~Scaredy Cat~

Etho worked almost endlessly, trying to find Joel as the months passed. Etho had gone to authorities six times, and Keralis and Xisuma eighteen times. Almost no new clues were found, and it had almost been a year since he was kidnapped. The deen understood of Joel's dissapearance, and put him down as a, miss sign up for the college, like he was never there in record. The school year was basically done, summer starting a week later. The group of T.I.E.S. had grown more renownd in the college, even in the city. People thought they were terrifying. Tango's absurd knowledge,  Impulse's ability to creep people out and see through lies, Etho's booming and commanding voice, and Skizz was able to understand people to a creepy amount. The four were getting a reputation, their group actively becoming more and more popular. People actually began to ask if they could sign up to be in the group. Tango managed the applications while Etho kept searching for Joel.

Etho was tired, having gone through four Iced caps in one day to stay awake and keep searching. The empty Iced caps cups stared piling on the counter. Etho was sat on the couch, looking absolutely exhausted, yet still working. He had another Iced cap on the table, completely untouched yet. Skizz and Impulse walked in, chuckling. Impulse instantly noticed to Iced cap, and grabbed it.

"Noo! My Iced cap!" Etho said, child like tone.

Impulse moved to the window, and threw the Iced cap out the window, the Iced cap accidentally hitting Tubbo who was sitting on the grass.

"SORRY!" Impulse yelled.

Impulse turned back to Etho.

"Go to bed," Impulse ordered, "Now."

Etho crossed his arms and pouted. Etho wanted to protest, but Impulse tapped his foot in disapproval. Etho went to his room, and got onto Joel's bed, the scent having faded, but not entirely. Etho fell asleep almost instantly after laying down, face planting Joel's pillow.

××××××

Joel was panting, stomach grown a lot from the child growing. He was put in a different room, one more comfortable, yet he still had that collar on. The collar that kept him there, the one that wouldn't let him do what he loved. Joel just sat in his new room, Ranboo beside him.

"Well, apparently they come in the next few days..." Joel said, voice slightly trailing.

"At least it is only us two," Ranboo stated, "they weren't able to get Techno, you know. But, he's been all alone, in the room. Must be torture..."

××××××

Techno was raving in the room, breaking, then reassembling Ranboo's Lego sets. He was having a blast in the solitude, saying things he couldn't say with the other two there.

××××××

"Yeah..." Joel replied.

"If your friends arrive before they come, they're going to be quite confused," Ranboo stated, chuckling.

Joel let out a light giggle, "they're, perseverant, they set their mind to something, and they see it through. Though, I'm probably kicked out for missing the entire year..."

"Maybe," Ranboo said, smiling, "or they spoke on our behalf. Either way, we won't know..."

××××××

Impulse worked where Etho was, wide awake and eager to try and find new clues. Impulse looked over crime sightings a lot slower then Etho had, analyzing every incident with care. He just, stared at one. A kidnapping of Ranboo. Ranboo was last seen at the restaurant with Martyn, having a "loving date" together. Witnesses said they went down one street, then just, dissapeared. Impulse tapped his chin. Skizz sat beside Imoulse, looking over the files with a speed in-between Etho and Impulse, yet almost as effective as Impulse. Etho hoarded the files all the time, all the evidence, not allowing anyone else to help. Skizz picked up a file, and just, stared at it, analyzing every inch of the pictures via street cameras. Skizz stared at the file, then, noticed something. Skizz stole the file in Impulse's hand, and compared them. Two different settings, completely different people, yet, same car in the background. Skizz compared the car to another kidnapping similar to Joel's, and it matched again.