good time

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A/N: let's all hold hands and eat snacks together. :D
CW: sickness (no vomit), neglecting self care, uhhh just being generally touch starved.

Ranboo was tired. His eyelids felt heavy, and his limbs felt like lead. He just wanted to curl into a ball and fall asleep.

There really was nothing preventing him from doing that, besides the fact that he was proving to the syndicate that he could be an asset. Ranboo never saw Phil or Techno take sick days. They just got up every day, did their chores, and then work on a project, without falter. Their work ethic was terrifying.

Ranboo knew that he could be a handful sometimes. His dodgy memory was the cause of many issues and his enderwalk state was not to be trusted. He tried to stay out of everyone's way, both physically and mentally. Isolating himself in his little house. He was fine. Everything was fine.

Everything was not fine

Ranboo coughed, doubling over and dropping the wood he was holding. He ran a hand through his hair. Just a cold, he could tough it out. He would be strong like Techno and Phil. He lifted up the bundle of wood and continued his trek to the cabin.

Standing outside the cabin were Phil's crows. They seemed to like Ranboo. They never pooped on him. Ranboo forced a smile on his face and waved to the crows. The crows could be snitches sometimes.

He dumped the wood into a chest by Steve's spot. He scratched behind the polar bear's ear. The polar bear grumbled happily. Ranboo bent down and hugged the animal. The dogs and Steve had been Ranboo's main source of physical touch in the past months. Phil had once tried to hug Ranboo, which was strange because no one wanted to do that. He probably reacted badly because of shock. Then there were no more hugs for Ranboo after that.

Ranboo stood up. He felt dizzy and squeezed his eyes shut. The wave of nausea passed. Ranboo took a shaky deep breath and headed back towards the forest. He had one more run of wood before he could do a less tedious task.

As he left the cabin the crows squawked at him. Ranboo felt a cough coming on. I can't cough here I can't cough here I can cough here. They'll bother Phil...

Ranboo's battle was lost quickly. He let out 5 hoarse coughs. The crows quieted and stared at him.

"Sorry guys, just something in my throat-" Ranboo dissolved into another coughing fit.

The crows moved closer to Ranboo.

"Shhh... it's ok guys. I'm fine," Ranboo forced another smile. A crow flew up to his shoulder. Ranboo ran a hand over its back. The crow nuzzled Ranboo's shoulder. Ranboo must have been distracted because he felt a cloak land on his shoulders. Ranboo pulled it closer around him.

"Thank you guys," Ranboo said, trying to leave. The crows blocked his path. "I need to leave."

The crows squawked angrily at him.

"I'm sorry I disturbed you guys. I'll drop wood on the other side of the house ok?"

This idiot... the crows thought.

"Dadza!" A crow called.

Ranboo tensed. shoot

Ranboo made a motion to quiet the crows. "It's ok guys. No need to get Dadza."

"Dadza! Dadza! Dadza!" More crows called.

Ranboo ran a hand down his face. "Guys, he's probably doing something important right now."

The crow that was sitting on Ranboo's shoulder flew away. uh-oh

Ranboo felt another wave of nausea come. He plopped down into the snow. The crows came closer. A group of them pulled the cloak tiger around Ranboo. The cloak was red with a white interior. It reminded Ranboo of something.

Techno's cloak!

Ranboo's eyes widened. He instantly tried to shake the cloak off but it was no use.

"This is Techno's cloak! He's gonna think I stole from him," Ranboo cried out. He was so tired. The crows cawed softly.

Ranboo heard crunching snow. Someone was coming. Ranboo would be kicked out. He coughed and buried his face in his hands.

Ranboo felt a hand on his shoulder. The boy tensed.
"Hey mate," Phil said.

"Hi," Ranboo whispered.

"A little birdy told me you're sick," Phil said, chuckling at his own joke.

Phil's laugh made Ranboo relax a little. Ranboo leaned into the contact. Phil had such a nice laugh.

" 'm fine," Ranboo said hoarsely.

"I don't think you are." Phil crouched down so he was face to face with Ranboo. He took care to avoid Ranboo's eyes.

"Chat did you steal Techno's cloak for Ranboo?" Phil asked.

The entire murder of crows nodded at once. Phil shook his head, grinning.

