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Ranboo stumbled into the cave, muttering curses under his breath. The rain was relentless, each drop large enough to knock him out of the sky. His wings hung heavy and soaked, useless for flight. He slumped onto a nearby rock, shivering. Tommy was going to be furious when he found out Ranboo was late—again.
If only he had the magic to shift into human size all the time. But no, he was stuck at a mere quarter’s height, helpless against the elements.
With a weary sigh, he pulled himself up and shuffled deeper into the cave, wings dragging behind him. Just as he began navigating around a jagged rock, a sound froze him in place.
“Who’s there?” a deep voice called out, rough and commanding. “I can smell magic.”
Ranboo’s blood ran cold. A dragon.
He spun around, ready to flee, but before he could so much as beat his wings, a clawed hand wrapped around him. He stared up, horrified, at a dragon hybrid—a hulking figure with crimson eyes and sharp teeth, towering over him.
“You’re a long way from home,” the hybrid said, a smirk playing on his lips. “Not many fairies venture this far into the mountains.”
“I was just passing through,” Ranboo stammered. “I’ll leave right away.”
“In this storm?” the dragon asked, arching a brow. “Those raindrops will shred your wings to pieces.”
Ranboo hated to admit it, but he was right. Flying now would be suicide.
The hybrid studied him for a moment before speaking again. “I’m Technoblade. Call me Techno.”
“Ranboo,” he muttered, still eyeing the dragon warily.
“You’re soaked.”
“I’m aware,” Ranboo snapped, his teeth chattering. “Not like you have a spare set of clothes lying around.”
Techno snorted. “No, but I can make you some.”
Ranboo blinked. “You’ll what?”
“I’ve got fabric and string,” Techno said, turning toward a corner of the cave. “Never made fairy clothes before, but I’ll give it a shot.”
Ranboo stared at him, baffled. “Why would you do that? Don’t dragons usually... eat fairies?”
Techno shrugged, gathering his materials. “Maybe. But you’re not on the menu today.”
Ranboo’s wings drooped further. “Great. That’s... comforting.”
“Relax, kid,” Techno said, sitting down and spreading out his supplies. “If I wanted to fry you, you’d already be crispy. Now sit tight and let me work.”
With little choice, Ranboo perched on the rock, watching the dragon hybrid’s claws work surprisingly delicately with the fabric. Despite himself, he started to relax. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
“So, where are you from?” Techno asked, glancing up briefly from the tiny fabric he was carefully stitching. His claws, though intimidating, moved with surprising precision.
“The western side of the forest,” Ranboo replied, shifting on the rock. “I live with a friend.”
Techno raised an eyebrow. “A friend? Not many fairies I’ve met stick with just one. Aren’t you lot all about those little villages and tree houses?”
Ranboo shook his head. “Not me. I, uh, don’t fit in all that well. My friend’s the only one who really gets me.”
Techno hummed, his focus returning to the thread he was weaving. “Fair enough. Never been one for crowds myself. Too loud, too many idiots.”
Ranboo gave a small laugh despite himself. “Yeah, exactly. My friend keeps me sane, though he’s probably furious I’m late.”
“Well,” Techno said, smirking as he tied off the last stitch, “you’ve got a decent excuse. Not every day you get rained out and kidnapped by a dragon.”
Ranboo tensed. “Am I kidnapped, though? You let me leave after this, right?”
Techno leaned back, holding up the tiny tunic to inspect his work. “Relax, I’m not keeping you. Unless you really piss me off, of course.”
“Comforting,” Ranboo muttered, folding his arms.
Techno tossed him the finished garment, smirking. “Try that on, your majesty. Let’s see if I missed my calling as a fairy fashion designer.”
Ranboo slipped the tunic over his head, carefully threading his wings through the neat slits Techno had cut into the back. He flexed them a little, testing the fit. To his surprise, it felt... good. The fabric didn’t tug or pinch, and the slits were perfectly aligned.
