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Tubbo married Ranboo for tax benefits. It had helped both of them, and Ranboo enjoyed having a companion in Tubbo. Not much in their relationship changed from before they were married. They still talked, and went for walks together, and told each other jokes and stories.
Ranboo did note that Tubbo held onto him a bit more, although he assumed it was from needing comfort. After all, his best friend had just died a month ago. They had mourned him together, grieved Tommy's death with the rest of the server. Tubbo had tried to be brave out in public, trying to lead with a front of the fury he felt at Tommy's death, and not the heartbreak that was present in his heart. At night Tubbo collapsed into Ranboo's arms and sobbed silently. Ranboo had ignored the stinging pain he felt through his shirt, and held Tubbo tighter.
When Tommy came back, Ranboo had been filled with so much relief and joy he felt like his heart would burst. Tommy was different now, sensitive to touch and loud noises, with a prominent stutter that seemed to be a side effect of dying and then being brought back to life.
Tubbo was a little happier now, a bit brighter, though Ranboo still saw his face drawn tight with anxiety in his sleep. It broke Ranboo's heart.
After Tommy had been back for two weeks, Tubbo came to Ranboo one day with a pensive look on his face, and a question.
"Ranboo, y'know how we're platonic husbands?"
Ranboo turned to face him from where he had been sorting through his chests. "Yes? I know I forget some stuff, but it's a bit hard to forget that, since we're always together."
Tubbo smiled a little. "Well, I was wondering, do platonic husbands do other stuff?"
Ranboo tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, like, do platonic husbands get to, like, do things that normal husbands do. Like, you know, cuddle. And other stuff."
Ranboo felt a little flutter somewhere in his chest. "Yeah, I think. Platonic husbands can cuddle as much as they want." He didn't actually know what platonic husbands did and did not do. But cuddling sounded nice.
Tubbo looked relieved. "Okay, great! Good! I was just checking, you know." He turned and left the room with a little wave.
Ranboo's heart pounded.
That night, Tubbo came home looking tired, and he climbed directly onto Ranboo's lap, where he was sitting on the couch. Tubbo curled up and rested his head in the area between his shoulder and the middle of his chest. Ranboo instinctively slid his arm around Tubbo. Tubbo let out a soft sigh.
"What are you doin', boo?"
Ranboo looked down. "Puffy lent me a book about being a teen parent."
Tubbo hummed. "Is it good?"
Ranboo shrugged. "It's alright. Talks a lot about not feeling ashamed, or letting your kid feel ashamed. But we adopted Michael intentionally, so I don't think it applies to us."
Tubbo exhaled deeply, sliding his arms so he was wrapped around Ranboo as well. "That's nice," he murmured.
Ranboo lifted a hand to Tubbo's head and began stroking his hair. It was soft and curly, and Ranboo felt himself relaxing as he ran his fingers through the boy's brown locks. Tubbo's breathing evened and soon Ranboo felt himself drifting off to sleep with his husband in his arms.
Tubbo and Ranboo met with Tommy to go for a walk and talk about some things a few days later, and Tubbo slipped his small hand into Ranboo's larger one. Ranboo felt the same flutter in his chest as he had before, but he kept his hand in Tubbo's. Tommy was in a much better mood, bouncing around everywhere and yelling delightedly about his hotel progress. At one point he spotted Tubbo and Ranboo intertwined hands, and gave Ranboo an incredibly obvious wink. Ranboo rolled his eyes, but felt a blush creep over his cheeks.
Tubbo and Ranboo became much closer physically over the next week.
Ranboo became more comfortable with initiating physical contact, sometimes wrapping his arms around Tubbo and pulling him in for a hug, or touching Tubbo's hand to reassure himself when he got stressed.
Tubbo was very happy when he could be wrapped up in Ranboo's arms, or anything that reminded him of Ranboo. Ranboo had a few sweaters that Tubbo had found, and he wore them around their house, tucking himself in its comfort with Michael in his arms.
Ranboo felt his affection for his husband swell each time they touched, and grew to crave the soft warmth of his hands.
One night Ranboo had put Michael to bed, and returned to their bedroom, where Tubbo was waiting with a small impish grin on his face. "Ranboo, beloved, I have a question for you."
Ranboo smiled and sat down on the bed. "Sure, what's up?"
Tubbo hesitated slightly, before sliding closer to Ranboo. "I was wondering what other things platonic husbands do."
Ranboo stretched before answering. "Lots of things, Tubbo. Anything in particular you wanna know about?"
Tubbo looked soft in the light. "Yes, actually. Do platonic husbands dance together?"
Ranboo nodded. "Yeah, platonic husbands can dance together. Do you wanna?"
Tubbo smiled eagerly. "Yes, please."
Ranboo guided Tubbo off of the bed and into his arms. Ranboo towered more than a foot over Tubbo, but the back pain he would have in the morning from bending over was worth it because of the delighted look in Tubbo's eyes.
Ranboo slid one of his disks into the jukebox in the hallway, turning down the volume so Michael doesn't wake up. Tubbo leaned into him, and Ranboo placed a hand softly on his waist. Tubbo's arms wrapped around his neck. They stood like that, swaying slightly to the slow music, two husbands embracing in the dim torch light.
Tubbo pressed a kiss onto Ranboo's dress shirt, at the highest point that he could reach. Ranboo leaned over and kissed him on the top of his head. Tubbo giggled quietly.
Ranboo scrunched his nose. "What's so funny?"
Tubbo pulled away. "There's one more thing I want to know if platonic husbands do, but you have to sit down."
Ranboo stepped backwards, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Yes, Tubbo?"
Tubbo crawled into his lap. He was close enough that Ranboo could see his freckles, and when he gazed into the other's eyes they were full of love. "Do they do this?" he murmured.
Tubbo closed his eyes and kissed Ranboo. It was the lightest, gentlest of kisses, soft against Ranboo's lips. He smiled, closing his eyes and running a hand through the back of Tubbo's hair.
"No," he pulled out of the kiss. "Platonic husbands don't do that, I'm afraid."
Tubbo's face fell, and he hastily wiped his mouth off. His shoulders were suddenly tense. "Nevermind, then, I'm sor-"
Ranboo cut him off with another kiss, and Tubbo melted into his arms, hungrily kissing him, embracing Ranboo like they would never kiss again.
When Tubbo finally pulled away for air, Ranboo smiled.
"Platonic husbands don't kiss," he paused. "But maybe we could be more."