Phil had moved his hand away from Ranboo's shoulder. Ranboo shivered from the loss of touch. Phil's hand was warm. Ranboo wanted to be warm. Ranboo was cold.

clingy

"Alright mate, I'm gonna take you inside. You're freezing," Phil said.

Ranboo nodded, and shakily stood up. There was no point in resisting. Phil was right there to catch him in case he fainted.

Phil guided Ranboo to the house, careful not to move too close to the kid. Phil wasn't sure how Ranboo felt about physical contact. He had freaked out when Phil once gave him a hug, so Phil avoided contact with Ranboo whenever possible. He just wanted Ranboo to be comfortable.

Ranboo plopped onto the couch in the living room in front of the fireplace. He curled into a ball, burying his face in the cloak. Phil put a few logs on the fireplace and lit it.

"Ranboo can I touch your forehead?" Phil asked.

"Yes," Ranboo said. He stuck his head out of his cocoon.

Phil placed his hand onto the boy's forehead. He was burning up.

Ranboo leaned into the contact. Phil noticed and frowned. When he pulled his hand away Ranboo's head seemed to try and follow.

"Well mate, you certainly have a fever. Take it easy here while I get you some potions," Phil said.

Ranboo curled tighter into a ball. Phil's hand on his forehead had felt so nice. So grounding.

selfish

Ranboo heard the clinking of bottles and the door swinging open. "Ok, I got regen and health potions. Is that ok?"

Ranboo nodded.

"Are you cold?"

Ranboo nodded again. He felt a blanket be added to his pile.

"Can you sit up Ranboo?" Phil asked, coming to sit at the foot of the couch Ranboo was lying on.

Ranboo sat up, his head slightly dizzy. He felt cold glass at his mouth, there was a cold hand on his cheek. Ranboo leaned into the hand, guzzling down the potion. It tasted like grape.

The hand tried to pull away. One of Ranboo's hands shot up from under the blankets. A voice chuckled.

The hand started to rub circles on his cheek. Ranboo let out a happy enderman vwoop. The hand continued for a while until Ranboo felt himself drift off to sleep.
---
"How is he?" A deep voice asked.

"He has a fever. It was good that the crows alerted me when they did. He wasn't taking care of himself." A familiar voice replied.

"He's a kid. I think people keep on forgetting that. We're guilty of that too."

"Techno- I think he's a bit touch starved."

"Didn't you think he didn't like touch-"

"Yeah, yeah, I was wrong about that I guess. I dunno we'll have to ask him."

Footsteps approached the couch. Ranboo stretched and opened his eyes.

"Good morning mate," Phil said smiling. Techno's expression stayed neutral, but his eyes were friendly.

"G'morning," Ranboo said softly.

Phil left the room while Techno placed a tray on Ranboo's lap. "I got you some food. You'll feel better if you eat something."

Ranboo nodded and took some small bites of the waffle. Ranboo was glad that Techno was here, Phil was horrible at cooking.

Techno eyed the cloak in Ranboo's fort of blankets but did not comment. Phil came back holding a health potion. Ranboo had finished eating and Techno took the tray into the kitchen.

Phil sat down near Ranboo's torso. He faced the sick boy. "Here's some health potion," He said, handing Ranboo the bottle. His hand briefly touched Ranboo's. Phil noticed how the boy froze for a second. Ranboo drank the potion. The boy's hair was a mess, covering his eyes. Phil brushed some hair out of Ranboo's eyes.

"Sorry," The man said, quickly pulling away his hand when he noticed what he was doing.

"It's ok," Ranboo murmured. He blindly reached out for Phil's hand, putting it back on his head.

Phil chuckled at the drowsy boy. He continued to pet Ranboo's hair, brushing it and detangling knots. He used to do the same thing to Wilbur when he was younger.

"Phil..." Ranboo said, slightly delirious and sleepy.

"Yes?"

Ranboo gulped. "Can I have a hug?" He whispered.

Phil's eyes lit up. "Of course!"

The man embraced the sick boy, murmuring words of comfort into his hair.

"Thank you," Ranboo said. He felt warm, he felt safe, he felt loved. Everything was fine now. He smiled before promptly fell asleep.

"No problem mate," Phil said. He brushed his hand through Ranboo's hair again before leaving to check on Techno. "Everything is fine now."

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