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The terminal’s usual chaotic hustle and bustle energy had no effect on Ranboo, rather it all seemingly faded into nothing but a subtle white noise. Tapping his foot in a silent, almost torturous anticipation, he swallowed the lump that would form in his throat every time he looked up and to the boy sitting next to him, an equally grim expression plastered on his face.
They’d known that Ranboo’s time in the UK had been coming to a close. It was back in June that they’d settled for this to be the day that he left. Even with the knowledge that this day was coming, it still came abruptly and from seemingly nowhere.
Four months. Four, blissful months away from home and instead living with his very best friend and his family. It had sounded like a long time when initially arranged, but it had gone by all too quickly. Though there were so many things left unsaid- things Ranboo desperately wished he could say- he found it impossible to speak.
“I’m gonna miss you so much,” came a wet laugh, choked out from the boy beside him, interrupting his thoughts. “I mean- it was bad before you came here. But now that I’ve known you, I’ve lived with you, I’ve felt you- it’s going to be so much harder.”
Ranboo found that he could only nod in solemn agreement. He opened his mouth to speak but found that no words came out.
“Those registered to board under special services will begin boarding in five minutes.”
“Is that-?”
Ranboo nodded glumly. “Unaccompanied minor.”
“Ah.”
The smaller boy yawned and stretched his arms upwards, accidentally bonking Ranboo on the head in the process.
“Tired?” He teased in a sad attempt to lighten the mood.
Tubbo only nodded. It was to be expected, as his sleep schedule deemed he typically fell asleep around this time in the morning. Resting his head on the taller’s shoulder, Ranboo felt the heat rise to his cheeks and quickly became grateful for the mask that covered the expression of modest shock he wore.
His eyes burned with lack of sleep, but he didn’t dare shut them for a moment in fear that it might cause Tubbo to disappear sooner. A noise that might have been a choked back sob- a whimper, maybe- came from the boy now nestled closely to his side.
“Unaccompanied minors may now begin the check-in process at the front of terminal E-27,” announced a voice over the intercom.
Shit. The two exchanged a knowing look but remained seated. Neither of them wanted to move first, and so Tubbo grabbed at Ranboo’s arm almost as though he were a pleading child.
“I have to go, Bo.”
“I know, I know. It’s just…” he trailed off, a look of defeat clouding his gaze.
“It’s hard,” Ranboo finished his sentence for him.
“Yeah.” Tubbo then stood up, offering his hand for the other to take. The walk to the terminal entrance felt impossibly long despite only being a mere few meters from their seats.
“So, this is it.”
“Yeah.”
“You know I’d stay longer if I could.”
“I know.”
It was at that moment Ranboo could not bottle himself up any more than he already had, and any and all emotions came pouring through. There, in airport terminal E-27 stood two boys, crying as they held one another for dear life. The taller of the two hid his face in the smaller’s messy brown curls, trying not to make a scene as he let go of all his grief. He grieved the loss of the place he now considered a second home, the loss of his friends in the UK. But nothing could compare to losing Tubbo. And sure, it was only a temporary loss. But at that moment, Ranboo couldn’t think of anything worse than leaving. Tubbo buried his face in his friend’s chest, wetting the hoodie with his tears. A soaked hoodie was the least of Ranboo’s concerns as he rubbed circles into his friend’s back, attempting to console him.
“Don’t go,” he whispered.
“I have to,” came back his mumbled response.
Letting go, Ranboo couldn’t help but instantly miss the warmth of another body huddled against his own. His tear-stained hoodie was now cold, too cold.
“I’ll call you the minute I land, I promise.” Tubbo only nodded wordlessly.
As he turned to approach the boarding station, Ranboo let go of a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He’d been rummaging through his pocket for his now crumpled flight ticket when a half-panicked voice called out from behind.
“Ranboo, wait!”
He turns in time to see Tubbo racing towards him, almost crashing in the process. Ranboo isn’t given time to ask questions, because before he knows it the other’s hands are grabbing his own, and he’s being pulled in and- oh my god - he’s kissing him. It only lasts half a second, but Ranboo savors it. Tubbo’s lips are chapped and salty from the tears, and it’s terrifying yet perfect in that bittersweet sense. It’s over before he knows it.
“You really had to wait until the end of- whatever all this was?!” He cried, though his tone was edged with humor.
“I was scared,” Tubbo breathed, “Scared of what might happen if it didn’t work.”
Swallowing thickly, Ranboo nodded. “I get it.” Because he did, because that was the exact reason that he, too, had hesitated all this time.
“Fuck.”
And then there was laughter. Laughter and sadness and every emotion in between. Ranboo knew he was holding up the staff, and that he ought to up his pace. With a newfound confidence that hadn’t been there before, he planted a chaste kiss on Tubbo’s forehead.
“We’ll just have to do this again next year.”
“I guess so.”
He gave the boy a final wave, smiling sadly before turning the other way, and although he continued to watch as Ranboo boarded the plane, Tubbo knew he wouldn’t be looking back.