Work Text:
June of 2021
Ranboo laid in the grass, looking at his wrist. 20:34:00. He would meet his soulmate in 20 hours and 34 minutes. Ranboo let out a shaky breath before he heard his back door open. “Sweetheart,” his mother’s voice started, “Toby called you and your brother answered it. We can tell him that you’re still packing for the trip if you want more time alone?”
Ranboo dropped his arm, “you know that I love you, right?”
“Of course I do, dear.” She walked over and sat next to him, “you guys don’t have to be soulmates to date.”
“Mom.. I know that and I love him. God, I love him so much, I just am nervous that when I’m there in person he’ll hate me and dump me and then I’ll have to pretend it’s okay and that it didn’t hurt for four months.” Ranboo looked up at her, “I don’t want to lose him.”
“And if for some strange reason, you guys break up, then come home. And we can bake as many cookies as you want. Okay?”
“You mean it?”
“I promise.” She smiled. “Now let’s go bake some cookies before you leave me in a few hours.”
Ranboo nodded and got up, offering her a hand, which she took and they went inside. Ranboo took his phone to talk to Tubbo in his room for a moment.
“Hey baby.” Ranboo said in a soft voice.
“Hello, my love!” Tubbo was clearly smiling and it brought a smile to Ranboo’s face. “You’re leaving soon and I know that you want to spend time with your family before you leave but I was going to head to sleep and wanted to talk to you.”
Ranboo cooed at his boyfriend, “you just want me to tell you how much I love you and to have sweet dreams.”
“I’m going to hang up on you, dickhead.” Tubbo said and Ranboo laughed.
“Goodnight, bug, I love you and I hope you have sweet dreams!”
Tubbo hummed, “thank you, thank you. Much appreciated.” Tubbo yawned, “I love you a lot, Boo.”
“I know you do, Bee, and I love you a lot. But you should really get some sleep, it’s pretty late and I don’t want you to not be well in a few hours.”
“Do you know how long it is exactly?” Tubbo asked with another yawn and Ranboo glanced at his wrist.
20:00:00
“Not really, probably like 19 hours or something. But Tubbo, Bug, please go to bed. I’ll be there soon, okay?”
“Okay…” Tubbo mumbled, “I love you.”
“I love you, Bug.” Ranboo said and ended the call, heading to his kitchen.
Things would be perfectly fine.
*
Tubbo swore up and down that he wouldn’t hug Ranboo at the airport. And thankfully it was all a bit for the stream and there they were, hugging in the middle of the airport like they were the only ones there. Like Tommy wasn’t standing right there with Wilbur, and like Tubbo hated physical attention, yet he had run and jumped into Ranboo’s hold, his legs secured around the dirty blonde’s waist.
“Hey bug.” Ranboo whispered, his sleeve had pulled up with all the movements and Ranboo glanced over at Tommy who had a hand to his mouth as he got a glance at Ranboo’s wrist when he was readjusting Tubbo to be more comfortable.
“Hey, Boo.” Tubbo mumbled happily. “Welcome home!”
Ranboo kissed Tubbo through his mask on the head before shooting a glare at Tommy, while Wilbur grabbed Ranboo’s luggage so Ranboo could carry Tubbo. Tommy had grabbed Ranboo’s backpack and just nodded in understanding, his face saddened a bit. Ranboo would for sure talk to Tommy more about that later.
The four of them left the airport without running into any fans. They had stopped at a smaller family owned restaurant on the way to Tubbo’s where Ranboo and Tubbo innocently had their hands interlocked as they all waited for their drinks. Ranboo would be getting his food to go anyway since he would be starting quarantine in the morning and didn’t want to take his mask off to risk anything anyway.
The waiter approached them and handed out their drinks, “oh hey Uhm..” he was talking in a whisper, “those people over there have been saying some rude things about you boys holding hands and if you need me to move them across the diner or even ask them to leave, I can. I don’t want you guys to feel like you aren’t welcome for being who you are here.”
“Oh it’s pretty alright, we’ve been ignoring them, but I am thankful for you offering to help and one of us will be sure to call if we need that but as long as they don’t confront us about it, all is manageable. I would just feel really bad for you guys if this big idiot here had to throw it down with some guys.” Tubbo smiled softly and Ranboo just looked as socially awkward as possible.
“Thank you for the uh concerns.” Ranboo said.
“It’s no problem really. And honestly, those guys are rude to all of us so if you did something to them, everyone in the building would congratulate you and cheer you on. Speaking of everyone in the building, what would you four like to eat?”
They all ordered everything and Tommy chuckled a bit, “I bet that poor dude got one look at how nervous Ranboo was and probably thought he wouldn’t actually fight someone.”
“Well that’s fair, actually. No offense Ranboo but you don’t look very.. fight worthy.” Wilbur said and Ranboo rolled his eyes.
“Wow, thanks guys. Thanks for thinking I would be nae-naed by some homophobes.” Ranboo rubbed his thumb over Tubbo’s knuckles. “Much appreciated.”
All four of them broke out into laughter and Ranboo kissed Tubbo on the head. Within a few moments Ranboo could see someone approaching them and he smirked under his mask. This would be fun.
“May we help you?” Wilbur asked, it was good that he was the one to speak first. He is the oldest of them all.
“It’s pretty disgusting that these two guys are showing off their relationship in public how they are. And I came over here to tell you it’s disturbing me and my wife and that they need to stop.”
Tubbo chuckled, “you and your wife were snogging earlier in the middle of this place. What makes you think people want to see that? I’m simply holding hands with my boyfriend. So why don’t you excuse yourself back to your table.”
