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"I'm selfish, I know, can't let you go."
As Ranboo exited the van with the stale bread in hand, he turned one last time to see Tubbo staring at him through the window and he might have just collapsed.
He just waved and ran away from the situation, the further the better.
Did Tubbo not feel happy in our marriage? Did Tubbo not feel happy with Michael there with them?
Questions plagued his mind, he tried rationalizing with himself about all these questions but the only thing that happened is just more confusion and feelings of self-doubt.
He soon realised his feet took him to Snowchester... The place where in every little nook he could find Tubbo, but if his muscle memory took him here instead of his base by Techno and Phil, it must mean something...
Right?
He headed to the giant mansion and entered it slowly, looking around to see if anyone was there, but as he saw no one he sighed and went ahead to Michael's room.
He knocked three times to let Michael know he's there, and upon hearing a bunch of piglin snorts, he opened the door and, as expected, his leg got tackled by a small toddler who appeared to be as happy as ever.
"Hey bud, how are you?" Ranboo asked picking Michael up and kissing his forehead, the kid started babbling about something in piglin but that didn't stop Ranboo from sitting down on the carpet with Michael on his lap and hear him out (he wanted to make sure that Michael always felt listened to, he wanted his kid to be as happy as he could).
As Michael's babbles became more quiet and the piglin would just grab at Ranboo's hand to play with his fingers, the teen looked at his son and sighed: "I love you so so much, Michael. Hope you know. I really want you to grow up to be happy, yeah?" Ranboo said with a soft tone, only to ruffle Michael's (what could be described as) hair with the hand that wasn't played with.
Ranboo wanted what was best for everyone, and if the best for Tubbo was him not being with Ranboo anymore? He accepted that.
He accepted it way too easily, or even too soon.
He wanted to feel so much more angry, or sad or anything, he almost even felt tears well up in his eyes as Tubbo spoke about the cookie shop.
Maybe he was pathetic, but for every decision taken about the cookie shop, Ranboo made sure Tubbo was also asked for opinions, so forgive him for feeling like he worked for nothing when Tubbo just gave it away without asking for Ranboo's point of view.
Ranboo would even say he's more upset about that than Tubbo finally finding happiness with something else-
Michael let out a yawn and cuddled into Ranboo, making a small noise.
"Hm? You tired already little man? Did Foolish Jr come over to play?" He asked, and when he received a small nod of affirmation, Ranboo slightly smiled at his son. "You wanna head to bed, bud?"
He received some tired babbling and a shake of the head, so he made sure to just hug Michael tight and not let him fall out of his embrace. "Night, Michael."
Ranboo whispered into the room, finally letting himself relax and just bask in Michael's calming presence.
Ranboo wasn't upset about Tubbo finally smiling again, but he still felt bittersweet about it. Maybe he was feeling even a bit selfish, sue him! What had Quackity offered that Ranboo didn't have?
Maybe we got married too quick? Maybe Tubbo is regretting it all now.
He even felt sorry for avoiding Tubbo's now sparkling eyes, full of joy. He felt selfish for not being able to cherish Tubbo's smile reaching his eyes as he knew he should, only because he or Michael weren't the ones that caused it.
Ranboo sighed and gently lifted Michael with him, now quietly walking over to the bed and leaving Michael resting on it, but as soon as he was about to pull away, he feels a small tug on his finger and he sees Michael holding said finger and-
Alright, maybe sleeping today in Michael's bed won't be such a bad idea.
Ranboo made sure to hold Michael close in case any danger came by, but he doubted it... The mansion was huge enough to make sure no one came near this specific room...
Well, apart from Tubbo, who was now working with Quackity.
And as Ranboo laid down he just... Finally let go, and felt tears again and he let them happen, silently sizzling against his skin but he wasn't too bothered by them, anything to distract him from Tubbo's expression of fulfillment engraved in his mind.
"I really want him to be happy, Michael" Ranboo whispered "I really do, but I just- I can't help but feel a little bit betrayed by the situation..."
A small sob, "I really want him to be happier than here, but was I not good enough of a husband?" He asked quietly.
Michael only squeezed Ranboo's finger in his sleep, and the older let out an airy chuckle "Sorry for dumping this on you, you don't deserve to hear your dad being angsty. You deserve a happy family and friends." He kissed Michael's forehead and then his little tiny hand.
Ranboo sighed and wiped away his tears. "Let's just be happy together, yeah, Mikey?"
Because even if Ranboo is jealous of not being able to make Tubbo smile that wide, he really hopes he can be happier than the other, maybe as a pathetic attempt at revenge of some kind because maybe it is petty, maybe it is dumb and stupid and he shouldn’t think that way about his husband…
But maybe Ranboo
deserves
to feel a little bit petty and dumb and stupid to then gain something in return.
Before he forgot, he left his crown on the nightstand, Ranboo brought Michael closer, his tail curling around the younger’s ankle and his ears finally relaxing. He took one look at his hand with the ring on it, and sighed.
“Goodnight, bud… Goodnight, Tubbo” He whispered before also closing his eyes and sleep welcomed him with open arms.
"I hope you're happy, but don't be happier"