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Ranboo is a stupid fucking idiot.
Tommy grits his teeth together as he steps into the platform. He has been calling him since he left his house, but the goddamn American won’t pick up. He’s not having a fine afternoon, desperately trying to still the erratic pulse in his veins. It’s grating beneath his skin, the level of absurdity and frustration he felt at the moment towards Ranboo.
“Pick up you fucking bastard…” He mutters beneath bated breath.
But it’s hopeless as he doesn’t answer for the twelfth time. Tommy is almost tempted to chuck his phone across the other side of the platform and cry.
This is all Ranboo’s fault.
Well, Ranboo didn’t do anything and it stings the shit out of him.
It physically hurts just lamenting over how much he waited for him to call or say anything. Because Tommy didn’t risk himself dropping all these hints and flirting with him right in front of their friends and fans just to get nothing out of it.
He’s not fucking blind and he also isn’t stupid. There’s something going on between them these past few weeks, from the lingering hugs and touches down to the stolen glances and flattery. He knew something had changed, he knew feelings had developed and he knew he had to go after what he wants because that’s just something he should do.
Tommy had it planned out.
All the compliments, the flirting and the unnecessary mention of Ranboo, were intentional and at the same time, all these things came up naturally. He cannot stop gushing and admiring the American even if he fucking tries. So what better way than to put it out there in the open? Have him confused and flustered and everything in between because yes, Tommy is acting strange and awfully not himself.
And he is willing to answer why in a single heartbeat. If Ranboo would just give him the signal.
But fucking Ranboo doesn’t question, doesn’t act and doesn’t call, not even a message, not wondering what has gotten into him. And Tommy has every reason to believe that Ranboo noticed, there’s no fucking way he didn’t, which brings him to his current state of devastation.
Ranboo is ignoring his advances—ignoring him.
So now, he’s making his way to Tubbo’s house to confront him about it. Because Tommy wouldn’t have it. He’d rather get flat out rejected than be left hanging. As sad as it sounds, rejection is something he’s already familiar with. What he couldn’t handle are the unanswered questions taunting him, he can’t keep mulling over them overnight until he loses sleep and appetite. This is more for him than anything else. He needed answers before he loses his fucking mind.
Tommy arrives at his stop twenty minutes later and his heart hasn’t calmed down, still. Everything about him is on high alert more than ever, blood boiling and threatening to burst at the seams. It was probably affecting his head because he felt nauseous navigating his way to get to Tubbo’s house. So, upon arrival, he felt like his knees were going to buck and give out on their own as he knocked on the front door. Needless to say, Mr. Smith is more than surprised to see him, he was supposed to arrive tomorrow, but he can’t wait another day.
It has to be now.
The exchange is quick and before he knows it, his feet takes him to the extension where he expects him to be.
“Ranboo?” He called out as he climbed down the short flight of stairs.
At the end of the hallway, he already has the full view of the area. But there are no signs of the tall American anywhere.
He swears to fucking god, if Ranboo went out somewhere, he’s gonna lose it…
“Tommy? What are you doing here? Isn’t the thing not until tomorrow?”
“Where’s Ranboo?”
His sense of urgency must have translated well with Tubbo, because the brunet didn't question him any further when he answered. “Upstairs. My old room. He’s setting up something for his stream tomorrow.”
Tommy didn’t waste any more time. He rushed, taking the stairs in two’s until he reached Tubbo’s old bedroom. He didn’t even bother knocking. He just yanked the door open, startling the only person in the room from his crouched position on the floor.
“Tommy?”
Ranboo scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion before standing up from the floor, not fully expecting him to cross the small distance between them so fast.
He barely had time to react or say a word before he was yanked down by the collar of his shirt. Another pair of lips smashes against his, kissing him hard. A noise catches and vanishes somewhere in Ranboo’s throat while Tommy melts.
Tommy melts at the softness of the other boy’s lips, at the air he breathes and at the warmth he radiated. Somewhere along craning his neck to kiss him better, the fists that balled on the fabric of his shirt eventually loosened, laying flatly to catch the presence of Ranboo’s heartbeat beneath his fingertips.
They were on the same page. Nothing could explain how anxious yet exhilarating this moment feels because he’s kissing him! He’s finally kissing him!
Yet, the sense of dread and insecurity still weighed heavy as Tommy pulled away with a soft smack of their parted lips.
Ranboo’s cheeks glowed red prettily. If it were any other day, he’d admire him without abandon and wonder if touching the skin would make it heat up much deeper, but Tommy had several things to say.
He starts with a slap on Ranboo’s chest.
“Ow!”
“You’re a fucking dumbass. How are you this dense and stupid?” He scowled angrily as if his lips didn’t tingle with sensation and butterflies didn’t actively flutter in his stomach.
Ranboo blinked back, slightly dazed.
“Uh, wha—“
“I like you and you’re being fucking annoying! Do you wanna know why I was freaking out about college on your stream last night?” Tommy paused only to take a deep breath.
“It’s because you’re heading back to America in less than three months and I won’t be able to spend more time with you! And I—fuck, I’m so upset right now. This is unfair.”
