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Ranboo looked down at the bed, fighting back tears. Everything's fine. You’re not mad with Tubbo, right? Calm down. You’re going to cry for nothing. Stop being stupid.
Tubbo, having spent enough time with Ranboo to know something was up, realized his mistake and immediately looked down. His skin stained red, ashamed. “I’m sorry. Please don’t cry…”
“I won't…." he almost whispered. He grew louder. "I won't!” He said it more like he was telling himself it than anything else. A single tear escaped his eye. It sizzled on his face and evaporated, leaving a patch of red. He flinched. Tubbo looked horrified. He knew, but he had never saw it before. It must have been so painful. He wanted to do something. To make it up for him. “Here.” He brought Ranboo’s face over to his shoulder. “Cry into my shirt. It’ll absorb the tears so you can cry without being hurt.”
Ranboo looked up, painful tears forming at the edge of his eyes. “Are you sure? We shouldn’t do this if you want to div-...” He broke down in tears fully. He winced in horrible pain, his hands trying to dam up the acidic streams rushing down his face, burning his hands in the process.
Tubbo nodded and shoved his face into his garment. “I’m not letting you get hurt any longer.”
Ranboo cried and Tubbo consoled him, saying, “I’m sorry, please forgive me, I’m horrible. I love you Ranboo. I should have never said that.” His voice dropped, hesitating, but saying it strongly despite its low volume. “You deserve someone better than me.”
“Tubbo, no! Stop saying things like that!” He pulled out his head to make eye contact with Tubbo, so absorbed he showed no signs of the pain. Tubbo tried pushing him back but he stayed strong. Tubbo frantically began wiping his tears away with his sleeve. Ranboo tried to push his arms away though Tubbo persisted. “Tubbo, look at me, stop!” Tubbo stopped, crying himself, feeling helpless.
“Tubbo, I forgive you. Please Tubbo! I said bad things too, and… and I feel bad. Now you’re saying them Tubbo!”
“But they’re true…”
“No, Tubbo, they're not. I’m horrible. I should have never said those things. Really, Tubbo, you’re the best thing I ever had! I… I…”
“It’s okay Ranboo. I forgive you. I said bad things too. We’re both horrible.”
“Maybe we are, maybe we are...”
“Now put your head back here. I don't want you in pain. Do it for me, if not yourself.”
Ranboo said, “But…” but Tubbo shook his head. He reluctantly agreed and buried his face into Tubbo’s shirt once more, doubts still plaguing his mind. It felt nice, being able to cry. He’d love to do this more often, but it might never happen again… He cried a little harder.
Tubbo, almost as if he had read his mind, said, “Ranboo, we can do this whenever, alright? I love you, and can’t bear to see you cry, but… it’s good that you are.” Ranboo looked up, the tears drying up, the final few wisps leaving his face.
“Thank you Tubbo.” He hugged him. Tubbo smiled and they held each other for the rest of the night, even as they fell asleep.