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Shit. That was the only way Tubbo could describe how he was feeling. There was not a specific negative feeling he could identify, but it were all these small feelings and things that kept building up over the weeks and a few days ago the bucket overflowed. He had stayed in bed the first full day and ofcourse at the beginning of the second day he had to get hit with a migraine, he felt the early stages of it developing. But he could not even take his medication, as had a stream planned with Tommy, Ranboo and Beautie, an upcoming streamer who had done a bit with Tommy on tiktok. His medication always would leave him knocked out for at least 12 hours. And now he was not able to anymore. He could only take the medication before or just at the beginning of his migraines. Otherwise they simply would not have any effect and only make him feel worse.
So he dragged himself up out of bed and started his day with distaste. At the end of the day he was ready to curl up in bed and sleep for the next thirty hours.
He closed his eyes and put down his headphones, trying to concentrate on Ranboo's deep and smooth voice, instead of Tommy's shrill and high one.
He did not know how much time passed because soon after taking off his headphones and muting himself, he had pleasantly zoned out. Voices becoming unregistered and a low buzz in the background, the throbbing in his skull calming a little when he was not looking at his bright monitors.
The next thing he registered was Ranboo gently tapping his shoulder. His voice became words again, instead of just noise, but he spoke so quietly it broke every few words.
"Stay here for a bit, I'll be right back okay?" He moved his hand from his shoulder to his head. He carded his hand through the slightly oily locks, making Tubbo sigh contently as it gave him another sensation to focus on instead of just his pain.
But the hand pulled back soon after and Ranboo walked out of the room.
Before Tubbo could zone out again, the hand was back in his hair and he opened his eyes to look at Ranboo. "Walk with me?" He asked, still keeping his voice low.
It took a bit, but Tubbo stood up, trying not to move his head around too much. In the meantime Ranboo had made a quick trip to the loft and was holding a bundle of some clothes, Tubbo did not know which or even whose, but he could not care less about figuring that out.
Slowly but surely the two made it to the bathroom, Ranboo guiding Tubbo by the shoulder all the way. The big lights were off, some smaller, low light, ones being their only source of light in the extension.
They stepped into the bathroom and Tubbo smiled fondly. Ranboo had filled up the tub, adding bubbles and a lavender aroma, hints of the scent hanging in the bathroom, nothing too strong. The lights were off and instead some candles on the counter where the sink sat and a small portable lamp, giving off blue light sat in the far corner so the room was still visible. In the bath sat a tray, hooked on either side of the tub and a pillow. Tubbo knew exactly which pillow it was. It was one especially made for in baths and when Ranboo had bought it off Amazon he had called him crazy, but he could not be more grateful now, because it looked just so incredibly inviting and comfortable.
Ranboo disposed of the bundle of clothes he was carrying on top of the closed toilet seat. "Get undressed and in the bath, I'm going to make sure all the black out blinds are shut so tomorrow morning the sun won't blind you." With that Ranboo left the bathroom, leaving the door just cracked open a tiny bit.
Tubbo did as asked and when he slowly sank into the bath he almost cried in relief. The warm water soothed his muscles, sore because of constantly tensing them from pain and stress. The thick layer of foam, appearing blue because of the light, but most likely white, covering him entirely, also making him a lot more at ease.
Ranboo knocked on the door, uncoordinated and heavy, he wriggled his way into the room backwards, nudging the door open with his foot. Tubbo smiled a bit, fondly admiring how dumb his boyfriend looked in that moment.
"Can I turn around?" Ranboo asked, still turned to the door, with his back to Tubbo in the bath.
Tubbo hummed, making the other turn to him and walk towards him. He placed paracetamol, a glass of water, a mug of steaming chocolate milk with whipped cream and Tubbo's phone all down on the wooden tray in front of Tubbo.
"Your phone is on the lowest brightness with the blue light filter turned all the way up. I'll be in the kitchen, so," he tucked the tray he had carried it all inside with under his arm, "just text me or something when you need me." He leaned down and gently pushed Tubbo's hair out of his face, kissing his forehead. "Anything at all, I'll do if you want or need it, so don't hesitate to ask." One last kiss on his forehead and he stood up, ready to walk out of the room.