“And if I don’t?” The man asked. “You sound like a bloody child.”
Ranboo wiggled his hand free from Tubbo’s and stood up, easily towering over the 5’8 man. “And what are you going to do? Especially to a child?”
“I uhm…” the man gulped a bit, looking up at Ranboo, “I wasn’t going to do anything.” Wilbur and Tommy both stood up and Tubbo only chuckled from his seat.
“By the looks of it, two children and an adult are about to kick your ass if you don’t walk away, oh and I’m not the adult here, so go ahead and try something.” Ranboo laughed as the guy motioned for his wife to leave with him. The three of them all sat back down in time for their food.
Next stop, Wilbur’s for the night.
*
“Ranboo, come accompany me in the kitchen.” Tommy said and Ranboo stood up from the couch and followed Tommy into the kitchen to help him get snacks around. Tubbo and Wilbur were geeking out over some game.
“Your timer hit zero in the airport.” Tommy said, and Ranboo paused for a moment before humming.
“I figured you had seen it.”
“I didn’t just see it, Ranboo.” Tommy said softly.
“Wha- wait.” Ranboo set the food down, “Take the bracelet off.” Ranboo said, crossing his arms. “Now.”
“Fine.” Tommy said and took his bracelet off showing the numbers on his wrist making Ranboo step back.
“Fucking hell…”
“Yeah.” Tommy said, covering his 00:00 with the bracelet again. “Not that I would ever get in the way of you and Tubs or even tell him. Yours could have gone down with you meeting him after all. It’s not rare for someone to have their timer click down with someone and have someone else’s click down with them. It could be one of those dumb situations because we don’t love each other and never would.”
Ranboo sighed, “I’m just glad that we have an understanding that we don’t love each other, this could have been awkward.”
Tommy laughed, “we’re all good to be friends, big guy. I promise. And if anything changes I won’t keep it a secret but I’m pretty sure I’m still straight, considering my girlfriend, I would hope I still like girls.”
“Have you ever kissed a guy before?” Ranboo asked and Tommy smiled.
“Of course I have, I’m not a loser.” They both made their way to the living room, happy with the fact they could be friends without any issues.
*
January of 2022, Visit 2. (Ranboo’s break)
TommyInnit @tommyinnit
Welcome home
Ranboo laughed at the Twitter notification and looked out the window of the train. “What are you laughing at, Boo?”
“I’m laughing at Tommy’s stupid tweet.” Ranboo admitted and heard Tommy scream ‘hey!’ Ranboo only laughed more, “I’ll be there soon, Aimsey had made me late so I had to catch the second train of the evening.”
“I can’t believe you saw Aimsey and Serena before coming to visit us.” Tubbo said, “that’s kind of rude.”
“I don’t go home till the 20th, besides I had work to do, you should be glad I made the time to come now before I have to go back to Aimsey and Serena’s.”
“Tubbo appreciates it, Boo Boy, he may act like he doesn’t but he does.” Tommy said, “Wilbur left about an hour ago and left us rules. Which was not to burn his flat down so I think this could be fun.”
“Are you inviting Amanda over?” Ranboo asked, “I would love to meet your girlfriend of a year.”
“I made him invite her over, I’ve been dying to meet her and it’s not fair that Wilbur and Phil are the only ones who have been able to meet her.” Tubbo said, proudly.
“She's slightly shorter than me and brunette. Her parents moved from New York to here two years ago so she’s still pretty American, her mum was born here though and moved to America when she was 19. So she’s at least cultured which passes the test for Tommy.” Tubbo explained.
“Yeah okay, she’s just really cool, okay?” Tommy seemed nervous but Ranboo only hummed and expressed his excitement in meeting the girl who had his best friend under wraps for a year.
-
“Hello, I’m Amanda.” Amanda said while Tommy wrapped an arm around her and kissed her cheek. “It’s really great to meet the best friends of Tom, he talks about you guys all the time.” She chuckled a bit.
“He is rather clingy.” Tubbo said before extending his hand out to her and she shook it, “I’m Tubbo on the internet but you can call me Toby if that’s too weird for you.”
“No no, Tubbo works, trust me.” She smiled, “I’ve gotten to understand the whole internet and streamer thing through Tom. He just always insisted I call him Tom instead of Tommy, he claims it makes him sound more mature.”
It was Ranboo’s turn to extend his hand to Amanda, “of course he would say that, nothing else is expected out of him. I’m Ranboo by the way.”
“Number 16 on the Twitch Streamer list, it’s an honor to meet such royalty.” Amanda joked and Ranboo smiled.
“Bug, I like her. We’re keeping her.” Ranboo said with certainty, returning to standing next to Tubbo, both keeping their hands to themselves and standing at an awkward distance from each other.
They all made their way to the two small couches and Ranboo and Tubbo made sure to save room for Jesus. Amanda and Tommy were on the other couch and Tommy had his arm around Amanda while she was leaning into him and picking a movie.
“Are they okay?” Amanda asked quietly, seeing them both seemingly having a conversation with just their facial expressions.
Tommy laughed, “they’re afraid to show affection because they don’t know that you know that they’re dating and don’t want you to be weird about it. Especially since they’re guys. When they first met we had gone out to eat and some couple wasn’t very pogchamp to them.”
“Oh shit.” Amanda said softly.
“Boo, Tubs. She knows you’re dating. Please kick Jesus out of our room.” Tommy smirked and Ranboo flipped him off and he wrapped an arm around Tubbo.
“So, are your guy’s timers at zero?” Amanda asked and Tommy grew tense.
