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Tubbo wakes up late, which in and of itself isn’t a rare occurrence, however the extreme quiet of his house is.
He’s basically nocturnal at this point, so by the time he’s awake, the rest of the house is almost always bustling with movement. Lani is usually streaming, and his parents working. Teag’s just about the only quiet one in the entire family, if you exclude Tubbo quietly sleeping entire days away.
Hence,
it’s weird that Tubbo’s woken up to silence. He’s slightly concerned, not for his parents, but for himself. Did he accidentally sleep for 20+ hours again?
He groans to himself. Tommy’ll be pissed, he's been trying to get Tubbo to fix his sleep schedule so they can actually talk like they used to. And Ranboo…well.
Ranboo’d just be concerned in that mother hen way of his. All, “Have you eaten? Can you drink some water?” and “Tubbboooo, for me?” in that stupid caring way of his.
Tubbo sighs, it’s stupid really, how much he cares for Tubbo despite knowing him for what- 6 months now?
Ranboo’s always down to join Tubbo’s streams, or brainstorm content, or write lore. He let’s Tubbo ramble about nonsense topics that no one else really cares about, never telling him to shut up or move on. Ranboo’s all small encouragements, and tiny gifts, and caring actions.
It makes Tubbo hurt.
Like Ranboo’s hands are squeezing at the heart nestled in his chest. Every laugh, every mhm, every time he let’s Tubbo get away with flirting on stream, or even better, flirts back.
Tubbo’s heart compresses, he can feel it throughout his chest, like he’s drowning in his feelings as his chest just expands,
and expands,
and expands,
and expands.
It hurts.
But Tubbo wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.
Besides, it’s not like he’s been exactly subtle about it. He’d told Ranboo about his (thankfully requited) feelings months ago, and it's led to some of his favorite memories.
He remembers the night of his confession. He’d been unable to keep it to himself anymore, so he bit the bullet, willing to risk the hurt of a broken heart.
He’d asked to video call over discord, which wasn’t common, but it didn’t raise any of Ranboo’s suspicions at least. Tubbo had hoped that being able to see Ranboo would make him feel less nervous, turning his own camera on had been a challenge on it’s own. Trying to hide his red cheeks and shaking hands.
Unfortunately, seeing Ranboo did in fact, make his nerves 50 times worse.
All Ranboo had done was ask what’s the occasion, with that stupid caring smile that made Tubbo feel important and loved . Tubbo’d just laughed it off, reaching for the nape of his neck to try and keep his nerves in check. He slowly relaxed as they talked about random things: the last episode of the Office they watched, what streams they were planning, a new tv show Tubbo had started. He’d been five minutes into a rant about why Spencer was the only character that mattered before his attention drifted to Ranboo.
The taller boy had just been, staring.
There’d been a small smile on his face, almost subconscious, and the attentive look in his eyes forced Tubbo to look away.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Ranboo didn’t startle, if anything his smile seemed to get sweeter, his eyes kinder.
“I like listening to you talk about the things you’re passionate about”.
Tubbo had rolled his eyes, trying to ignore the heat he could feel creeping up his neck and onto his cheeks, “Shut up memory boy. You’re just trying to flatter me”.
Ranboo had just shook his head slowly, that damned smile never leaving his face, “Is it so hard for you to believe that I’m being completely serious? That I just like listening to you talk?”.
Tubbo had just shrugged in response, ignoring the way his heart skipped a beat and the flush on his face growing brighter.
They’d stayed talking for half an hour more, before Tubbo finally mustered up his courage. He’s never going to forget the look on Ranboo’s face. The way his eyes had widened slowly, how he’d gone completely still, like the shock had forced his brain to blue screen. Tubbo had been on the verge of apologizing for making things awkward, ready to leave the call and lick his wounds.
He’d just started saying sorry when Ranboo had jumpstarted into action. He’d been frantic while assuring Tubbo that the feelings were very very reciprocated. It felt like Tubbo’s face had split with how hard he was smiling. They’d both agreed that they wanted to wait before making anything “official”, but the knowledge that his feelings were reciprocated had made all of their interactions feel like so much more .
Ranboo bringing him items for his minecraft builds,
Ranboo joining his streams despite only having just woken up,
Ranboo encouraging him to eat well, and drink water, and get more sleep.
It was like a live wire wrapped around his body. Reminding him that they are young and in love. It almost makes it all hurt more.
The fact that Ranboo’s an ocean away. He tries his best not to think about it most of the time. He doesn’t like being negative, tries to focus on the positives of it all as best he can.
It’s hard though.
When all he wants to do is grab his hand. To wrap himself in his embrace and just melt . He dreams about walking to the beach together, hand in hand as they laugh about something idiotic. He yearns for 3 am dances, listening to music that doesn’t exist while they waltz.
He’s practically desperate for the meet up.
Their extension has been finished for 2 weeks, all of the furniture he’d bought packed and moved in.
Even the travel ban has been lifted at this point! That was a recent development, very recent. The news had left the two buzzing with excitement, though Ranboo had preached patience.
Patience is bullshit Tubbo can’t help but think. He would give up the world if it meant that Ranboo could be with him right now.
He sighs before forcing himself to sit up. Too much longing and yearning in the morning is bad for your health. Probably. He checks his phone to see that, no he hasn’t slept 20+ hours (thank god) which just means that his house is weirdly quiet.