“Huh,” Ranboo muttered, looking down at himself. “It fits.”
Techno smirked, clearly satisfied with his work. “Of course it does. You doubted me?”
Ranboo shot him a look. “You’re a dragon hybrid who just admitted you’ve never made fairy clothes before. So yeah, I doubted you.”
“Fair enough,” Techno said, leaning back against the cave wall with a smug grin. “Guess I’m just naturally talented.”
Ranboo flexed his wings again, feeling how smoothly they slid through the openings. “How did you even know where to cut the slits?”
Techno shrugged. “I’ve seen enough fairies flitting around to figure it out. You’re all built the same, more or less.”
“Wow,” Ranboo said dryly. “Thanks for the individualism.”
Techno chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. “You’re welcome. Now, are you gonna sit there all night, or do you want something to eat?”
Ranboo blinked. “You’re offering me food now?”
“Look, kid,” Techno said, standing and brushing dust off his hands, “you’re tiny, soaked, and half-dead. I’m not gonna let you keel over in my cave. Bad for the aesthetic.”
Ranboo sighed but nodded. “Fine. Thanks, I guess.”
“Don’t mention it,” Techno said, already rummaging through a pile of supplies. “Seriously, don’t. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
“So, how exactly are you planning to do this?” Ranboo asked, eyeing the massive dragon hybrid suspiciously. “I’m quite small, you know.”
Techno smirked, crouching down to meet Ranboo’s gaze. “Trust.”
Ranboo looked away. “That’s... not reassuring.”
“Relax, kid,” Techno said, holding out a clawed hand. “I’ve handled fragile stuff before. You’re not gonna break.”
“That’s also not reassuring,” Ranboo muttered, hesitating before stepping onto the offered palm.
Techno lifted him carefully, his movements surprisingly gentle for someone so massive. “See? Easy. Now sit tight while I work my magic—or, well, my claws.”
Ranboo perched awkwardly, clutching the edge of Techno’s hand for balance. “This is either the dumbest or the smartest thing I’ve done all day.”
“Probably both,” Techno said with a smirk as he set Ranboo down on a flat rock near the fire. “But don’t worry. You’re in good hands—literally.” Techno glanced over at Ranboo, his crimson eyes sharp with focus. “I’m just gonna try to portion this correctly,” he said, holding up a chunk of dried meat that looked more like a boulder to Ranboo.
Ranboo raised an eyebrow. “Portion? For me? You realize I’m the size of a quarter, right? That’s enough to feed me for a month.”
Techno smirked. “Yeah, yeah, don’t get your wings in a twist. I’m not trying to kill you with generosity.”
With surprising precision, he pulled out a small knife and began slicing off a piece so tiny it was almost laughable in his massive claws. When he was satisfied, he laid the sliver of meat on a flat stone near Ranboo.
“There,” Techno said, leaning back. “Portioned. You’re welcome.”
Ranboo eyed the offering, then glanced back at Techno. “You’re surprisingly considerate for a dragon hybrid.”
“Don’t spread that around,” Techno muttered, smirking. “Got a VERY important reputation to protect, remember?”
“What’s with the whole ‘reputation’ thing?” Ranboo asked, nibbling on the tiny piece of meat.
Techno shrugged, his crimson eyes gleaming with mild amusement. “The humans believe I’m a god,” he said casually, as if discussing the weather.
Ranboo froze mid-bite, staring at him. “A god?”
“Yeah.” Techno leaned back against the cave wall, his smirk widening. “Big scary dragon, immortal, breathes fire, all that jazz. They think I control storms or something.”
Ranboo blinked. “And you let them believe that?”
“Why not?” Techno said, spreading his clawed hands. “Keeps them from bothering me. They see me, they throw offerings, and they run away. Works out pretty well, if you ask me.”
Ranboo frowned. “That’s... a bit manipulative.”
Techno chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. “Maybe. But it’s not like I’m asking them to worship me. They just do it. Humans are weird like that.”
