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Tubbo was not a fan of physical touch.
If all you saw was how he acted around his family, you wouldn't believe that statement.
But Tubbo really and truly didn't like it. Any touch was a show of trust, and that was it.
Ranboo knew this very well. Despite all of the head bonks and fleeting touches, he wanted something a little bigger, more important. Not that they weren't happy with what he had, and they were certainly never going to do anything to make Tubbo unhappy, but when it came to touch, the two were opposites.
Enderman thrived on physical affection, especially with partners. (Not sex, get out of the gutter. Enderman are Asexual by nature.) But the problem was, Ranboo didn't know how to ask. Tubbo was so sweet, but if it made him uncomfortable, or worse, upset with them, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Goodnight, mi vida," Ranboo watched from the door while Tubbo put Micheal to bed. Then, the duo walked to their room and got ready for bed.
"Hey, Boo," Tubbo started, sounding nervous. Ranboo glanced over curiously.
"Yeah?"
"Do you- are you okay? You've been acting kinda strange lately," Tubbo was rubbing his hands together.
Ranboo was silent for a moment. This was the perfect moment to bring up what he's been wanting to ask, but what if Tubbo got upset?
Screw it, no time like the present.
"Um, yeah well, I've been meaning to ask something of you," Ranboo's tail curled and circled around their legs. Tubbo flicked an ear.
"Could we- um, okay, this is harder to ask than I thought it would be," and it was. Ranboo just couldn't get his words out. Fuck.
Tubbo smirked teasingly. "Hey, boss man, you know how I feel about sex."
"No!" Ranboo blurted, causing Tubbo to giggle, hiding behind his hand. "No, not that. Gods above, what is wrong with you?"
"Naw, I'm just joking with you man, what is it really?"
Ranboo took a deep breath. "Well, I was wondering if you would be okay with, you know, cuddling, or something…" they trailed off and looked away, sure that his face was blushed purple.
Tubbo stared silently. They were asking? Like, genuinely?
"Sure, boss man, I don't mind. Why are you so nervous?"
Ranboo looked back at his husband. "Wait, actually? You're okay with that?" Their tail wagged behind them happily.
Tubbo gave him a confused smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, you seem to not like touch, so I thought you didn't like it, and I wasn't sure how you'd react if I asked, and-"
Tubbo interrupted him with a kiss on the cheek. "Sure, I am uncomfortable with some things, and to be rather honest I'm not always a huge fan of affection, but I trust you. We can cuddle, if you want."
Ranboo smiled, slightly flustered. "Cool, cool." They laughed awkwardly. Tubbo rolled his eyes and pulled him into the bed and under the covers. Hesitantly, Ranboo wrapped his arms around the ram's midsection, and Tubbo tucked his head under their chin.
"See? I don't mind," Tubbo joked. Instead of responding, Ranboo squinted his eyes and purred.
Tubbo didn't like some touch. The two never really, mouth-to-mouth kissed, but they did get much closer. And Ranboo couldn't be happier.
While trust was still a major factor for Tubbo, it felt less like a 'hey I trust you enough to live in my house' to 'hey I really do love and trust you.'
Some people take intimacy for sex. But to the couple, intimacy was cuddles and kisses. Because to them, that was intimate. And it was all they needed.