Work Text:
“Hi.” Tubbo murmured, feeling a little stupid as a pair of arms wrapped themselves tight around him. His face was only halfway up Ranboo’s chest, the top of his head just barely reaching his shoulder. “You’re tall.”
Ranboo laughed, dropping the hug. “I’m aware man, plus you’re shorter than I thought you were. 5’5 my ass.”
“Oi!” Tubbo pouted, pulling away to stand at a six feet distance. “Right, that’s it, go find a ticket back to America, I don’t want you here anymore.”
“Awwww.” Ranboo pouted behind his mask. “But I’m tired! I don’t wanna go on another flight just yet, can I stay at least one night?”
Tubbo squinted. “Fine. Fine. One night. Then you get your lanky ass back on a plane and head back to America.”
The two chuckled as Tubbo guided his friend out of the terminal and in the direction of his car and father. Ranboo trailed behind, yawning on occasion, and Tubbo couldn’t help but glance back every now and again and watch him- he had been preparing for this day for months, but it didn’t make it any less real to see him standing there. After countless hours of pulling all nighters, talking and laughing, pulling shit on stream, planning their months together, Ranboo was finally there.
~~~~
It was immediately obvious that Ranboo’s love language was physical touch and that he was just a generally clingy person. He hugged every person he met, whether or not he even knew their name, and for the first few days was just… close to Tubbo. He pulled his seat close whenever they sat together, on camera or not, threw his leg over Tubbo’s when they were sat on the couch and offered space under his blanket when it got cold in the evening. And the strangest thing was, Tubbo didn’t mind.
The first time he had met Tommy in person, his friend had gone in for a hug and he had flinched and shied away from it. His friend had looked hurt at the time but had quickly got used to it, using fist bumps or high fives as greetings instead. Wilbur noticed right away that he was uncomfortable and didn’t even try to touch him. Phil was the same. Tubbo probably would have punched one of them if they tried to hug him in the way Ranboo was doing.
Groaning, Tubbo leaned over the edge of his bed and slammed his hand onto the alarm clock that Ranboo had set up to shut it up. It was far too early for this, he didn’t want to get up.
“Ranbooooo!” He whined, chucking a hoodie across the room at his still sleeping friend. “Oi! Your alarms going off you bastard, get up!”
“Don’t wanna…” He slurred, throwing it right back.
“You set the alarm, not me. Get up!”
It took him a while but eventually Ranboo struggled to his feet and pulled on a shirt, stumbling his way through his morning routine. Tubbo returned to his bed and pulled the duvet back over his head in an attempt to go back to sleep. Eventually, Ranboo poked him.
“Want some breakfast?” All that got was a tired groan. “It’s past nine Tubbo, it isn’t that early.”
“Still too fucking early.”
There was a long pause before Tubbo yelped in surprise as Ranboo fell on top of him, laying across him. “Get up.”
“You’re squashing me!” He shrieked, immediately kicking out but it was no use- not only was Ranboo over a foot taller than, he weighed a fair bit more and used that to his advantage completely by pinning the older down and cackling with laughter.
“Good!” He snorted, reaching up to pin Tubbo’s arms down. “You shall not pass!”
Ranboo stayed like that for another moment before letting out a final chuckle and rolling off his friend, landing on the floor with a thump. There was grumbling for a little while before he returned to his feet, stumbling out of the loft and onto the main floor.
“I’ll be in the kitchen if you want breakfast.” He called, finally leaving and leaving Tubbo alone.
Tubbo felt a little winded. It wasn’t from being pinned under his friend, no, it was because of the tingling in his wrists and butterflies in his stomach. In any other circumstance, had someone else tried to pin him down, he would have actually put up a fight and thrown them off- with Ranboo, he simply laughed along and let it play out. He found he hadn’t minded the touch… in fact, he rather liked it. For a fleeting moment he considered if he had a crush, but no, it couldn’t have been that. He didn’t like guys and plus, Ranboo was just a very good friend and Tubbo didn’t think of him in a romantic way.
He had no explanation as to why Ranboo was an exception from this no touching rule he had, but it was only making him realize just how much he missed it. Everyone else knew about his aversion and now flat out avoided touching him, even when he may have been okay with it sometimes. Ranboo just… didn’t know. He may have not been there when Tubbo had talked about it on stream, or he had realized that Tubbo really didn’t mind. He wasn’t sure.
Sighing deeply, Tubbo struggled to his feet and reluctantly followed his friend out to the kitchen to get some breakfast. It was too early to have an existential crisis, goddammit.
~~~~
Ranboo hadn’t seemed to notice his conflict, or if he had, he didn’t stop the constant contact. He had managed to wedge himself in between Tubbo and the wall as they sat on the couch together and Tubbo had no idea how he could fit in such a small space, plus with his knees drawn up to his chest, it looked less than comfortable. Ranboo saw him looking and grinned.