Ranboo shook his head. “And here I thought fairies were dramatic.”
“You’ve got nothing on humans, kid,” Techno said, smirking.
“Hm. Are they, like, big?” Ranboo asked, tilting his head.
Techno raised an eyebrow. “Humans?”
Ranboo nodded. “Yeah, compared to me, obviously. I’ve only ever seen them from a distance, and they look… massive.”
Techno smirked. “Oh, they’re big compared to you, all right. Clumsy too. Barely know where their feet are half the time. If one of them stepped on you, you’d be toast.”
Ranboo winced. “Comforting.”
“Relax,” Techno said with a chuckle. “They’re scared of anything they can’t control, which includes fairies and hybrids like me. They wouldn’t dare come near you unless they were feeling real stupid.”
“Still doesn’t sound reassuring,” Ranboo muttered.
Techno shrugged. “Life’s not reassuring. You learn to deal with it. Or, in your case, stay small and out of the way.”
“Wow,” Ranboo deadpanned. “You’re just full of wisdom, aren’t you?”
“Hey,” Techno said with a smirk, “not every day you get advice from a ‘god.’ Consider yourself lucky.”
“Says the fake god,” Ranboo shot back, crossing his arms.
Techno snorted, his smirk widening. “Careful, tiny. Blasphemy like that might get you smited.”
Ranboo raised an eyebrow. “Oh no, what are you going to do? Step on me? Burn me with your ‘divine’ fire?”
Techno chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. “Nah, too much effort. I’ll just toss you back out into the rain and let nature take care of it.”
Ranboo’s wings fluttered in indignation. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Techno leaned forward, his crimson eyes gleaming mischievously. “Try me.”
They locked eyes for a moment before Ranboo huffed and turned away. “You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re entertaining,” Techno said with a shrug, leaning back against the cave wall. “So I guess we’re even.”
Ranboo huffed, his wings fluttering irritably. “Wish my magic would work,” he grumbled, crossing his arms. “I’m too far from my tree!”
Techno raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. “Your tree? What, like a fairy power source or something?”
“Yeah,” Ranboo muttered, glancing at his soaked wings. “Fairy magic is tied to the tree we’re born from. The further we get, the weaker it gets. And right now, I’m way too far for it to do anything useful.”
Techno hummed thoughtfully, his claws tapping against the stone floor. “That explains why you’re practically useless out here.”
“Thanks for the reminder,” Ranboo snapped, glaring at him.
Techno smirked. “Don’t take it personally, tiny. Just stating facts. Guess that means you’re stuck with me until the storm clears.”
“Great,” Ranboo muttered, flopping down onto the rock with a dramatic sigh. “Stranded with a fake god. Just my luck.”
Techno chuckled, the deep rumble echoing through the cave. “You’re welcome. Consider it divine intervention.”
-
The rain finally cleared, and beautiful golden rays peeked through the enormous clouds, casting a warm glow over the cave. The air was fresher now, the storm having passed, leaving the landscape shimmering with the aftereffects of the rain.
“Guess I can go,” Ranboo said, his tone lighter as he stood up, gathering his old wet clothes. He strapped them to himself, securing them with a bit of string. “Thanks for everything, Techno.”
Techno gave a casual nod, his crimson eyes glinting. “Sure. When you pass by, say ‘Hi.’”
Ranboo flashed a grin. “Okay. I’ll make sure not to get stuck in another storm, though. You’ve got a nice cave, but I’m not eager for a repeat of this.”
Techno chuckled, leaning against the wall. “Fair enough. Take care, kid.”
With a flutter of his wings, Ranboo took a few steps back, preparing for flight. The moment his wings spread, the breeze lifted him, and he was soon hovering in the air, his small form catching the sunlight.
“Goodbye, Techno!” Ranboo called down as he began to ascend higher, his wings beating rhythmically.
Techno watched him go, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Catch you later,” he muttered to himself, turning back into the shadows of the cave.