He makes up his mind to ask Teag before taking his morning shower.
He ventures from his room, throwing Teagan’s door open, and subsequently making her jump.
“Was that necessary?” her voice cuts through the silence of their house.
“So very necessary" he responds with a smirk, "Why’s the house so quiet? I didn’t miss an apocalypse did I?”
Teag just rolls her eyes, “Lani dragged Mum and Father dearest on some adventure. They let me stay so that you wouldn’t freak too bad when you woke up”.
Tubbo nods before turning his back on her room, “Thanks Teag! You’re the best!”
“Close my door why don’t you?”
“Nope!” His cheeky response has him dodging the shoe thrown at his head, but it was well worth it in his opinion.
Now he just needs to prepare for the rest of the day.
~~~
It’s been two hours since his shower, and Tubbo’s sitting at his desk bored out of his mind.
He’d debated starting up an alt stream, those were always super chill and relaxing, but he didn’t really feel like streaming today.
He’d jumped on to the Origins SMP for a bit too, mostly to fuck with Fundy and talk with Sneeg. They’d both gotten off though, Sneeg because he had to do “adult things” and Fundy because he was a dick.
Ranboo had been offline all day, he’d tried messaging him a couple times, but his discord icon remained that same shade of grey.
He spun in his chair a couple more times, before resigning himself to a night of mind-numbing boredom. It’s at that moment when his front door opens.
“We’re home!” Lani’s voice rings out from the bottom floor.
Tubbo mumbles a small “Finally” before heading down the stairs.
“Where’ve you guys been all day? I wake up to a completely silent house like how weird is that?”
He’s practically shouting down the steps as he travels towards their kitchen, “-said you were going on an adventure? What could you possibly be doing in a global pandemic like seriously?”.
He’s still firing off questions when he walks into the kitchen.
“Lani wanted to go shopping” is what his mother responds with.
He squints his eyes in suspicion, “There’s not a single shopping bag in this kitchen, or in any of your hands,” he glances pointedly at his Father and Lani.
“Ah but we got you a gift!” Lani’s voice is an octave higher than normal due to her excitement.
She looks like she’s practically vibrating and immediately alarm bells are going off in his head.
“Chat has already bought me 2,000 pounds worth of junk please tell me you didn’t add to that” his response goes unheard as Lani lurches to grab his arm, pulling him towards their living room.
“Oi what the fuck Lani I swear if I see another goddamn amazon box I’m going to…” his voice dies in his throat.
There isn’t an amazon box in his living room.
Instead, he’s met with a 6’6 american in a Philza hoodie with 3 separate suitcases.
“Hey Tubbo,” Ranboo’s voice is laced with affection, Tubbo can hear the smile behind his mask, see the utter adoration in his eyes.
He’s stock still, unable to tear his eyes off the other, unable to move, or speak, or do anything but stare because Ranboo is here .
He’s not even aware of the fact that there are tears strolling down his face until he sees Ranboo’s panicked expression.
He rushes forward immediately, suitcases forgotten in his panic to comfort him,
“Oh my god Tubbo I am so sorry I thought you’d like the surprise and I really didn’t want you to leak the meet up so I talked with your parents to co-ordinate I am so sorry oh my god please don’t cry-” Ranboo’s rambles devolve even further as he hovers over Tubbo, clearly unsure how to help but trying his best. Tubbo laughs through his tears wiping at his cheeks.
“-Tubbo?” Ranboo stills as he tries to figure out the best way to approach this.
Tubbo jerks forward, not giving Ranboo the chance to speak before his arms are wrapped around the taller boy’s torso. He buries his face into Ranboo’s chest, he feels him stiffen. Until eventually the other relaxes into it, placing his arms awkwardly around his shoulders as he rests his head atop Tubbo’s.
“I am so fucking glad you’re here” Ranboo chuckles at that, Tubbo can feel the way his shoulders shake with his laugh.
He doesn’t know how he’s survived without him.
Ranboo pulls him even closer, “I’m not going anywhere Bo. You’re stuck with me”.
Tubbo lets himself melt, “Good. Don’t ever leave me”.
Tubbo feels Ranboo press a kiss into his hair, “I won’t, you have my word”.
They stay holding each other, only breaking apart so that Tubbo can drag Ranboo to the extension; they have all the time in the world after all.
~~~
“Raaaannbooooo I neeed dark oakkk woood” Tubbo can see Ranboo’s exasperated face as he sighs.
“How do you go through all of the stacks I give you in like 30 minutes. I swear chat he said he wasn’t going to be a gold digger on this server”,
Tubbo gasps in exaggeration, “How dare you, my own husband, try to turn chat against me!” Ranboo laughs as he leaves their shared bunker for the necessary materials, it makes Tubbo snicker.
“Raaaaaaanboooooo”, he doesn’t even bother with the sigh this time,
“I swear Tubbo if you tell me I need to get more resources I AM going to cry”.
Tubbo laughs again, “No no nothing like that bossman I’m just hungry”
“You eat flowers” Ranboo’s deadpan sets Tubbo off again, his laughter ringing out.
“In real life boss man” he clarifies.
“How am I supposed to help with that?”
Tubbo’s smile is downright deadly as he responds, “Just come upstairs Big Man”.