“You know, you could move over just a little?”
“You got yourself there,” Tubbo said, aghast, “now you can stay there. Suffer, dickhead.”
“Aw, that’s a shame, was hoping I could convince you to give me some more room.” He pouted. “Just like, even a little bit?”
“Nope.”
Tubbo didn’t mention that he also liked the closeness- Ranboo was pressed right up against him, chin resting gently on his head so he could watch the movie, elbow didn’t into Tubbo’s side. He also didn’t mention that last part. He was just basking in the warmth his friend provided and the knowledge that Ranboo was comfortable doing this in the first place, because none of his other friends were. He supposed it was partly his fault and probably a lack of communication too, but this was nice. He didn’t need to say anything, it just happened.
He gasped softly when, about a half hour later, Ranboo’s head dropped down on his shoulder. He froze. His friend was snoring softly, legs relaxing, leaning up against him with soft noises. Tubbo gaped for a moment, unsure of what to do because he knew he couldn’t move without waking Ranboo up, but he had never been in this situation before. Tommy had fallen asleep on Wilbur or Phil, but never him. And now, Ranboo was asleep on him.
Oh God. Oh God! He was freaking out now, anxiety building in his chest as Ranboo slipped forward. His head was against Tubbo’s chest now and he would have fallen further had he not placed a hand on his forehead to hold him up.
Tubbo didn’t realize he was descending into a panic attack until he inhaled sharply and it hurt, a sharp shock of pain coursing through him. He hadn’t them often enough to recognize it as such for a moment, not that anybody should be able to, but then it all came crashing down on him at once. He let Ranboo go, leaning forward onto the sofa as the panic gripped him. He coughed.
“Tubbo?” A sleepy voice murmured. “Are you okay?”
Tubbo couldn’t reply. His chest was heaving now, panic attack hitting him in full force. Ranboo steered him to face him, one hand on either shoulder, bringing Tubbo back to reality.
“Hey, look at me, I’ve got you, yeah? It’s just a panic attack, it’ll pass in a moment.” Ranboo said sternly, tiredness vanished in a moment. “I’ve got you, just breathe. Follow my breathing, yeah, breathe.”
Tubbo’s mind went blank as Ranboo guided him through the attack, not fully conscious of what was going on. Ranboo kept his arms around him, the older relying on the pressure to ground him once his breathing slowed.
“That’s it. There we go. It’s over now, it’s okay.” Ranboo murmured as calm descended over the pair once again. He pushed his fringe out of Tubbo’s eyes. “Are you alright?”
“Mhm.” He murmured sluggishly. Ranboo was quiet, wait for Tubbo to talk. “I… panic attack… I don’t know…”
“Woah, woah, don’t work yourself up again. It’s okay. How ‘bout we go somewhere more comfortable.”
Gathering the boy up in his arms, Ranboo scooped Tubbo off the couch and carried him over to his bed, which was just a pull out set up behind their computers. Tubbo clung to him, one hand fisted around the fabric of his hoodie. His breathing was still heavy and strained, but the worst part was over.
“Do you think you can sleep?” Ranboo asked once they were settled. Tubbo paused, biting down on his lip nervously.
“Stay?” He murmured. Ranboo chuckled.
“Of course. Of course I’ll stay.”
There was silence for another few minutes as Tubbo began to calm completely, silently gathering his thoughts. Ranboo ran a gentle hand through his hair, also quiet.
“Do you know what’s wrong?” He finally asked, keeping up the gentle gesture. “Why you’ve panicked?”
“Just… everything, I think.” Tubbo breathed, leaning back.
“Is there a specific part of everything?” Ranboo asked. “Something I can help with?”
And that was when Tubbo finally allowed himself to explain everything. Everything he hadn’t been able to tell Tommy or Wilbur, even express verbally before. About how he didn’t like touch but sometimes he didn’t mind it, and how everyone had been too respectful of boundaries, leaving him alone and touch-starved. About how Ranboo hadn’t had any of those problems, and about how Tubbo didn’t mind touch when it was with him. How he had panicked when he fell asleep, because he didn’t know how to deal with it. Ranboo sat and listened to his whole rant, silent, before pulling Tubbo into a huge hug.
“Thank you for telling me.” He said, smiling through cloudy eyes. He pulled Tubbo closer, if that was even possible, and for a moment just held him close. “You promise to tell me if you aren’t comfortable?”
“Of course.” Tubbo murmured. “I just… I missed this, and I don’t think I realized until you got here that, well, I like contact sometimes. Not all the time, but more than I think I liked it. Except… when it’s you, I don’t mind it at all.”
“Awww, Tubbo…” Ranboo grinned. “That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Right, no, can it, I did not come here to be sappy you bastard.” Tubbo groaned, pushing at him. “I will leave.”
“You won’t.”
“…You’re right. I won’t.”
There was a soft laugh. “I’m glad you don’t mind it, because I like it too.”