Chapter Text
The last thing Ranboo could remember was Tubbo talking to the tall teenager about his habits. Don’t get him wrong - he hadn’t enjoyed it, at all. But, he knew it was something he needed help with. So he decidedly listened and tried to understand where Tubbo was coming from. However, Tubbo made it abundantly clear that he would love his best friend, even if he slipped up. Which was very nice, considering it might be a while before he can actually make progress.
But now it was the morning of the meetup with Tommy and Wilbur. See, the first person to know about Ranboo being transgender was Eret. He knew that they were a safe place to speak about it, and they wouldn’t ever judge. They might not have been the closest of friends, but he appreciated them a lot.
Ranboo sighed as he got up, Tubbo still asleep. Ranboo walked over, and snorted. “Wake up,” he laughed as he poked the shorter one, who immediately groaned and turned over. “Just five more minutes, please,” Tubbo frowned as he realized he wasn’t gonna get the time. “No, Tubbo. We meet Tommy and Wilbur today,” Ranboo grinned
Tubbo immediately bounced up. “Ooh! Yeah!” Tubbo took in the sight of his best friend, who had just woken up, too. He laughed at him, Ranboo feigning an offended look. Ranboo giggled, and walked back over to his makeshift bed. They did need to remember to set up his actual bed. Ranboo grabbed his clothes and headed into the direction of the bathroom, to which Tubbo immediately stopped him.
“Tubbo? What’s up?” Ranboo looked at him, genuinely surprised. Now, it was no shock to Tubbo that Ranboo had facial dysmorphia. In the beginning, when he heard him having a panic attack in the bathroom, he had initially thought it was about that. But it wasn’t. Tubbo hadn’t liked the fact there were many mirrors around the house when he first learned his best friend had facial dysmorphia, but he wasn’t too fond of moving everything, either.
Now there were going to be blankets covering each and every mirror, so that Ranboo didn’t have to deal with facial dysmorphia and gender dysphoria because of mirror triggers. Except, Tubbo had to do that still. Ranboo saw him grab a blanket, “Don’t worry, bossman! I’ll save you from the bad mirrors!” he snickered, causing a small, genuine laugh from Ranboo.
“Thanks, Tubbo,” Ranboo rolled his eyes positively, and waited for latter to come back out of the bathroom. Once he did, Ranboo walked into the bathroom and immediately started the shower after locking the door. He knew better than to look down, so he kept his head straight forward, even when taking his clothes off. Ranboo hopped in the shower, surprisingly making it through a shower without seeing anything he didn’t want to.
He slid out of the shower quickly after turning it off, he didn’t like freezing. He grabbed his towel and dried himself off, his binder and other clothes being thrown on soon after he was dried off. He proceeded to comb his hair, brush his teeth, usual morning care. He unlocked the door and walked out, whistling to himself.
He was stopped by Tubbo.
“Tubbo? What’s up?” Ranboo asked, sensing the shorter was uneasy about something. Tubbo looked up. “Hey Boo- Uh. I mean this in the genuinest way, but uh, did you always cut yourself when gender dysphoria and facial dysmorphia got bad?” Tubbo looked up, his gaze was far too hard to distinguish.
Oh.
He struck a nerve.
Ranboo looked down uneasily. “It’s just. Hard. Coping and all. Yeah.” Ranboo avoided eye contact, feeling tears prick at his eyes, “No, no- Don’t be upset, please. I want to help,” Tubbo reassured, and hugged him. Ranboo hugged back.
“Thanks, Tubbo.”
“No problem, bossman.”
Ranboo smiled softly, before Tubbo yanked him again to go eat breakfast. “Haha- Tubbo, slow down!” Ranboo laughed. He could get used to this.
The two boys arrived at the table and made toast. Granted, Tubbo almost choked on his food. “Are you okay?” Ranboo asked, trying to hold back laughter. “You’re one to laugh,” Tubbo shot back. Before long, Ranboo dismissed himself from the table to pack some items he would need. He had a backpack he always carried with himself, when he was away from where he was staying.
Huh, I need to repack this, Ranboo mused to himself. He looked in it, and of course, he had stuff he would need. Ranboo frowned at the bra in the bag. Ranboo took a deep breath and whispered, “Fuck, why was I born this way.” He tossed it out of the bag.
“Bossman? We need to get going if we’re gonna meet up with Tommy for a vlog!” Tubbo said before coming in to take Ranboo’s hand to get him up, since he hadn’t moved from the part of the bed he sat on. Ranboo wasn't here. I guess this is why he’s not replying, Tubbo wondered to himself. Just then, Ranboo’s pupils got smaller and he shook his head quickly, coming back to his senses.
“Tubbo? Wh-” Ranboo started, but then Tubbo pulled him up. “Shut up, bossman, we gotta go!” Tubbo said, lightheartedly, before running out to the car to start it, leaving Ranboo to walk behind him. Ranboo chuckled as he exited, locking the door. He didn’t need Tubbo’s family hating him because he forgot to lock a door. That'd be hell.