Tubbo reached forward and grabbed his hand. "Stay?" He asked, tugging him back. Ranboo looked at him wide eyed, before smiling and nodding. He sat down with his back to the tub the tray getting put to the side on the ground somewhere. Co-existing in the same space, but not looking at Tubbo.
They sat for about thirty minutes, Ranboo sometimes making a quiet remark about something nice that happened to him or one of his friends back in the US. Tubbo tapped him on his shoulder blade, asking him to turn around. "Can you wash my hair? Its greasy and dirty..." Tubbo said, looking down. He normally kept up with his personal hygiene very well, but the past few days it had been hard.
"Ofcourse, let me go grab a cup real quick." Yet another kiss on his forehead, before Ranboo stood up and walked out of the bathroom to the kitchen. He returned soon after, a big cup in hand.
He sat down on his knees next to the bath, filling the cup up with the bathwater from next to Tubbo and helping the other sit up straight and lean his head backwards. He placed a hand on his forehead, shielding his eyes and let the water pour from the cup, wetting his hair. Tubbo closed his eyes as he let himself be taken care of.
Ranboo repeated this a few times, getting his hair fully wet before grabbing the shampoo. He spread it along his hands a bit before massaging it into Tubbo's hair, raking his nails and fingertips over his scalp and seeing the boy melt under his hands. Tubbo had his eyes closed and the rest of his face slack in complete relaxation. Ranboo made sure to continue working the shampoo in, even when it was already more than ready to be washed out just to see Tubbo so blissful for a bit longer.
He retrieved the cup and filled it, cleaning his hand of foam and using it as a shield between his face and hairline again. It took a while but Tubbo's hair was completely free of the soft suds of white shampoo and Ranboo stood up. He closed his eyes and held out his hands, helping Tubbo stand up as well.
When he was sure Tubbo was stable on his own and out of the tub, he let go of his hands and turned around, letting the boy have his privacy to dry off and change. He did not want to leave the room, because Tubbo already often got woozy from baths, with the hot water and steam combined, but when he was sick, migraines included, this got a lot worse. So if he were to fall Ranboo would be there to make sure he did not crack his skull open. A little over exaggerated, but Ranboo worried easily.
Another tap on his back made it clear Tubbo was done and he turned around, looking down at the boy in his own pyjama trousers, but wearing one of Ranboo's tee shirts, a pale violet and a thin natural cotton fabric. He smiled down at him, receiving a weak smile back.
"Let's get you into bed, I'll clean the bathroom." Ranboo once again led him by his shoulder all the way back to the loft, climbing up the stairs behind him to make sure he would not fall. When he was in the bed, Ranboo tucked him in and kissed his forehead yet again, Tubbo would have to ask him about that when he felt like talking again.
"Sleep, my love, I'll join you soon."
He disappeared down the ladder. Tubbo however, did not listen. He waited a while, firstly hearing Ranboo turn on the AC, cold air better for migraines than warm, then him walking into the kitchen, most likely towards the bathroom.
Some more time passes and the wood of the staircase crackled a little, the wood still new and fresh. Ranboo made his way to the bed and immediately laid down, already changed into this pyjamas.
"I see you still awake," he teased the other, who had quickly shut his eyes in an attempt to look as if he was asleep.
Tubbo peeling his eyes open and looked at his boyfriend. They simply stared at each other in the dark for a while, before Ranboo opened up his arms and Tubbo shuffled forwards. Tubbo got tucked underneath Ranboo's chin, hands pressed against his chest as Ranboo's arms held him against his chest.
"Now sleep?" Ranboo asked, still teasing the other for staying up until he joined him in the bed.
Tubbo nodded against his chest and closed his eyes, knowing Ranboo had everything under control and he would take care of any and everything.
Ranboo in turn looked down having to move his neck a little awkwardly but he managed. He leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss on Tubbo's forehead one last time, before returning to his previous position and closed his eyes.