“Babe, I told you not to talk about that.” Tommy said and Tubbo waved his hand.
“It’s not a big deal,” Tubbo said, “both of our wrists aren’t public knowledge or anything but we both still have time left. Isn’t that right my love?”
“Yes, and it hasn’t ruined our relationship. Because we both have a lot of time and still love each other. Soulmate bonds can break all the time, those silly numbers don’t determine who I love.” Ranboo smiled and kissed Tubbo.
“Aww that's really sweet! Mine and Tom’s numbers are both at zero but he wears that bracelet because of his streams.” Amanda took her bangle bracelet off and Tommy took his corded one off to reveal their numbers: 00:00
Tubbo felt Ranboo tense, but assumed it was nothing. If something was wrong, he would tell Tubbo. Surely. So Tubbo didn’t worry.
Ranboo stood up, “I’m going to get some drinks, I’ll be back.”
“I’ll go with you!” Tommy said, “that way you don’t have to carry 4 glasses alone. Besides, I know how to make Amanda’s drink better than she can.” Tommy kissed her head as she agreed.
“Go on, Toms. It would be nice to catch up with the friend who did a sport close to mine. No offense Ranboo, but I was a gymnast. The most I know about Volleyball is from American gym classes and we just memorized everything for the quizzes we had to take at the end of the 2 week period. It was never my thing, but when it came to playing I wasn’t bad.”
“Us four could play sometime.” Ranboo smiled, “but Tubbo and you would have to be on the same team, I can make up for Tommy’s lack of skill.”
Tommy hit Ranboo on the arm when they both stood up, “whatever, Bitch.”
“You better run for hitting me, Thomas .” Ranboo snickered.
“Oh fuck!” Tommy bolted out of the room and to the kitchen. Ranboo laughed and strided off after the blonde.
“They get along well.” Amanda pointed out, “did they always click like that?”
“No.” Tubbo chuckled, “they hated each other. Tommy had said that if I dated him then he would block me. And he did.” It was Amanda’s turn to chuckle, “but then his clingy ass unblocked me and asked to hang out.”
“Sounds like Toms.”
“Yeah, but then they figured themselves out on their own and have been friends since. Though, Tommy still claims to hate him and Ranboo claims he is far too annoyed to ever talk to Tommy but they're in the kitchen now, throwing a towel at each other and laughing right now as they try to pour 4 glasses of drinks. 2 glasses of red wine, one glass of white and your drink of choice. All while laughing their asses off and stupid things like the idiots they are. And I love them dearly.”
“I’m so glad we finally got the chance to meet, I know that you love Tommy as your brother and I’m thankful he has so many wonderful people in his life, even if he does act like a twat every now and then, I still believe that you guys do really help him.” Amanda smiled softly, “I also know that you would probably rather be spending as much time with Ranboo as you can before he leaves again and you’re letting them be idiots in the kitchen. You really do love them both dearly.”
“And you’re very quickly going to be a part of the people I love and protect, Amanda.” Tubbo offered her a soft smile.
The boys returned and took their seats, Ranboo handed Tubbo his white wine glass and kissed him on the head. “After this glass I’m going to head to the room. I have to be less dead in the morning than I am most mornings.”
“I’ll join you bossman, we both have to go to that shoot. My father will be meeting us there to bring us back to mine for the two days you’re staying.” Tubbo draped his legs over Ranboo’s and took a sip.
“Oh, Ranboo!” Amanda started, “so most people mine ores with their silk touch pickaxes, then stack them up and use their fortune pickaxes and get pretty good outcomes. But you also get pretty good outcomes, is there a reason you just use your fortune pickaxe the whole time?”
Ranboo narrowed his eyes at her, “you’ve watched my mining streams?”
Tommy huffed, “they are her favorite streams of all time.” Amanda hit his arm at that comment but didn’t deny it. Ranboo laughed a bit and he traced figures on Tubbo’s thigh.
“Well, it’s easier to gamble that way, and it’s a waste of time to do it how others do, either way you’re using your fortune pickaxe to mine the ores, I just don’t want a bunch of stone in my inventory. I save the cobblestone for Tommy either way. So it’s easier to just mine it like that.” Ranboo smiled a bit.
“Okay, great. I had always wondered since I never bother to mine it all with my silk touch, Tom steals my cobblestone so I might as well not hear him complain about having to convert my stone to cobble anyway.”
“I do not complain.”
“You literally whine like a child.” Amanda said while rolling her eyes.
Ranboo set his and Tubbo’s glasses down on the table, before moving Tubbo to be in his lap, allowing for an easier pick up. “We’re gonna head off to the guest room upstairs. It was lovely meeting you Amanda and hopefully the next time we meet we can have more than a few hours to spend together.”
“Likewise, Ranboo.” She smiled and watched him walk off with Tubbo in his arms who was smiling happily.
Ranboo laid in bed, keeping Tubbo in his hold, “aren’t you clingy, Bossman?”
Ranboo hummed, “I’ve missed you.” Ranboo kissed his head.
Tubbo nuzzled into Ranboo more, “I’ve missed you a ton.” Tubbo admitted. “I know I’m shit at feelings but I did.”
“You aren’t bad at feelings, Tubbo.” Ranboo was talking softly now, “if you were then how did we end up together back in March?”
“Because we were dumb children?” Tubbo chuckled a bit and it vibrated Ranboo’s chest.
“Maybe, but did we ever stop being idiotic children? We might be 18 but I don’t think we grew up the normal way.”
“I’m just glad to have you with me.” Tubbo spoke softly.
