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Ranboo bounced on his heels as he waited. He thought the voice call was going to end by the time Tubbo finally picked up.
He checked the time and did some quick math while Tubbo grumbled. It was 10 PM, so about 6 AM in the UK. He winced slightly but also couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face at Tubbo’s voice. If it could even be called that, he was pretty sure that whatever Tubbo had said, it wasn’t a word.
“I’m getting on the plane soon.”
“So then why are you calling me?” Tubbo complained.
Ranboo huffed. “Is it such a crime that I wanted to hear your voice?”
“Yes.”
Ranboo ignored that. “I know I’ll be seeing you soon, but…” He chewed his lip. He didn’t know why he called. He was about to get on a plane that would take him to see Tubbo, and then they wouldn’t have to rely on the late voice calls with each other.
“Sap.”
Ranboo spluttered. “I—you—” He took a deep breath. “I’m not on the plane yet, you know.”
“As if you wouldn’t come see me.”
He shifted from where he stood. “Fine, fine.”
He looked around. It was pretty late and there were a fair number of people around. Some were looking down at their phones or a book, others were on the phone like him calling someone, and still others seemed to stare into nothingness as they waited to board. He bounced on his heels again.
He felt like he had so much energy that he didn’t know what to do with. He’d called Tubbo on a whim, hoping he could hear his voice one last time before being able to see him. He’d forgotten it was so early there, but he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. It was like one last late night call.
“I can’t wait to see you,” he whispered. He felt like he couldn’t say it out loud. He didn’t know why. Nobody was listening, they were all focused on their own thing. Maybe the people who were not doing anything, but he doubted they had nothing better to do than listen to a teenager’s phone call.
Tubbo seemed to wake up a little bit more at that. “This is really happening, huh?” he whispered too.
“Yeah,” Ranboo breathed out. He opened his mouth to say more but stopped as it was announced they were going to start boarding for his plane. “I have to go. See you soon?”
“Yeah. The flight’s 10 hours, right?”
“Mmhm.”
“See ya then, bossman.” Tubbo ended the call and Ranboo stared at his phone for a bit.
This was finally it. Soon, he’d be going on the plane that would bring him to his best friend. To Tubbo.
- - -
Ranboo was grateful to be on solid ground the moment he stepped off of the plane. Once he was out of people’s ways, he allowed himself to stretch. Sitting on a plane for a little over 10 hours was not something he wanted to do ever again. Luckily, he wouldn’t have to for 4 months.
Oh God, he was going to be here for 4 months.
He didn’t let himself think about that for too long. He had to find Tubbo. He took his phone out, took it off airplane mode, and called Tubbo the moment he was connected to the wifi.
“Where are you??” Tubbo immediately asked as soon as he answered.
“Relax, I just got off the plane! I’m headed to the baggage area now. As soon as I can find it, anyway…” It took him a moment, but eventually he was able to find the arrows pointing towards the baggage claim and he made his way there.
“Hurry up!”
Ranboo chuckled, rolling his eyes. Still, he quickened his pace until the area came into view. He slowed a little then, eyes looking around wildly to try and find Tubbo. He felt his heart rate picking up when he didn’t see him, and then…
There.
His breath caught in his throat when he finally saw him. Tubbo seemed to notice him at the same time, and then he was wildly waving his arms and calling out to him, regardless of the way people were staring at him.
Ranboo couldn’t stop the laugh from bubbling out of him, or the wide grin that followed. No one could see it anyway, under the mask. He started to make his way over to Tubbo before changing his mind and pretending to walk away. He chuckled at Tubbo’s expression and eventually gave in, changing course to head back to him.
The moment they were in reach, Ranboo threw his arms around Tubbo and held him close. He didn’t even care if Tubbo kicked him, he’d been wanting to do this for ages.
Tubbo didn’t seem to mind from the way he did the same, hands fisting the back of Ranboo’s hoodie while Ranboo rested his head on Tubbo’s.
After a moment, he pulled back. His heart longed at him to stay in Tubbo’s arms, but he was tired and wanted to get out of the airport.
Tubbo smiled brightly up at him and all Ranboo could think was that he wanted to kiss him.
…Okay. He was going to ignore that. He must be more tired than he thought.
Tubbo linked their arms together as they walked to his mom’s car, chatting the whole way about everything they were going to do. Ranboo could do nothing but listen, hooked on his voice after finally being able to hear it clearly and without any lag or static.
When they got to Tubbo’s mom’s car, with his mom right next to it, Ranboo straightened and held his hand out for her to shake. She simply laughed and hugged him instead.
“It’ll be good to have you here, Tubbo’s been driving us nuts while he was waiting,” she said when she pulled back, smiling at him. Ranboo smiled a little nervously in return.
They got into the car then, Tubbo insisting that Ranboo go into the backseat with him. He relented, squeezing himself beside Tubbo. The brunet grabbed his hand and pointed at things around them with the other, asking if they were something they had in the US.
Ranboo went along with it, absentmindedly running his thumb over Tubbo’s hand where they were conjoined. He didn’t even realize he was doing it until Tubbo squeezed his hand and he looked down at it, pausing his thumb. He began to withdraw his hand, sure it was incredibly sweaty, but Tubbo only held tighter to it before flopping against his side.
“I’m glad you’re here.” He looked up at Ranboo, hair obscuring his vision slightly. Ranboo was reaching over and pushing it out of the way before he was even aware of his hand moving.
“Me too.”
They looked out the window then, neither of them saying anything, just relishing the fact that they were finally here. After what felt like a lifetime, they could finally see each other and hear each other and touch each other.
Ranboo wasn’t sure how he was going to survive this trip, to be honest, but he was thrilled for it all the same.