𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚋𝚘𝚘'𝚜 𝙻𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛

Chapter 8

TW// blood, injury.

[Third pov]

Ranboo carried his right palm to his face, wiping the tears but wincing at the sudden pain he felt. Oh, right, his dad had cut him whilst trying to throw a glass shard.

"It was an accident," Ranboo thought to himself. "He didn't mean it."

Just as he was about to recede downstairs, Ranboo recollected that he was in a call with Techno and Tommy.

"No, no, no," he mumbled, clearly panicking. "How did I forget?"

He hoped he had left the call or at least mute, but he hadn't. Everything left his mind when he heard the glass smash to smithereens. He put his headphones on and sat at the edge of his seat, with the intention of leaving as soon as he could. He apologized to them profusely.

"I am genuinely so sorry. M-my cat dropped a vase downstairs and there's like...glass everywhere. I have to clean it, so is it okay if I don't log on today? I don't have a huge role in the lore, right?"

"Cat?-" Tommy uttered indistinctly.

"Yeah, don't worry about it," said Techno politely. "Goodnight."

"Thanks, Techno," Ranboo's lips crooked upward to form a smile. "Goodnight."

Ranboo left the call within a second. He rose from his gaming chair, reaching for his phone. He put it on mute and propped it in his back pocket, then left his room once more. However, this time Riley was stood immobile by the staircase.

"What are you doing awake?!" Ranboo whisper-yelled, his wounded hand catching Riley's attention.

Riley held his right hand, caressing the injury softly. Ranboo jerked back, clenching his jaw at the pain it brought.

"Why are you bleeding?!" Riley over-questioned.

"Don't worry about it. Go back to bed, Dad's home."

"Did he do this? He hurt you?"

"Shh, Rye," Ranboo whispered, gently pushing her away from the stairs. "I'm fine."

Riley shoved Ranboo's arm. "I'm not leaving until you clean and bandage it."

"The blood will dry up."

"I don't care. You're going to get an infection sooner or later if you don't clean it."

"As if I don't already know."

"Then go," she whispered sternly, trying to push Ranboo.

"Okay, jeez," Ranboo replied, acting like he stumbled from Riley's push.

Hence, the both of them paced downstairs and carefully avoided every piece of glass. Ranboo carried Riley bridal-style from the last step of the stair and let her sit on the dining chair. He scurried to the kitchen washbasin and put his palm over cold, running water. He brushed the dried blood from his right palm with his left. He clenched his teeth when the pain hit --- and before he knew it --- fresh blood ran slow and thick from his open wound.

That's going to leave a scar.

Ranboo took a clean cloth from the guest room downstairs and tied it around the palm of his right hand. He then got the first aid kit from the store room and brought it to the dining area. He opened it, taking out a bandage and alcohol wipes. He removed the cloth from his right hand and held the alcohol wipes in the other.

"So, did Dad do that to you?" Riley asked, seeing Ranboo hesitantly dab his wound with alcohol wipes.

Ranboo stayed quiet, trying not to wince at the agony he felt.

"Ranboo."

He looked up from his wound at her, forcing a grin through the pain.

"Dad did this to you?"

"Accidentally," he answered, looking back down to the bandage.

He wrapped it over and over around his wound.

"Now," Ranboo closed the first aid kit, "stay here while I clean the floor."

"Let me help," Riley offered.

"No."

"I can put the kit back."

"There's a 50 percent chance one of us either steps on a small glass shard or I hurt myself trying to find and pick them."

"I can get the broom while you mop."

"You're too short for that."

Riley folded her arms, fake sulking.

Ranboo swept the glass and threw them in the trash after mopping. Hearing his father's footsteps above, Ranboo's face ashened.