“And I’m glad to have you, Bug. So very glad.” Ranboo watched as Tubbo’s eyes closed and soon he was snoring ever so gently. Ranboo ran his fingers through Tubbo’s hair. “Goodnight, Bug, I love you.” And he too closed his eyes.
*
“Ranboo!”
“Aimsey!”
The tallest and shortest of the group ran to each other and hugged. Ranboo picked Aimsey up and spun her around, making them both laugh. When he set her down, he patted her head, “How is my favorite person?”
Aimsey chuckled, “I’m doing great! How’s my favorite person?”
“I’m great!” Ranboo adjusted his mask before putting an arm around her shoulder as they turned to Serena and Tubbo who were talking about Animal Crossing towns.
“Toby’s dad should be here soon, want to go sit down?” Aimsey asked and Ranboo hummed, sitting on an edge that held a railing, while Tubbo and Serena took a spot on their ledge. Tubbo’s dad ended up with Ranboo and Aimsey. They would be posting on Twitter without a doubt a bunch throughout this shoot.
*
Back at Tubbo’s house, Ranboo went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and Tubbo walked in hitting Ranboo’s arm with his head. Ranboo cooed at the brunette as the shorter yawned before flipping off the taller. Ranboo chuckled and wrapped his arm around Tubbo, while he finished cleaning his teeth.
“Are you ready for bed, Bug?”
“Mhm..” Tubbo mumbled, his hand grabbing Ranboo’s left wrist to make him play with the brown hair that has quickly grown out since they last saw each other. Tubbo must’ve brushed the numbers that were under the bracelet because he felt Ranboo shutter. Tubbo closed his eyes and Ranboo saw the action in the mirror, before he felt his bracelet come off. Tubbo brought Ranboo’s wrist to be in front of his face and Ranboo wanted to wince, or pull away or beg Tubbo not to open his eyes. But he was frozen in place.
Suddenly Tubbo pressed a sweet kiss to the mark, putting Ranboo’s hand back to his hair and opened his eyes, letting Ranboo put his sleeve down.
“I’ll always love you regardless of the numbers on your wrist.” Tubbo whispered, his eyes still closed as he leaned into his boyfriend.
“I’m glad, because I’ll always love you regardless of the numbers on your wrist.” Ranboo kissed Tubbo on the head, “and regardless of what’s on my wrist too.”
“Likewise Bossman.” Tubbo smiled and reached his hand up his sleeves to take his bracelet off and set it on the counter with Ranboo’s before turning to the dirty blonde and giving him puppy dog eyes.
Ranboo chuckled and picked Tubbo up to carry him to the loft and to bed.
Tubbo had fallen asleep on the spot and Ranboo glanced at the time, it was only 2am. Ranboo shrugged and got up from bed, grabbing headphones and walking out of his room- Rocky followed him closely. Ranboo opened the back door and laid down, Rocky curled into him.
He laid motionless on the damp pavement, drowning in the bittersweet scent of stale rain and stardust, watching the white lights kiss the dark sky in light. Enough light to almost make up for the loss of the moon.
Maybe the moon was gone because she too had felt the guilt in the heart of the dirty blonde, and knew she was needed elsewhere.
The dirty blonde needed the darkness to lose himself in, so he could be pulled back into the light down the road, many stars from now.
The air was cold, kissing his bare arms in goosebumps while his t-shirt and plaid pajama pants soaked up the rainwater under him, his hair too was soaking water as his arms lay still on his chest. They were folded over his phone that was gently playing music.
Music he would be shunned for listening to - the shunner would explain the songs were making him feel worse, but he was here to dive into the darkness.
He was the sun, dwindling down to ash and dust, burning out, knowing it would take everyone else a gap of time before they knew he was out, maybe he could even reignite before anyone noticed.
Not yet though.
For now, the sounds of crickets were enough.
“You weren’t in bed.” Ranboo heard and lifted Rocky up while the speaker laid next to Ranboo, allowing Rocky to be set on their chest.
“Yeah I was getting some fresh air, sorry if I worried you.” Ranboo let out a sigh.
“Want to go back inside and watch a movie? I’ll cuddle with you.”
Ranboo chuckled, “I never thought I’d see the day you offered to cuddle, Bug. Am I finally breaking your anti-physical affection walls?”
“Never.” Tubbo said with a smile. “Let’s go.” Tubbo stood up and offered a hand, Rocky being in his right arm. Ranboo connected his hand to Tubbo’s getting up and keeping their hands together.
Ranboo led them into their room, covering them both and putting on South Park for Tubbo, knowing they’d both fall asleep.
Tubbo curled into his side, kinda like how the cat was curled into them. Tubbo squeezed his hand and Ranboo squeezed back, resting his cheek on the top of Tubbo’s head, keeping the brunette close.
“The fireflies were pretty tonight, they reminded me of you in a way.” Ranboo spoke softly.
“How’s that?”
“They serve as a soft light in my darkness, guiding me away from falling into the void.”
“You sappy idiot…” Tubbo started before looking up at Ranboo, “I love you too.”
Ranboo pressed a kiss to Tubbo’s head, humming. “Get some sleep, baby.”
Tubbo nodded and nuzzled into the dirty blonde yawning and letting his eyes close.
*
“I’ll be back soon, okay?” Ranboo said as the musty airport surrounded them. He always hated this damned place.
“I know. And it’ll be to live.” Tubbo hugged Ranboo tightly. “I wish I could kiss you, Boo.”
“I wish I could kiss you one more time too, Bug.” Ranboo hummed. “You should probably pull your hood up, baby.”
“You said my neck was fine.” Tubbo’s voice grew stern, “I have a stream.”
