Chapter Text
[TOMMY]
Tommy wakes up cold and with the worst back ache he has ever experienced in his 21 years alive.
He opens his eyes, blinking a couple of times in the attempt to get his vision back from the blur-sleep he was in. Since there’s not enough light shining in the room he guesses it must still be night, and that he still has about another two hours before he has to get out of bed and head to his first class of the day.
Talking about beds, why is this mattress so fucking uncomfortable? The uni has shitty beds but this really sucks, it almost feels like he’s… laying on the floor? Well that’s new, maybe if he was more of a jackass he’d stop by administration and complain about it, but he’s not, so he leaves it at that.
Tommy groans as he tries to sit up and realizes that his back is hurting like hell and that he is in fact on the floor and not on the bed, just a shitty blanket protecting his body from the hard marble floors.
He stands up and drags the blanket along with him, putting it over his head and shoulders, almost resembling some sort of silly hobbit from a cartoon but the room is freezing cold, so he couldn’t care less of a shit, either way Ranboo is probably out already, doing whatever assholes do before class.
Tommy narrows his eyes at his surroundings and that’s when it hits.
I'm not in my dorm room.
“Oh you’re awake,” A voice says from the other side of the bedroom, and Tommy knows that accent and tone like the back of his hand, that doesn’t stop him from whipping around as if he had just been found stealing something though, Ranboo’s by the entry of his private bathroom (rich motherfucker) and his hair is wet, right.
Ranboo clears his throat, a drop of water goes down his forehead, Tommy watches it and feels like he's looking at something illegal. “It's a bit early- erm, if you want you can go back to sleep?” He asks, voice hoarse.
Tommy could just be imagining things but he thinks it looks like Ranboo is fidgeting with his hands, he almost looks nervous and Tommy really does wonder why. “No it’s- I mean, yes, im gonna sleep some more." He lies. He wouldn’t be going back to bed at any moment now that the image of Ranboo's wet hair framing his face like that is inside his head but his dear fake boyfriend here doesn’t need to know that.
To be fair, Tommy never gets to see Ranboo fresh out of shower, they have a dynamic after all, he gets to shower at morning after Ranboo has left the bedroom and Ranboo always takes his showers after Tommy has gone to bed.
The sight feels insanely private, and intimate.
Tommy doesn't like that feeling, or the way his face feels hot. He wants to blame the freezing cold bedroom, but a small part of him knows that's a lie.
“Okay,” Ranboo mumbles, using a white towel to dry his hair, more drops of water go down his chin, and make the collar of his grey hoodie wet. He really looks like prime example of the phrase ‘like the boy next door.’
Before Tommy could voice further words out of his suddenly dry throat, Ranboo turns and walks inside the bathroom again without another word, and the image of his aforementioned wet hair and neck, stays with him.
For a few minutes Tommy lets it linger, lying to himself and saying that is only jealousy, until he realizes it’s more than that, and it terrifies him. He feels like he’s falling into some sort of trap and he knows exactly what it feels like to get stuck into one.
Tommy hates it.
He hates his chest for going tight and his throat for going dry and his palms from going sweaty and just-
Tommy grabs a pillow off from the ground and lets a prolonged groan escape him.
"Breakfast is served, do you want to go to the table or should i bring it to you, love?"
Tommy looks up from his phone like he just heard the house is actively falling apart, eyes wide like plates and mouth open in a o shape, so… shocked. And confused, and mortified, his face going bright in the shade of what tomatoes look like when they are mature.
"W-What?!" The question sounds so genuinely confused that Ranboo blinks a few times, perplexed.
"I said, breakfast is served, do you want to go to the table, or should i bring it to you, Tom?"
Tommy feels a bit like a fish out of water, he doesn't know if he’s hungry or if he wants food or if he’s just too confused to move. "I- I don’t know, I mean- I'm sure I’m not hungry, I’ll just- whatever you want is fine”
Ranboo looks like he wants to smile, it's clear he's confused for the sudden nervousness from the other boy, either way, he doesn't mention it. Tommy's thankful for that. “alright, let's go to the table, my mom wants to apologize for last night either way.”
Tommy nods, standing up and following the other boy.
