Chapter Text
“Mum, don’t talk about the baby photos-” Tommy cringed as his mother guided Ranboo around the house, taking a tour over each and every photo, an accompanying embarrassing story with them.
“You were cute as a kid, Tom, I don’t see the problem.” Tommy’s mum replied, pointing Tommy out in family photos to Ranboo, who smiled and glanced at Tommy amusedly.
“Yeah Tommy, you’re really cute.”
Tommy huffed, linking his arm with Ranboo. He rested his chin on Ranboo’s shoulder. “I’m expecting to get a full childhood Ranboo story when I meet your parents. With no complaints from you.”
“I’d say he’s allowed to complain when you’ve been hovering ‘round us the entire time. I don’t know why you’re so embarrassed, it’s not like you’re still getting baths from me after playing in the mud.” Tommy’s mum teased. Tommy didn’t appreciate it. “I don’t want him to think I’m anything but the sexy hot man he likes.”
“Oh, that’s what I think you are?” Ranboo smiled. “I feel like you haven’t changed much.”
“You dick! I’m not going with you to America anymore, you can meet your parents on your own.” Tommy pulled away from Ranboo, rolling his eyes.
Ranboo caught Tommy by the waist, pulling him back. Ranboo chuckled. “Meet my own parents? Like I’ve never met them before.”
Tommy wrapped his arms around Ranboo’s shoulders. “Never met your parents before. Not the new you, anyway, the better you.”
“Better me? What’s different?”
“You’re dating me.” Tommy’s hand cupped the back of Ranboo’s neck, pulling him towards him to meet in a kiss. The lovey-dovey pair was interrupted by a flash. Tommy parted quickly to look at his mum smiling proudly, her phone held up. “Mum, seriously?”
“I need recent photos to put up if you’re so against the baby ones.” Tommy’s mum smiled deviously.
“Do not hang up a photo of me and Ran kissing, that’s even more embarrassing!”
“Kissing me is embarrassing?” Ranboo raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this whole thing.
Tommy gave him a look. “No! Mum, look you’re pulling my relationship apart, how could you do this to me.”
His mum patted his shoulder. “It’s my job to embarrass you, you make it so easy.”
Tommy looked at Ranboo. “Ranboo if your mother is anything like mine, warn me now.”
Ranboo shifted his weight on his feet.“She’s…interesting. In her own way. I think I like your mom better.”
“I’m boyfriend approved! Ranboo, you’re welcome over any time, any hour, don’t even worry about it.” Tommy’s mum took Ranboo’s hands, giving them a gentle squeeze.
“I’m happy to spend time with you, it’s obvious where Tommy gets his personality and looks from.”
“Oh don’t let my husband hear that, you flatter me too much.” Tommy’s mum giggled.
“Ran, don’t we have a flight to get to? Time’s a wastin, come on, grab your bags, I’ll get an Uber.” Tommy walked off, hearing his mum and Ranboo laugh some more. He’d never admit it, but he adored how well they got along. He had assumed they would, of course, Ranboo was perfect. His mum seemed to think so too.
The pair stood at the door, giving their last goodbyes. Especially to Betty and Walter. Tommy and Ranboo kneeled, letting them get all the doggy kisses and giving them enthusiastic pets in return. Tommy’s mum pulled the dogs back so the couple could stand up and give their proper goodbyes.
“Tell me how it goes. Maybe someday there could be a whole family meet-up, like for an engagement party or something.” Tommy’s mum said.
“Engagement?! Don’t propose to Ranboo on my behalf, mother.” Tommy hugged his mum.
“If you don’t do it, I will.” Tommy’s mum looked at him seriously. “Have fun, boys, send lots of pictures from America!”
Ranboo grabbed their suitcases, heading out to where their Uber was waiting. “It was lovely talking with you, Mrs Simons!”
“Lovely seeing you, Ran!” Tommy’s mum waved goodbye to him. His mother stopped him when Tommy moved to follow. “Don’t mess it up with him again. He’s a good and honest boy, and you two make a great couple.”
“I won’t, Mum, we’ve established good communication. We’re the best couple in the world, actually.”