Ranboo chuckled, “I may have lied.” They parted from their hug and Ranboo put Tubbo’s hood up and pat his head.
“You’re a dickhead.” Tubbo crossed his arms over his chest. Ranboo closed his eyes as one someone who was taking pictures of them accidentally used a flash. Tubbo instantly reached out and hugged him again. “You’re okay, Boo.”
Ranboo wrapped his arms around Tubbo tightly, “I don’t want to leave you.”
“I know you don’t, I know this is hard on you, Boo. But you’ll be okay.” Tubbo promised, “I have something to make this easier on you.”
“What?” Ranboo asked and pulled back just a little, hearing a catcall and looking towards the caller seeing Aimsey. “Wait- you got Aimsey here?”
Tubbo smiled, “go on, big guy.”
Ranboo hugged Tubbo once more before running to Aimsey and hugging her. They could feel the cameras on them but it wasn’t the same weight as Tubbo and Ranboo.
Aimsey was like an older sister. One Ranboo would do anything to protect.
“I thought you couldn’t come?”
Aimsey laughed, “Tubbo called some people- oh your sleeve.”
Aimsey looked down at Ranboo’s pushed up sleeve from the run and hug. Aimsey’s smile faded when she saw the bracelet had moved and she could see his wrist. “Ranboo.. my sweet, dear Ranboo.” Aimsey tugged his sleeve down. “What the fuck is that?”
Ranboo chuckled nervously, “it’s been like that since late June, Aims and I think it’s best we drop it and I go get on that plane happily, okay? Okay.”
“We all know you never happily get onto any plane. You’re too cramped and too close to other people. Tell me what the fuck that is.”
Flight 909 to Seattle, California. Now boarding.
Ranboo hugged her, kissed her head and went back over to Tubbo, grabbing his backpack and holding it up to block them from the fan who was taking pictures to kiss him before grabbing his other luggage and leaving.
He looked back once, and once was enough this time.
*
3rd UK visit. Ranboo’s Visa approved. He is now home.
Ranboo couldn’t wait to see Tubbo. He had a shit ton of things to do before he could but soon he was at their house and Tubbo was-
Well…
He was far too drunk, far too upset, far too gone for Ranboo’s liking. This is not how Ranboo wanted to be greeted after flying for 15 hours to a different country to live, only to have to get straight off the plane and go to 4 business meetings making him go well over 24 hours without sleep, proper food or rest. So here he was, at the new place with his boyfriend shit faced and Tommy babysitting him while Amanda said Tubbo had started drinking not too long ago but apparently wine had turned into vodka, and glasses turned into bottles. Ranboo rubbed the bridge of his nose and brought everything to his office, staring at the bed in there and sighing. He made his way to the bathroom where Tommy was rubbing Tubbo’s back and Ranboo made Tommy leave, taking his place.
“Oh hey Boo!” Tubbo smiled and Ranboo offered a smile back, hoping he could fake a genuine looking smile.
“Hey Toby , let’s get you cleaned up and in bed alright?”
“Are you staying with me?” Tubbo asked.
“I’ll join you later on, it’s the 26th, I have to stream.”
“M’kay bossman..” Tubbo mumbled and leaned back into Ranboo.
Ranboo helped Tubbo get cleaned up and carried him to the room they would be staying in, it had Tubbo’s setup in it and would be used as his office. Tommy and Amanda’s room held a setup for Tommy as well and Amanda had a setup in another room across the hall from it with a bed in there as well. Each room had a bed in it in case of late night streaming without a partner in the room trying to sleep. Each room was soundproof.
Ranboo made his way to his room and started a stream. It was Ranboo day and he owed it to everyone, despite how tired he was. He even did face cam!
Tommy walked into Ranboo’s office and saw the dirty blonde with his head resting on his arms on his desk. Chat welcomed Tommy and said they were glad they managed to get his attention. They had been watching Ranboo sleep for the last half an hour.
Tommy shook Ranboo awake and Ranboo jumped a bit, “oh hey, Toms.” Ranboo’s voice was deep and gravely.
“Hey, Boo.” Tommy’s tone was soft and chat was living for how soft he was being. “We’ve gotta get you to bed, alright?” Tommy wrapped an arm around Ranboo and got him to his feet, “want to go across the hall?”
“No.. he’s drunk. It made me sad. I’ll stay here.” Ranboo said, leaning his head on Tommy. “Go back to your room.. it’s late.”
Tommy sighed and reached over, ending the stream. He brought Ranboo to the bed and tucked him in. “Get some sleep, alright?”
“Okay..” Ranboo whispered, his eyes already shut. “G’night.”
“Good night, Boo.” Tommy smiled and left the room.
Dickhead > Tubs. You hurt him. Fix it.
Tommy shut his phone off and went back to his room with Amanda and went to sleep.
*
Ranboo woke up to the sun in his eyes and decided to check his phone. It was the 28th of the month. Sick.
Wait-
Ranboo sat up and looked around the room he was in. What the fuck?
Ranboo FaceTimed Aimsey instantly.
“Aimsey..” Ranboo said, he looked lost .
“Ranboo! Are you okay!? We’ve all been worried sick.”
Why was his throat so dry? Oh yeah, he had been sleeping for over 24 hours.
“Yeah, I’m.. fine. Why?”
“You passed out on stream, man.” Aimsey said, “Twitter was trying to get Tubbo’s attention but eventually got Tommy’s. Everyone was worried sick.”
“I’m fine..” Ranboo let out a breath, “I’m fine. Really.”
