But if I'm not? {Tommyinnit au}

Untitled Part 14

After a long time, Ranboo looked up from the pussycat.

"Thank you," he said breathlessly. "Thank you so much, Tommy."

And before I knew what was happening, Ranboo had flown at me and embraced me in a fierce bear hug. It took me a second to regain my composure, but then I smiled and returned the friendly gesture.

When Ranboo let go of me, it was like his whole being glowed with pure happiness.
"I already know what to name it," he mumbled loud enough for both me and Tubbo to hear. "I'm naming him Jjjjjjjjeffery with 8 j's."

"No, you're not." Tubbo's voice had taken on a wavering undertone. "Eight j's would just make it silly."

"Yes, I am. And don't you know we're a bit silly here, in the 'Bench Trio'?" Ranboo emphasized the last three words.
"Tommy, please convince him not to name the poor cat Jjjjjjjjeffery with 8 j's."
"Well, it's not my cat anymore," I said with a shrug. I wasn't yet quite comfortable being in the line of fire for Tubbo and Ranboo's arguments. "But I like the name 'Bench Trio', sure."
"Bench Trio..." Tubbo mumbled, putting his hand over his face. "This just gets worse and worse..."
Ranboo smiled that crazy smile that I usually only saw Tubbo do.
"Welcome to your new world, then."

I laughed. All worries and worries were suddenly like a fading memory. "Tonight's gonna go wild, so you're lucky if it doesn't end with us burning the house down."

Tubbo looked startled for a moment, before slamming his hand on the floor. "Then primes, am I in!"

In the end we didn't burn the house down, although we played with matches several times.

Afterwards, I hardly remembered what exactly it was we did, because Alyssa and Ranboo's dad dad were out to dinner at some restaurant, and all I remembered was a series of different impressions, scenes of excited screaming and laughter, and flashing lights.

What I did remember, however, was that we had a piñata that we smashed, played different games (Tubbo tried to hack a few on Ranboo's computer), saw a movie while throwing popcorns at each other and ate cake.

And all the while, Ranboo kept Jjjjjjjjjeffery close to him, as if he was afraid that his cat would disappear if he didn't keep an eye on it.

It wasn't until after 11pm that Ranboo's parents arrived home, accompanied by Tubbo's mum, Mrs Puffy. Under wild protests on Tubbo's part ("Can't I stay at least another hour? What do you mean? Eight hours isn't enough!") he was taken out to their car. He waved me and Ranboo goodbye, and then the car drove away. Me and Ranboo were left alone in the doorway, watching for the red taillights slowly disappearing into the darkness.

I leaned on one leg. The silence between us wasn't awkward in that way, but I didn't really wanna to be the one to start the conversation, although it felt like I had to.

"Yeah," I said hesitantly. "I guess it's time for me to go home too."
"Aren't your parents coming to pick you up?" Ranboo asked surprised.
"No, I'm... going home myself," I said, almost a little confused. "That's...uh no problem for me."
"Okay," Ranboo replied, but he didn't look entirely convinced. "It's been great having you here tonight."
"Yeah, I really had fun." I smiled and looked up at his face. "It's almost like I don't want to leave."

Silence spread between us, and Ranboo frowned. I could see that he wanted to say something, but that he didn't know how to put it into words.

I didn't give him the chance either. I took my jacket and smiled a stiff smile at him.
"But it's probably not the time to chat like this, I really have to go. Bye!"
"Goodbye," Ranboo mumbled back in such a low voice that I hardly heard him.