His mum patted his back. “I believe it. Now get a move on, before your Prince Charming leaves without you.”
“Bye! I’ll talk to you later!” Tommy followed after Ranboo, taking a seat next to him in the car.
“You ready? America can be intense. My family, too.” Ranboo took Tommy’s hand. Tommy didn’t know if he was reassuring Tommy or himself. Tommy smiled. “Of course, if you have to suffer with them as your family, I can bear a couple of days."
"You're just so awesome. You will probably be eating your words later though."
Tommy wanted to doubt that.
He should've doubted himself. After a ten-hour flight, practically a fight at the baggage claim, a rushed taxi ride, and now being seated on Ranboo’s sofa in his parent’s house, he really should’ve doubted himself. Ranboo’s parents had said their welcomes, but now he felt like he was being interrogated under their scrutinising gazes and the constant stream of questions.
Tommy could feel Ranboo’s anxious presence with every question his mother pressed Tommy for. “So, did you ever go to college? Or are planning to?”
“I briefly went for film, but left to continue pursuing my streaming and content creation career.” Was this like a job interview or something? Why did Ranboo’s parents sit him down like this instead of just making comfortable conversation and getting to know him over time, this was too much.
Ranboo’s mother raised her eyebrows. “Film? So that was the career you were going to go with before this social media stuff?”
“Kinda..? I guess. I always wanted to do this, I think it’s cool.” Tommy felt like he was taking a test and getting the answers wrong.
“Interesting. So how did you and Ranboo meet?”
“Through streaming. Minecraft, specifically, there was a roleplay server we were both on and bonded over.”
Ranboo’s mother’s eyebrows furrowed. “Roleplay?! Ranboo, whatever so-called ‘kinks’ you may think you have, you’re 18! Barely an adult, how could you get into-”
“Mom, that absolutely is not what it is.” Ranboo groaned, burying his face into his hands. Tommy realised what his mother was insinuating, and burst out into laughter. “Mrs Ranboo’s mother, please, that’s not at all what the Dream SMP is, there’s so much to it I don’t think I can explain it to you.”
“You know Ranboo, what are you going to tell your kids when they ask how their parents met? Do you really want to say that you met them through a video game?”
“Whoa, kids are a lot to think about. Much further in the future.” Tommy said. He didn’t understand some parents’ obsessions with grandkids, even when their kids had barely just started dating.
“And I would like to tell them that I met their father on Minecraft, that’s so funny,” Ranboo said. His parents didn’t seem amused.
“Ranboo, your mother and I met through our parents. We had a sweet budding relationship since high school, a good love story that we’re proud to tell you about.” His father said.
“Well, I hadn’t figured out myself enough to have a high school sweetheart scenario, sorry. At least I met Tommy when I was still in high school.” Ranboo replied.
“This arguing will only go in circles.” Ranboo’s mother sighed and stood up. “I need to start up dinner, oh, the Jeffersons’ are coming over tonight for dinner, by the way.”
Tommy had no idea who the Jeffersons were, this all was very intense for Tommy to deal with. First Ranboo’s, very clearly disapproving parents, and now probably some family friends. Tommy hoped they wouldn’t share the same opinions.
“Come on Tommy, let me show you around my house.” Ranboo seemed lacklustre as he took Tommy’s hand and started showing the rooms. He also tried explaining some childhood photos, but Tommy could tell his parents had sapped a lot of his excitement and joy.
Tommy squeezed Ranboo’s hand. “You were cute as a kid. But you’re cuter now.”
Ranboo flushed. “Shut up, don’t try to get back at me from your Mom.”
“Oh, so I suddenly can’t think you’re cute? I’m pretty sure I found you cute and hot and insanely attractive first, so I got dibs.” Tommy teased.
“You can’t call dibs for compliments!”
“Well I just did, so deal with it,” Tommy said. Ranboo seemed to be smiling more, and fairly more enthusiastic.
“What am I supposed to do? Not compliment you anymore?”
“Use that pretty little head for thinking, be creative. Come up with something new.” Tommy wrapped his arms over Ranboo’s shoulders, leaning their foreheads together. It felt like a bout of deja vu, like they’d be interrupted by a camera flash in just a moment.