“You’ve been out for a long time, Ranboo. Call one of your housemates, they can’t hear you’re awake right now if your door is shut all the way.”
Ranboo nodded, “thank you. We will talk later, okay?”
“Of course, Ranboo.”
Ranboo ended the call and texted Tubbo.
Bug > I’m awake. Can you bring water?
Tubbo walked into his room moments later and handed him the glass of water, taking a seat next to Ranboo and hugging him. “We were worried.”
“I just overwhelmed myself, I’ll try not to let it happen again.” Ranboo promised, drinking the water glass, “though please tell me that Tommy has made food today because I could use some of his cooking right now.”
Tubbo chuckled and accepted a kiss on his head, “he was starting it once I said you woke up. Are you feeling better?”
“Are you?” Ranboo asked. “You weren’t very happy when I came home, Bug.”
“It’s nothing.” Tubbo looked away and Ranboo raised a brow.
“It’s something.”
“Let’s just go eat, okay?” Tubbo asked and got up. “I’m sure Tommy is more than excited to be making you food right now.” Tubbo shot Ranboo a look the dirty blonde had yet to see.
It was unusual and he didn’t know what it meant.
Ranboo followed him out and sat down with Tommy and Amanda pretending it didn’t hurt when Tubbo grabbed a plate and went to go stream.
But it did hurt.
*
“Hey, have you seen Tubbo? I know he wanted to go do that podcast like an hour ago but I’m good to go now and he’s not here.” Ranboo asked Tommy and Amanda.
“I was editing when you were streaming, sorry Boo Boy.”
“Wait, a podcast?” Amanda asked, “actually yeah, he went to one. Why?”
Ranboo sighed and grabbed his keys off the counter, “he took the train right?”
“Yup!” Amanda said and Ranboo left the house.
“Why was he so upset?” Amanda asked Tommy.
“Because, Tubbo never told you he had been asked to go to the Logan Paul podcast, like the one I had been asked to go to all that time ago.” Tommy frowned, “I told Logan not to call Tubbo over till Ranboo was available. Obviously Tubbo didn’t know that but Logan didn’t seem to want to respect me. So he can deal with Ranboo.”
“What do you mean by dealing with him? No offense but Ranboo is the nicest man I know and one of the most gentle.”
Tommy chuckled, “unless people he cares about are hurt, especially Tubbo.”
“Oh wait, you told me about him almost fighting someone the first night he came here.”
“Yup, and he’ll kick some ass too.” Tommy resumed their show.
-
“Bug, go grab your things please.” Ranboo smiled sweetly to Tubbo who got up from the table and shuffled away, he looked less uncomfortable with Ranboo there.
Ranboo walked over to the table and his eyes found Logan Paul. “I believe TommyInnit told you not to have Tubbo anywhere near your little show without me present. Yet you’ve gone against that.” Ranboo slammed his hands down on the table looking down on Logan, “You do not want to see me pissed off, Logan, because I know just how much of a piece of shit you are and I am not afraid to take matters into my own hands.”
Logan nodded slowly, “right. Yup. Won’t happen again.”
Ranboo patted his shoulder, “good, I knew we would find an agreement. Have a wonderful day gentlemen!” Ranboo strode off to find Tubbo and instantly took him into a hug.
“I know you said to only go when you weren’t busy but I didn’t think he would be so weird ..” Tubbo hugged Ranboo back and Ranboo rubbed Tubbo’s back. “Are you mad at me?”
“Of course I’m not mad at you, baby, I love you. I was just scared for you because that group of people in there are not good people.”
“Can we go home please?” Tubbo asked and Ranboo lowered his mask, taking Tubbo into a kiss.
“Of course.” Ranboo smiled and pulled his mask back up, “Go get into the car for me, I dropped my phone coming in.”
“Okay!” Tubbo kissed his cheek and left the building. Ranboo walked over to the doorway and grabbed the camera out of some random dude's hand.
“Oh this camera is really expensive.” Ranboo pointed out, “I think it’s rude to take videos and pictures of people who didn’t give you permission to on such a nice camera.”
“And why the hell is that?” The guy asked, trying to grab it back, but Ranboo moved it away from him.
“Because accidents can happen.” Ranboo said and the camera fell from his hand, breaking on the floor. “Oh and the SD card is no longer in the camera, so the video and pictures are gone now.” Ranboo smiled sweetly. “Have a great day!” He showed off the SD card he took before leaving.
Ranboo got into the car and set the card down, sighing and pulling out of the parking lot.
“Where’d that come from?”
“Someone was taking pictures and videos of me without my mask on and us kissing.” Ranboo interlocked his fingers with Tubbo’s. “So I took the SD card- want to stop for food?”
Tubbo chuckled, “sure bossman.”
*
Ranboo was found by Tommy crying in the backyard, listening to When by Dodie. It had been weeks since the Logan incident and Tubbo was still being weird. He was still acting like something was wrong but Ranboo didn’t deserve to know.
“He doesn’t love me anymore, Tommy. It's the only explanation.”
“How?”
“That or I did something wrong.. or he’s finally sick of me like I said he would be!”
Am I the only one
Wishing life away?
Never caught up in the moment
Busy begging the past to stay
Memories painted with much brighter ink
They tell me I loved, teach me how to think
“You’re not 17 anymore! You don’t get to blame your breakdown on childish emotions anymore, Ranboo!” Tommy yelled, “You don’t get to pretend that there is nothing wrong and that this is nothing! We both know what we know!”
“I know that I love him!”
“And does he love you?” Tommy asked and Ranboo crossed his arms over his chest.
