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Today, they’re gonna do this.
It’s not that big of a problem, really. They don’t even mind being called “he”, the discomfort of it is more like a small mosquito bite that keeps taunting you when you can’t bend quite right to scratch it, nothing worth agonizing over, but well- it has been going on for too long. Give if some time, and even a bite can turn into a wound.
So Ranboo doesn’t have to let the “he”s and “him”s slide, because it isn’t “he”, it’s “they” and always has been, but they’re just too much of a coward to stand up for themself and they didn’t think it would hurt that much the first time someone called them-
Okay.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Just like Techno’s taught them.
Though Techno might not be the best person to think of right now. Ranboo still has to come out to him, and they’ll get there eventually, just not right now, not tomorrow, not- they’ll get there, okay? It’s not like they don’t know how accepting Techno and Phil were of Fundy. Everyone was, really. This server isn’t a bad place for people like them, so there shouldn’t be any reason to worry.
Ranboo sighs and dumbly stares at the stairs, the latest addition to the hotel they and Tubbo are building together. The second floor is still mostly scaffolding and scattered building materials, but it makes for a good place for a picnic with the open view of what remains of L’Manberg and all. Ranboo quickly makes their way upstairs, where Tubbo is already waiting for them.
“Evening!” he smiles and Ranboo can’t help but smile in return.
“Hi, sorry I took so long, I forgot some stuff and had to come back for it. Very on brand for me,” they join Tubbo on a blanket and put the picnic basket between them. They’ve always been the better cook of the two, so that part of their regular picnics is left for them. “So. How’s your day been?”
“Okay, I think? Had some business in Snowchester, nothing interesting. Oh! Michael is getting better at writing, though I still can’t read it.”
Ranboo chuckles.
“You know, maybe I should be the one teaching him how to write.”
“So true. Maybe I’ll just stick to maths, I’m better at reading numbers than letters anyway. Anything new in your life?”
“Well,” Ranboo starts but retrieves. Tubbo raises an eyebrow.
“Spill the beans, boss man. I promise I won’t judge, only divorce you if it’s anything serious,” Tubbo laughs but that makes Ranboo tense up. Surely it won’t come to this-
“I mean, I hope you won’t divorce me over this, actually. Because it’s, um. Very important. And I’ve never done this before, so I may need a moment,” Ranboo takes a deep breath as Tubbo watches them, his expression now completely serious. “You know, when you call me- Okay, so Eret uses all pronouns, right? And some people use only they/them, or some other set, but basically- I am non-binary. They/them pronouns.”
Tubbo immediately lights up.
“Oh, okay! Gotcha. Um, name?”
“I’m not changing it, you can still call me Ranboo. Are you,” their heart is beating as fast as ever. “Are you really okay with that?”
“Ranboo, I’m sorry if I ever made you think I wouldn’t be okay with that.”
Wow.
And that’s what gets Ranboo. They sniff, but it actually- it feels amazing. Like they know how to breathe again. Tubbo gently pats them on the back and they might be shaking just a little bit, but right now they couldn’t ask for a better husband.
“Thank you. Really, thank you.”