“Should I use Twitter compliments? Look at my skrumly little bimbly. You’re so skrumdidlboo, my little pispy tootsy, I like my sweet scaboinky.”
Tommy laughed, pulling away. “Shut up, that’s worse. Just stick with calling me cute.”
Ranboo smiled, he seemed to be in a much better mood. “That’s all I wanted. My cute- darling-” Ranboo punctuated each word with a kiss over Tommy’s face. “Charming- beautiful boyfriend.”
“Happy now?” Tommy asked. Ranboo nodded. “Let me show you to my room now.”
Ranboo and Tommy walked to his room, interrupted by a quick little flash of something running across the hall into another room. Ranboo lighted up instantly. “Oh! Frisbee!” Ranboo turned into the room he went into, a little storage room. Ranboo crouched, extending a hand. “Come on Frisbee, it’s okay, Tommy won’t hurt you.”
Ranboo looked back at Tommy. “He gets a little skittish with new people. Come on Frisbee, it’s okay.”
Frisbee, Ranboo’s little dog, creeped out slowly, looking at Tommy with wide eyes before darting to Ranboo. He pawed at Ranboo, as if asking to be picked up and protected immediately. Ranboo picked him up, giving him reassuring pets before standing and turning back to Tommy.
“You can pet him, he just needs some warming up to.”
Tommy let Frisbee sniff his hand, before gently petting the top of his hand. “Why didn’t I get any pics of this cutie when you were last here?”
“He was staying with a family friend so we were free to go off and deal with wedding stuff.” Ranboo scratched behind his ears.
“Aw, at least I get to meet him now.”
Ranboo set Frisbee down, and he bolted off again, even after knowing Tommy was not a threat. “He’ll probably warm up much more to you over time, though with the Jefferson’s coming over he might just find a nice spot to hide completely.”
“I’m alright with that. Now, to your room?” Tommy said.
“Yup. Oh, I still have a computer here if you ever want to stream.”
“I think we should just take this time to get to know your family, y’know? Spend time together.”
“I’m good with that.” Ranboo opened his door, letting Tommy in. Tommy looked around it, imagining the younger Ranboo he just spent time looking at growing up in this room. Simple dressers, a desk, a lot of stuff had been moved out when Ranboo left for the UK. A lamp, and a thing shrouded in fabric. His bed was big, though.
Tommy sat on it, bouncing slightly. “It’s weird being in your home. Like you spent so much time and grew up here. Did you feel this way when you were at my parent’s place?”
Ranboo sat next to him. “Kind of. Just the realisation that it’s like such a piece of your history, it kind of reflects the person you are now. Weird, psychological stuff.” Ranboo lightly chuckled, but Tommy nodded seriously. Some things about Ranboo made sense seeing his home, and his parents. It definitely clicked in Tommy’s mind.
“Ranboo! Come get the door please!” Ranboo’s mother called up. Ranboo sighed. Tommy wondered why Ranboo’s dad couldn’t get the door, he was closer to it last that Tommy had seen.
Ranboo got up and Tommy followed. The ‘Jeffersons’ were probably here now for dinner. Was it rude to invite other guests without telling the people that were already staying over about them? Though, Ranboo’s parents probably wouldn’t care if Tommy brought it up. Or they’d get on Ranboo’s case about it.
“Welcome, hello.” Ranboo greeted them. Tommy stood slightly behind Ranboo as the family came in.
It was a family of three, wife, husband, and daughter. “Mr and Mrs Jefferson, Faith, this is Tommy. Tommy, these are the Jeffersons.” Ranboo introduced them.
Faith, the daughter stuck out a hand for Tommy to shake. “Nice to meet you!” She seemed sweet, she probably was one of Ranboo’s childhood friends.
“Hello!” Tommy felt kind of nervous, scrutinised by multiple stares.
“So are you one of Ranboo’s British friends he’s mentioned before?” Mr Jefferson asked, shaking Tommy’s hand as well.
“Yes, I’m his boyfriend.”
Mr Jefferson’s hand retracted. “Ah.” Mrs Jefferson didn’t shake his hand.