I'll take what I can get
'Cause I'm too damp for a spark
Kissing sickly sweet guys
'Cause they say they like my eyes
But I'd only ever see them in the dark
“We’re dating. So I’d assume so, considering he does say it to me all the time.”
“And his timer?” Tommy asked and this made Ranboo lose words.
I'm sick of faking diary entries
Got to get it in my head
“The timer doesn’t mean love, Tommy. Him and I have both always known that.” Ranboo looked away from Tommy.
“Then why are you guys struggling? Why is he only giving you 50%. You can’t make up for that loss of 50, Ranboo. You keep trying but it’s hurting you.”
“It’s only been like that since I came back. Something had to have changed, he just won’t tell me what the fuck is wrong.” Ranboo put his hands in his head and Tommy rubbed his shoulder.
They would stay like that for a while.
I'll never be 16 again
I'm waiting to live, and waiting to love
Oh, it'll be over, and I'll still be asking when
*
“Let’s go outside.” Ranboo said, “it’s sprinkling but we can dance.”
Tubbo smiled and got up from his chair, taking Ranboo’s hand and allowing himself to be led outside.
Ranboo placed his hands on Tubbo’s waist after turning some music on his phone and putting it into his pocket to keep it from getting too wet. Tubbo wrapped his arms around Ranboo’s neck and they both started swaying.
“What prompted you to want to dance tonight?” Tubbo asked as Ranboo pressed their foreheads together.
“We haven’t danced in a while, Bug. I missed it. And I missed you.”
Tubbo sighed, “yeah we haven’t really had a lot of time together in a few weeks now.”
Ranboo kissed Tubbo’s nose, “it’s alright, we’re together now.”
Tubbo looked uneasy at the kiss, they hadn’t shared a kiss since the Logan Paul incident. Holy hell it’s been a while.
“Let’s go inside Bug, yeah?” Ranboo asked and Tubbo reached into his pocket to shut the music off before he nodded and was picked up and brought to Ranboo’s room as their lips finally connected.
Ranboo could taste the sulfur on uneasy lips as a white-hot touch trailed behind roaming hands. He could hear the shake in the gasps of air, and feel the tightness of lungs as they moved through the room.
The mattress felt foreign, just like the neck kisses and the light emitting from a monitor that had a paused Minecraft and a closed OBS as Ranboo had never gotten far enough to open the streaming software.
The night was spent with something so familiar that felt so foreign it was uncanny.
It was the spark against the gunpowder. It was the flame of their love and by the time Ranboo woke up, the flame was still warm between the two as they were tucked neatly together like puzzle pieces of soulmates.
*
“I have to stream today.” Ranboo said, “if either one of you boys is joining me announce it on Twitter,” Ranboo stood up and stretched, “I’m running to the store.”
“You feeling okay Ranboo?” Amanda asked suddenly.
“Yeah, why?” This for both Tubbo and Tommy to look up from their phones and look at the dirty blonde.
“You’ve been red in the face since you woke up, and it gets worse when you look at Tubbo.”
Tommy snorted instantly and Tubbo covered his face with his hands. Ranboo chuckled, “yeah, Am, I’m great. Tubbo just brings back memories, that’s all.” Ranboo winked and Tubbo flipped him off.
“I have to go, so when you figure it out Amanda let me know.” Ranboo chuckled and kissed Tubbo on the head before leaving.
Amanda just shook her head and went back to her setup.
“It seems like you guys are better.” Tommy said and Tubbo dropped his hands.
“I’m not an idiot, Tommy.” Tubbo sighed, “he can be as romantic as he wants, it doesn’t change the facts.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t want to lose my trust in you guys but I know better than to be naive when I see his numbers on your wrist.” Tubbo said and Tommy gasped.
“Tubs it’s not..”
“Tommy. Don’t.” Tubbo moved away from him on the couch, “Does anyone even know? Did you tell Wilbur!?”
“No, no one else knows but us.” Tommy admitted, “Not Wilbur, not Amanda, not anyone.”
Tubbo nodded, “of course you guys decided to keep it from the rest of us. Why wouldn’t you tell us? Would that have been too easy?”
“No, Toby. We didn’t tell anyone because we don’t have those feelings for each other, we never have and we never will. We didn’t want it to be taken the wrong way. Just don’t be mad at him. You can be as mad at me as you want but Tubbo, don’t be mad at him. It was my idea to keep it a secret.”
Tubbo laughed and stood up, “I’m mad at you both. I bloody hate you, Tommy! You’re supposed to be my goddamn best friend! And he’s my fucking boyfriend!”
Tubbo stormed off to Ranboo’s room and posted on Twitter that he would be joining the stream.
Ranboo got back and they started the stream but the atmosphere was.. off.
Ranboo muted for a second. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. Why?” Tubbo looked like he was going to break the arm of his chair from how hard he was gripping it.
“Bug, what’s wrong?” Ranboo’s voice grew soft.
“Don’t do that shit right now. Just don’t.” Tubbo spoke angrily and Ranboo flinched a bit but nodded.
“Okay.. sorry, Toby.” Ranboo unmuted. He didn’t look well anymore.
“Ranboo..” Tubbo said softly, “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Ranboo tossed a smile on his face, “so we were on this media share of the dog.” Ranboo resumed the clip but Tubbo paused it and muted them.
“Ranboo.”
“Toby.”
Tubbo sighed, “I didn’t mean to upset you. Tommy just got on my nerves earlier.”
“I said it was fine, I’m used to it by now anyway.” Ranboo gave him a tired expression, “this is nothing new from you, Tubbo.”
“What?”