Ranboo's mom is by the table when they get there and she has a small, soft smile in her face and a cup of steaming coffee in her hands, she was more than welcoming when she saw them and Ranboo just greeted her back as he pulled out a chair for Tommy who stood there, just looking so confused at the nice gesture.
"Everything okay, Tommy?" He asks and Tommy fucking hates how good that nickname sounds coming from Ranboo, it squeezes his heart, and it's awful that Tommy kinda wants Ranboo to never call him 'Tom' ever again.
He sits down, and just to avoid lying, he goes straight away to stuffing his face with pancakes and a glass of heavenly orange juice. He can't care less about the fact his face is hot and he looks like on the verge of a heart attack. (He does.)
Ranboo and his mother exchange a couple of words while they eat. Tommy tries to listen but only gets bits and pieces, something about dinner, something about work, something about what to eat later tonight.
"I'm sorry about yesterday, Tom." Ranboo's mom suddenly is addressing him, Tommy looks up from his almost empty and messy plate, Mrs. Liven is looking at him like a sad puppy, eyes big and bright and most especially, sad and embarrassed. "You see, my David is a bit of a strong head, very very stubborn man” With a soft chuckle she looks down at her cup, fingertips tracing the edges of it. “He can be a bit of a loud mouth, and very traditional. But he’ll get used to this, to erm- you, he just needs a bit more time… I hope the incident didn’t cause any problems between you and my son.”
Tommy feels a weird pressure in his chest, and he's so confused, why is she apologizing? She didn't do anything wrong, Ranboo's dad is one to blame here with his insults and derogatory words and just- general shitty attitude.
It reminds him a little bit too much of his second house back in the foster care system, he had such a nice lady as a guardian but she had an awful husband who would constantly hit her and call her names and just, make her miserable. But yet, over all that, the woman still made him dinner, still gave him a warm bed, still apologized for him to Tommy after yells or hits.
It makes him angry, and frustrated and just, wonder if Ranboo went through something like that, like that second house he was able to escape. Did he also spent days, curled up in bed, wondering when is the monster going to get tired of beating the same person, and come get him? Did he also cried when he saw a new bruise, or pretended he was invisible during dinner as his mother was berated in front of him, feeling so powerless constantly?
The thought makes Tommy sick of his stomach, he doesn't even want to think about it. He doesn't want it to be a thing. He wants to pretend his heart doesn't ache for someone he's supposed to hate, someone who's made his dorm life fucking miserable.
“It’s okay, I mean, yea. Don't worry about that Mrs. Liven, please." Tommy ends up replying, his voice sounding a bit strange, insecure and ridiculous, and he hates himself for it, "I'm not angry or offended, it’s really no problem.”
Ranboo's mother looks at him kindly, and he tries to smile back, it's hard when his lip is wobbly "I'm glad Tom, now," She stood up, looking at her son and Tommy with a wide smile, clasping her hands together "why don't you and my son go out, hm? I don't want you two all bored inside this boring and simple cabin! Go out, explore the city!”
Tommy blinks at her, then turns towards Ranboo who looks just as mortified as he fiddles with his glass cube, right, they are a 'couple', couples go out on dates, and- well- stuff. It's just not something he's used to, he's never had a girlfriend before, he doesn't even know what to do or say, so he just kinda nods and looks at the lady who is beaming- "okay".
Later on the day, they leave the cabin and walk the streets, everything is freezing cold and there’s snow everywhere, so Ranboo places a large coat that smells like him over Tommy’s shoulders before leaving.
Tommy’s heart is still beating fast like a wild rabbit inside his chest even as they roam the streets, and slowly the snow gets bigger, covering the occasional cars and streets and makes the atmosphere sort of... quiet.
"Hey, Ranboo? Er, where would you like to go? I mean, I don't really know much about the city, and-"
Ranboo hums, and he looks at Tommy with a nervous smile showing and Tommy can't help but feel warm as fire even in all this cold. "What- er, what do you think of going to a local park?"
"Okay! That sounds like a perfect idea.”
They catch a bus that takes them to the park, and it’s so beautiful, the snow covers most of the trees and the grass, but the flowers are still standing and not too covered. They both sit by a bench that is not entirely covered by snow, legs stretched to the pavement and faces turned to the small rays of sun that manage to sneak through the clouds so they won't freeze to death.