“You all, let’s get seated at the table. Ranboo, bring an extra chair for Tommy.” Ranboo’s father had joined the conversation.
“Oh, where’s one I can grab for him?” Ranboo asked.
“One outside, one of the white ones. They seem clean.” Ranboo’s father said. Ranboo silently left, leaving Tommy to file in with the rest of the families to the dining room. The fathers took seats at the heads of the table, and Mrs Jefferson sat on Mr Jefferson’s left. Faith offered her chair. “I can take the extra chair and squeeze in on this corner, please, take my seat, Tommy.”
“No, Faith, sit down. Tommy can be a gentleman and take the outside chair.” Ranboo’s mother had come in, setting down dishes on the table.
Ranboo walked into the dining room carrying one of the flimsy white plastic chairs. He set it at the corner next to his father and where Ranboo would be sitting. Ranboo, however, sat down in it before Tommy could.
Tommy felt the parents watching him as he took the dining room chair. They were trying to subtly exclude him, push him out of the group. Tommy felt it. Usually, when in these tense and awkward situations, he’d put on his boisterous persona. Win them over with his charm, or act oblivious to their efforts, uncaring of whatever they were trying to do. But he didn’t, he couldn’t. He could feel the looks, the small things, digging into his insecurities. Ranboo had warned his family would be intense. Tommy hadn’t realised it would be this kind of intense.
“So Tommy, what’s America like for you?” Faith asked, cutting through the tension and silence as everyone started sitting down for dinner.
Tommy gave a small smile to her, at least she wasn’t trying to demonise Tommy as well. “It’s really interesting. California as well, everything is a lot more spread out, if that makes sense. I mean, your state is like twice the size of my entire country. It’s really wild.”
“That’s true. Are you and Ranboo planning on doing anything America-specific while you’re here?”
“I…don’t really know. We haven’t discussed anything yet.”
Ranboo’s father cut in. “We were actually planning on having that barbecue we discussed last time Ranboo was here, tomorrow we’re going grocery shopping. Tommy, you can help me with cleaning the grill, right?”
Tommy didn’t know if this was Ranboo’s father trying to bond with him. Tommy had never cleaned a grill before, he’d never done anything with a grill before in his life. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll help.”
“Lovely. Can we join in as well? There’s this fruit punch recipe Faith showed me on Facebook, didn’t you, sweetie?” Mrs Jefferson spoke, “And it looks delicious. I’d love to share it with you all.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful. Send it to me, I’d be happy to pick up the ingredients while we’re out shopping.” Ranboo’s mother said.
“Would you? I really appreciate that."
Tommy glanced at Ranboo. At least they didn't have to do any planning for the trip, his parents seemed to have plans. The table was silent as people ate, with no conversation topics coming up for them to talk about.
Ranboo's mother took a sip from her glass. “When we’re getting dessert ready to serve, you three kiddos can pump up the air mattress for Tommy in the living room.” Ranboo’s mother encouragingly glanced at the three kids.
“Oh, it’s alright, Ranboo and I are fine with sharing a bed. It’s not like he snores or anything.” Tommy joked, smiling at Ranboo’s parents.
The table was quiet, unreceptive to Tommy’s jokes. Ranboo’s mother stabbed her fork down stiffly. “Ranboo, get the air mattress after dinner.”
“Okay, Mom.” Ranboo stared at his plate. His fingers tapped an anxious beat on his legs. Tommy wanted to reach out and grab his boyfriend’s hand, be reassuring, but he felt like it’d make this whole thing worse.
When he met Aunt Catherine, she had been stern. Ranboo had mentioned how she knew about all the stuff that Tommy did. Did Ranboo's parents know as well, and were testing him? He expected that they'd be especially protective over their son, but it was really starting to wear down on him.
Tommy glumly ate his food as the table finished their plates. Ranboo didn’t even spare him a glance.
“We’ll go and clean up these dishes, Ranboo, air mattress.” Ranboo’s mother ordered, standing up from the table. Tommy and Faith quietly followed Ranboo up the stairs, to a linen closet where he pulled a box down from the top shelf.