Ranboo got into the passenger side seat, and Tubbo was driving within no time. The two discussed the vlog plans and all, but then Ranboo’s anxiety got to him. “Tubbo…” Ranboo asked, staring out of the window. “Yeah, bossman?” Tubbo asked, not seeing the taller watching out the window. “What do I do if neither of them want to be my friend anymore?” Ranboo asked, nervously. He would even have to come out to Wilbur and Tommy at the same time!
“They won’t let something like that affect their friendships. I promise,” Tubbo reassured, pulling into a parking lot. Oh god- oh god. We’re here. I’m not prepared- Ranboo was shaken from his thoughts, hearing Tubbo say, “You doing good bossman? You look a bit sick.” Ranboo raised an eyebrow, and realized he, in fact, wasn’t feeling the best. He wasn’t about to let anxiety control his life, though… but maybe he was?
“Oh, no, I’m fine Tubbo,” Ranboo smiled, and they both walked in, Tubbo was content enough with Ranboo’s answer. He trusted Ranboo would talk to him if he needed it. Ranboo and Tubbo met Wilbur and Tommy in the outdoors waterpark Tommy had rented for the day. Ranboo froze, dragging a protesting Tubbo to the side.
“Ranboo, what-” Tubbo met his eyes and instantly knew what he was worried about. “Shit.”
“Tubbo, I can’t do this vlog, my arms, my chest, people will think it’s weird if I wear a short sleeved shirt, and much more a long sleeved shirt. I can’t do it.” Ranboo frowned. Tubbo thought for a second, and then got an idea.
“Hey, big man!” Tubbo ran over to Tommy, completely ignoring the no running rule. “Yeah, Tubbo?” Tommy looked down, and Tubbo asked, “Can we all wear long sleeved shirts?” Tubbo smiled sheepishly. Tommy looked confused, and slid Tubbo’s sleeves up (despite his protests), but nothing was there. Tommy then walked up to Ranboo and tried to slide his sleeves up to check, but he yanked his arms away before he could.
Tommy stared, a feeling of sadness overcoming his face as he hugged Ranboo, and hollered back, “Yeah, we can, Tubs.” Ranboo hugged him back. Although, he was determined to not cry, it wasn’t what he needed right then. The two immediately forgot about what happened after they broke the hug, Tommy yanking Ranboo behind him. They were brought to where they all found their swimsuits, and Ranboo cleared his throat before the others put theirs on.
Wilbur and Tommy looked over, Tommy playfully yelling, “What do you f*cking want, boob boy?”. Ranboo slightly cringed at this, and then sighed. “Wilbur, Tommy, I have something to tell you.”
Wilbur blinked. “Yes, Ran?” he said, smiling. Tommy said, “Alright.” and Ranboo breathed in and out. God, I can’t believe I’m doing this. Ranboo smiled softly, as he reassured himself, they wouldn’t hate him. Tubbo grinned from the other side of the room. The pressure was on, oh god is it hot in here- “You guys support LGBTQ, right?” Ranboo fumbled with his shirt hem nervously.
They both nodded, immediately realizing it was a bit serious. “Yes,” the two males said, in almost perfect unison. Ranboo’s hands were shaking. Was he really that scared?
“Uh, um. Well,” Ranboo stuttered out, before taking a deep breath. “Iwantedtotellyouguysimtransgenderimsosorryicantdoitproperlyandimprobablymessingupand-” “Ran, slow down and tell us,” Wilbur smiled, laughing quietly. Ranboo started uncomfortably laughing too, Wilbur’s laughter was contagious.
“Um. I wanted to tell you both that I’m transgender,” Ranboo was suddenly more interested in watching himself playing with the hem of his shirt, than looking up. He could feel tears forming and threatening to spill, Are you crazy? Of f*cking course they won’t support you! They don’t support dumb*sses that play pretend, you’re not a real transgender person, you’re a little girl playing pretend- His thoughts were interrupted by a hug. Then two. And then three. Ranboo hugged them all back.
A few tears fell down his face, and from the looks of it, Tommy and Wilbur teared up a bit, too.
“Of course we support you, Ran,” Wilbur ruffled his hair, and Tommy hugged him once again. “You’re my f*cking best friend, why wouldn’t I?” Tommy concluded, no jokingly mean words falling out of his mouth anymore.
“I hate to break up a wholesome moment, but we have a vlog to film,” Tubbo said, already dressed in a swimsuit. The other three got dressed quickly, and the rest of the time, the trio had some fun at the swim park. Once Tubbo and Ranboo got back home, Tubbo said, “Hey. Just tell others at your pace, alright? I’m sure everyone will support you. H*ll, they know some of the others are LGBTQ, why wouldn’t they accept you?” Tubbo smiled. D*mn, Tubbo was good at comforting words.
“I don’t know. I suppose you’re right, but it’s still hard-” Ranboo sighed, and shook his head. “Anxiety.”
Tubbo frowned, “You’ll be just fine, with me and Tommy, your best friends, behind you, nothing bad will happen.”
Ranboo hugged Tubbo. He had helped him so, so much.