“Things are different this time, it feels. I came here to live with you and Tommy and Amanda but I feel like you’re just not happy with me. Last summer things were great. And when I came in January they were great as well. So what happened?” Ranboo had a saddened expression on his face, he just wanted to live happily with his boyfriend.
“I found out the damn truth!” Tubbo snapped and Ranboo flinched.
“What are you talking about?” Ranboo asked, pure confusion filling his features.
“My timer hit zero when you got to the UK, Ranboo.” Tubbo said and Ranboo smiled.
“That’s great! Mine went to zero as well!”
“So did Tommy’s.” Tubbo said and Ranboo’s smile fell. “But you knew that since day one. You guys knew that for some reason you’re Tommy’s soulmate, and you’re also mine.”
“Well yes but we laughed it off and said that we could stay friends because we had and have no intention of ever being more than platonic. Platonic soulmates can exist. People can choose to stay friends.”
“But aren’t you at least a little curious?”
“About what?”
“Who’s actually your soulmate?” Ranboo furrowed his brows at the question. Just because he met them at the same time doesn’t mean that it wasn’t Tubbo. It could just be a platonic thing between him and Tommy anyway.
“No. I’m not. Because I know that I love you and that I want to be with you forever, Tubbo. So if that’s out of the picture for you then let me know so I can be prepared for the future.” Tubbo stayed silent and Ranboo sighed and ended the stream. “I’m going out. I get that I messed up when I kept that secret from you, but I didn’t think it was that bad when I’ve always known that you were my soulmate. And if I’m not your soulmate then that’s fine. Just tell me when I get home so I can at least enjoy this Ranboo day without being dumped.” Ranboo left the room and stormed out of the house.
“Hey mate, come in.”
“Thank you.” Ranboo said softly and walked past the man at the door and set a drawstring bag down holding a few clothes, a laptop and chargers for the laptop and his phone. “I’m sorry for the late call and everything.”
“It’s fine, really. Toms called and filled me in after you got off the phone with him. I’m just glad you came here and didn’t run off and get hurt or lost.”
“Thank you for having me at the last minute. Tubbo and I just need to talk before I go home, I think.”
“That would probably be for the best.”
Ranboo sighed, “thank you again, Wilbur.”
“Go get some rest, Ranboo. Techno will be just in the room next to yours and I’ll be down the hall, okay?”
Ranboo nodded and grabbed his bag heading to the spare room. He slept pretty easy that night.
*
“Tom told me everything.” Amanda said and sat down next to Tubbo on his bed. “It’s been two days since he left, you should call him.”
“He doesn’t want to talk to me, Amanda. He probably hates me because I overreacted. He and Tommy were right too, it wasn’t a big deal because you and Tommy are meant to be and so are me and Ranboo. I just don’t know why I got so upset.”
Amanda put a hand on his shoulder, “he’s at Tom’s brother’s house. I’ll drive you there.”
Tubbo smiled a bit and nodded.
*
“Great, see you then!” Wilbur said and ended the phone call he was on before setting food down for Ranboo and Techno who both left their rooms after just waking up at noon.
“You guys need to start eating breakfast in the morning, not at almost 1pm.” Wilbur glared and Ranboo shrugged while Techno rolled his eyes. “You guys just don’t care, do you?”
“Not at all.” They both said at the same time then laughed about it while Wilbur groaned.
“I live with two of the same people. This is hell.” Wilbur sighed.
“You love us.” Techno smiled, “I was literally going to go live with Phil but you got mad at me. And Ranboo was also going to go to Phil and you also got mad and had him come here.”
Wilbur glared, “I fucking hate you, you cunt.”
Techno and Ranboo both blew him a kiss as he started leaving the kitchen.
“Oh and boys, please get cleaned up and dressed into decent clothes. We have a guest coming over who is not Phil or Kristen.” Wilbur left and they both spent the rest of ‘breakfast’ trying to figure out who was coming over.
*
“Welcome, Toby.” Wilbur smiled, “he’s down the hall to the left.”
“Oh hey Tubbo.” Techno smiled, peaking around Wilbur. Wilbur moved them so his chin was resting on Techno’s shoulder. “He’ll be happy to see you, he hasn’t shut up about how much he’s missed you.”
“Really?” Tubbo asked, clearly surprised.
“Of course, he loves you.” Wilbur smiled.
Tubbo went down the hall to Ranboo’s room and walked in earning a gasp.
“You think they’ll be okay?” Techno asked, playing with Wilbur’s hair.
“George and I were fine. And we were much worse. They’ll be just fine.” Wilbur assured. “Speaking of which, he’s coming over later.”
“Gross. I’m going to Phil’s.” Techno said, “I’m not listening to you guys.”
Wilbur chuckled, “alright alright, that’s fair. But Tommy’s over there.”
Techno hesitated, “uhm.. whatever. He’s better than you and George sucking each other’s faces off.”
Wilbur chuckled, “I’ll go call him now then while you call dad.”
Techno nodded and they both went to their rooms.
Ranboo opened his arms and Tubbo stepped forward into the hug, hugging Ranboo back. Ranboo was sitting on the bed and Tubbo was standing between his legs.
“I missed you.” Ranboo whispered.
“I missed you too, Boo.”
“I’m glad we’re okay. Because I would absolutely love to marry you one day.” Ranboo’s voice was endearing and Tubbo softened at the words, humming.
“Can we go home and cuddle please?” Tubbo asked and Ranboo knew they would be okay. Because he and Tubbo would get married one day. They could have their fairytale ending to everything as soulmates should have.
They were the frickin Beeduo for fucks sake. They were bound to be forever.