Tommy hates the fact that he keeps throwing looks at Ranboo while he simply faces the sun and messes with his lil glass block, he keeps looking at him, taking in every piece of him he had never gotten the chance to look at, how his hair is curly and frizzy, snowflakes sticking to the top of his head, how his eyes are a strange shade of beautiful blue and grey, like they had been borrowed from the sky after a rainy day, how his skin is wet with the snow and his lips are just slightly tinted red, how he-
"Are you cold?" Ranboo asks, snapping Tommy back to reality, his voice is warm and inviting…and just- so damn nice.
Tommy looks at him, and tries to think up of a valid excuse. "N-no no, no I'm not cold, I just I- sort of...was enjoying the scenery." It's a valid reason, he thinks. Ranboo looks down a little, his face suddenly looking shy "I know, it is kinda pretty." He hums, dragging his fingertips over the surface of his cube, Tommy wonders if it is actually doing anything for him. "I don't like winter very much, I'm not too cold, but it gets a bit painful, smelling snow and getting it under my clothes and everywhere else for that matter."
It makes Tommy look down too, there's a thin layer of snow covering his sneakers, he hopes he doesn't catch a cold, that'd be embarrassing. "I-I know what you mean, it's kinda annoying- but i mean- being able to have hot chocolate constantly to survive the cold makes it kinda worth it, y'know?" And those words unexpectedly make Tommy blush and wish he could dig a hole inside himself and hide, he doesn't chat with Ranboo and be friendly, this is not how their relationship is supposed to be.
Before Tommy can continue beating himself up mentally, a guy with a coffee and pastries cart passes by, the smell of warm food and coffee fill the air and it's embarrassing that Tommy stares at it like it's the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. Ranboo chuckles, a light, beautiful sound that makes Tommy turn to him immediately. "Want a hot chocolate?"
Tommy jumps, blushing as badly as a tomato as Ranboo stands up, not even waiting for a reply, and approaches the guy selling coffee and other things, they chat for a few seconds, Ranboo hands him a few dollars and the guy passes him two paper cups that look steamy and warm.
Tommy eyes the drink, a little confused but nervous as well, though he can't help but getting excited "You didn't even wait for me to say yes."
Ranboo sits back down, offering the blond one of the cups, it is warm and chocolaty brown, the smell is blissful, the hot chocolate smells like heaven. "I knew you'd say no, despite the fact you were staring at the cart like it was the love of your life." They both laugh, Tommy taking a tentative sip of the drink, as his cold lips touch the warm drink, he feels his whole body relax and tingle at the warm feeling that spreads through his tongue and down his throat, he breaks out into a grin, cheeks flushed.
"Th-this is nice." He says after a few more sips.
Ranboo nods, laughing a little bit more. "Yea, I like this place better than the city, it's peaceful, not too many people."
"No i meant, you, you are being nice." Luckily, no matter how long he sits with Ranboo, his nosey nature doesn't change one bit, so it's not that big of a deal to tell him the truth.
Ranboo is honestly surprised, and he stares at the blond a little uncertainly. "Come again?"
Tommy is quiet, leaning back and sort of staring at the snow, which is falling a lot and it's beautiful, he looks up at the grey sky, and chews on his bottom lip. "I thought you hated me, no, i'm certain you hate me, so why are you suddenly being so nice? I don't understand it even one bit, you haven't even made one single snarky or sarcastic comment since the day started, and it throws me off."
He leans towards Ranboo, who timidly backs away and turns his head away from him, looking down to his cup, ruffling his hair with his free hand. "I guess I'm being nice because you've been so kind to me, not a lot of people would have accepted to help me with well, fake dating to piss off my dad y'know?"
Ranboo gives him a warm smile, which is a rarity considering he's been acting like a jerk these past years, but Tommy might be able to feel a little compassion besides his anger for the past, he nods and rubs his forehead with his hand. "Makes sense, yeah. Little recommendation, being nice suits you Ranboo."
Ranboo fucking blushes and looks at him, seeing the half-teasing grin, and he nervously looks down again, his lips opening and closing, he's stuck on what to say as his cheeks turn red. The sight makes Tommy blush just as hard, it's embarrassing. "I'll keep that in mind."
"You better!"
They both laugh.