“We have to go to the garage to get the bike pump,” Ranboo said, hefting the box in his arms.
“I can just get it.” Tommy offered. “From the garage.” He teased, enunciating his pronunciation of it. Ranboo smiled, rolling his eyes. “I’ll make you American. Bringing you here was the first step.”
Tommy faux gasped in shock as they started walking back down the stairs. “I can’t believe that you’d do this to me, was this your master plan all along?”
“Maybe…you’ll never get me to admit it!” Ranboo rushed down the stairs quickly, Tommy laughing and following behind. Faith was forgotten up the stairs by the couple.
“Billzo was right! You are a criminal!” Tommy and Ranboo ran into the living room, where Ranboo dropped the air mattress and wheeled around to grab Tommy’s hands. “You can never prove anything~” He pulled Tommy close by his hands until they were interrupted by a conspicuous cough. Ranboo’s father and Mr Jefferson were sitting there in the living room. Ranboo dropped Tommy’s hands. “You should….you should get the bike pump.
Tommy’s good mood dissipated and he nodded, walking out of the living room. He hated this. He hated the way Ranboo just became dismissive and uncaring, how much worse could the night get?
Much worse. Tommy clutched the lumpy pillows, trying to curl up comfortably. He wanted to be with Ranboo, no, he needed to. Tommy needed his boyfriend’s reassuring touch, he needed to be able to pull Ranboo close and know their relationship was safe and sound. That Ranboo’s parents wouldn’t cause an uncrossable rift between them, and Tommy would end up alone again.
Tommy kept himself from crying. Nothing had gone that far to make him cry. Yet, the unhelpful voice in his head supplied. Setting up the air mattress was depressing, and Tommy’s mood was ruined for the rest of the evening, past when the Jeffersons left and after he and Ranboo got ready for bed. Now he laid awake, his thoughts running freely in the silent house.
Soft footsteps down the stairs alerted Tommy that someone was coming downstairs, probably for a glass of water or something. Tommy rolled over so that his back would face whoever was there.
A dip in the air mattress startled Tommy, and he glanced back to see Ranboo sitting there, holding a pillow. “Hey.” He softly spoke in a hushed whisper.
“Hi. What are you doing here, Ran?”
Ranboo shifted the pillow in his arms. “I wanted to lay with you for a while. And give you one of my better pillows.”
Tommy smiled at Ranboo’s care. “Aw, babe, come here.” Tommy moved, holding open the blanket for Ranboo to go under. He rested his head on half of his pillow, letting Tommy swap out the lumpy one for the more comfortable one. Their faces were close, and Tommy wrapped his arms around Ranboo so their bodies were flush with each other. "Thanks."
"I'm sorry about them. I expected the worst, but this is really bad." Ranboo looked so sad, Tommy felt bad. This was his family, he shouldn't feel bad about their rules.
"It's fine, they probably just don't like pre-marital sex under their roof." Tommy giggled, even if he would assure Ranboo's parents a million times over he wasn't planning on doing that.
"Yeah…but they're also just being unnecessarily cruel."
"Have you had a crush come over before? They're probably just reacting strongly because this has never happened with you.”
Ranboo reached up to brush the hair from Tommy’s face, letting the touch linger for a moment. “I haven’t…but I don’t think that’s it. My parents are just my parents. They’ll dance around ever actually saying they don’t approve.” Ranboo sighed.
“Ran, are your parents…homophobic?”
Ranboo opened his mouth to protest, but then snapped shut. “I don’t think they- they’ve never said anything. I know they probably expected me to live a life like theirs, and this is all just very new to them.”
Tommy was quiet. Ranboo’s parents probably wouldn’t ever admit it, but it does seem like it was the case. “I just want to be with you, unbothered.”
“I know.” Ranboo kissed Tommy’s forehead. “But meeting my parents is important, and we can make it through this.”
Tommy nodded. He understood how much this probably meant to Ranboo, as…weird his parents were, they were his parents. His family. Tommy tried snuggling even closer to Ranboo, closing his eyes. “I’ll try to be on my best behaviour tomorrow. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Ranboo softly murmured.