He knows how quick a minute passes, an hour is barely a blink and he spends so much more days apart from the American than they’re in the same space, able to touch and see each other. It breaks a piece of his heart a little, just the thought of how fucking quick November would come.
Large hands, firm and grounding clasped on his shoulders. Tommy bit his lip to stop it from wobbling, he knew he was treading the verge of collapse and either it’s Ranboo’s soft, imploring gaze that would get him or the time continuing to move forward, just ticking away on the wall clock behind the American’s shoulder.
“We’re still—We’re still gonna hang out.” Ranboo spoke to him in an equally soft tone.
He’s going to cry. He could feel the corners of his eyes going warm and wet with tears.
“I know that but answer this fast. I don't even care anymore. Do you like me back or not?”
“Tommy…” The hand on his shoulder moves to cup his cheek, Ranboo could almost cover half of his face, he has never felt much smaller until this moment. “Of course I do. You know I do. I just haven’t done anything about it because I'm a coward… I don’t want to misread the situation and—“
Another kiss.
Tommy interrupts his stupid mouth with another kiss to salvage him from ever finishing that sentence. It’s much shorter but he gets the point across just the same.
“You’re not misreading the situation. I’m just… Ranboo, what do I do? Should I still continue college?” This question continues to haunt him, it’s there to stay until he does something about it.
“Tommy, that’s not a decision I can make for you,” Ranboo said to him in a way that isn’t too grating or judgmental in his ears. “As thrilled I am with this development, I don’t want to be the reason that you quit now.”
After his small freak out episode in Ranboo’s stream, he stopped thinking logically. He was actually considering dropping out and realizing that he’d be spending less time with the American is just the nail in the coffin. Still, Ranboo remains faithful to flawless logic and reasoning, Tommy needed to hear that coming from him.
He heeds with a drop of his head.
“You’re right… It’s just, it’s just so unfair.” It was all just complaints about the circumstances. He’s acting like a petulant, sulking child right now.
“My offer still stands though.” Ranboo spoke after a while, sounding hopeful. It grabs Tommy’s curiosity and attention.
“What?”
“To pick you up from your class.”
His chest swells with warmth and a sweet ache at the wholehearted offer, but more importantly, at the brilliant smile on Ranboo’s face.
“You would do that for me?”
“I would do a lot of things for you. I literally agreed to be stranded with you in the middle of the ocean. What do you mean?” Ranboo exclaimed.
Tommy crosses his arms over his chest, feeling rather chided as he glares at him.
“Don’t be a smartass. You hid behind a pole when we got mobbed. How would I know you won’t do that to me again?”
“Okay, listen. That was different. Being mobbed by children is different from being recognized by college students. I can handle it.”
Somehow, he doubts that. But he isn’t really mad at him—no. He’s actually so fucking giddy, trying to push down these feelings from plastering a goofy grin on his face. The atmosphere is currently light and airy around them. Ranboo needed a taste of his own medicine.
He schooled his expression to remain annoyed.
“Fuck your excuses. I’m heading back home.”
“No, no, no, no.” Ranboo quickly steps over to block his exit in panic, hands on his shoulders to prevent him from making another step. “You can’t just leave. You just got here.”
The fluttering feelings are resurfacing.
He hovers closely again, humming in thought, eyes never leaving Ranboo’s parted lips when he silently gasps. Tommy felt his breath, hot and heavy against him before he boosted himself on his tiptoes, kissing him for the third time.
His intentions weren’t pure, however. Tommy didn’t just want to kiss him, but it’s an effective way to distract the American. Ranboo already had his eyes shut closed, grasping him on his hips to pull him close.
Just a few more seconds of indulgence of the light prodding of their tongues, before Tommy abruptly pulls back, pushing Ranboo away as hard as he could, enough to make him stumble, before making his escape. The shock would buy him a bit of time to sprint.
Tommy heard another pair of footsteps coming after him and he didn't look back. Ranboo’s taller and would definitely catch up to him effortlessly. But he keeps on running, marveling at the adrenaline rush in his veins as he makes it outside.
That is—until, arms snaked around his waist from behind, pulling him back until his feet no longer touched the ground.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Tommy feels Ranboo’s chest rumble on his back when he spoke, the grip on him rather strong that struggling would be pointless.
“Now you know what it’s like to chase after someone you like.” He meant to say it as a joke, but they both hear it, the hurt still evident in his tone.
At some point, Ranboo has taken them back inside. No one even questions why the American is carrying him back upstairs like some toy plushie, it’s hardly romantic, but he’ll take what he can get.
Ranboo only puts him back down when they’re both sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I’m really sorry. I just—I suck in general. I thought it would be easier to not say anything and things would continue being normal… I was scared of taking a risk. I-I thought I’d rather have you as a friend than nothing at all.”
It’s such a masochist way of going about with things. Tommy can’t even be mad at him for that, he’s aware that Ranboo is pretty rough around the edges, especially with how very hard he is on himself with his own insecurities.
Tommy would like to change that. Eventually, he’d like to keep reminding him how Ranboo captured his heart, effortlessly and seamlessly.
Holding his hand is a good place to start, he thinks.
“Aren’t you glad I came here to see you then?”
Ranboo’s smile is golden as he squeezed his hand back softly. “Glad is an understatement. I’ve never been happier.”