Of Gifts And Courting (Tomboo)

food critic tommyinnit

// don't worry y'all will get ur allium duo soon for now tho, clingy duo//

Tommy made his way into las Nevada's, deciding to visit tubbo before he had to face Wilbur. He walked up to the building, seeing the sign 'Tubburger' he snorted at the shitty pun and walked inside. It was a cool place, fancier then the burger van probably would be- oh shit it has an aquarium!

Tubbo had been doing some idle shit, restocking supplies and cleaning a bit when he heard the door open and a ear piercing scream. Now tubbo has heard many screams in his years on this plane of existence and he knew that scream from anywhere.

He hurried himself out of kitchen and to the dining area to see tommy crowding close to the little aquarium cooing at the fish.
He felt himself smile, "Jeez I can never tell the difference between your excited screams and your fearful ones"

Tommy turned around and huffed out one of his signature laughs, bright and loud "heyyy tubso who are the fish??"

"Oh they don't really have names-"

"WHAT!? I cannot believe the fish don't have names you- I am suing- don't laugh!!!- you are getting a bad review!!"

"Well do you want to name them" he prompted and tommy nodded his head rapidly

"Fuck yeah I do! Okay-" he rushed back over to the glass, tubbo following with as he looked over the fish

"Uhhhhhhhh flounder"

"Basic"

"Shut up bitch- and delta"

"That one's better" he commented "did you come just to name the fish for did you actually want to eat big man?"

Tommy perked up "oh didn't you know tubbo I also have a new occupation" he boasted, chest puffed out "tommy the food critic they call me, best in the land"

Tubbo gasped, playing along "I didn't know I was in the presence of a professional food critic. I'll get you a burger right away sir!" He saluted and rushed to the kitchen with tommy exclaiming behind him "that's right make me a sandwich bitch!"

he stopped at the door the the kitchen, turning to point at tommy "I'll poison your food big man, don't test me no one will find your body"

Tubbo grinned as he ducked into the kitchen followed by the fading sounds of Tommy's cackling laughter and loud insults.
Some days tommy seemed erratic and anxious, other days he seemed distant, words slurred and eyes dim.. he was glad tommy seemed to be having a good day.

A few minutes past of tommy chatting to the fishes to fill up the silence of the restaurant and tubbo walked out of the kitchen with a bag.

"You should play some music or something in here" tommy commented, digging into the bag to get to his burger.

"Yeah, I thought it was to quiet in here" tubbo agreed, staring at tommy expectedly as he bit into his burger

Tommy looked at him "quit starin I'm not actually a food critic you know" he said, mouth full.

Tubbo scrunched up his face "don't chew with food in your mouth open prick and yeah I know your not a food critic but you are my friend and I value your opinion"

Tommy's face flushed, face contorting to a pout but his tail whipped behind him and tubbo knew it made him happy.
"Being sappy isn't gonna get you a better review dickhead" he mumbled trying to go on with the bit.
Tubbo decided to be merciful and followed the cue
"ah you caught me, I was trying to butter you up"

"Please do not butter me tubbo. The burger is tasty, people are gonna love it when you open up"

"Aww tommy!!"
Tubbos tail wagging behind him joyfully and he was staring at tommy with fondness
"I really wanna headbutt you can I?" He asked because Tommy's usual touch aversion, especially to any kind of pain.

Tommy thought about it and nodded, his ears were pressed to his head apprehensively but his tail kept wagging "yeah.. you can just- just try to be soft"

Tubbo bleated and tommy yelped a bit when he felt a slight pain on his shoulder, feeling more intense then it probably would anyone else.
Tubbo hugged him buring his face in Tommy's chest one hand rubbing soothingly at where he headbutted tommy.
Tommy's body was filled with a slight burning anywhere he was touched but he wanted this he wanted the affection. He chittered, holding tubbo just as tightly.

They stayed like that for a while, tommy not finding it in himself to he embarrassed at how he was purring.

All good things but end eventually tho as tubbo became restless and tommy could feel himself start to get overwhelmed. Tubbo removed himself from Tommy's chest and stepped back
"Man I wish we got all affectionate somewhere else instead of my work I just wanna hang with you now man"

Tommy smiled "well I mean it's not opened yet not like you got a busy day. I was planning on checking out Wilburs van but.. I wouldn't mind hanging out for a bit longer, maybe help around a bit"

Tubbos face broke our into a grin "oh really, wanna help me mop?"

Tommy's put his hands up "you're not even open yet why do you have so much busy work?- y'know what leave out that help out part" he said quickly

Tubbo laughed and tommy laughed and he sat down at one of the tables and tubbo set his mop aside and sat in front of him.
he told tubbo about his day, leaving out the bits about his nesting. Tubbo rambled about his plans for the restaurant and tommy was glad to see tubbo so passionate, he was so apathetic after lmanburg fall but he seemed happy with his new project, which was a hell of a lot healthier then his nuke project btw.

Tommy felt something settle within him for the moment, like a hard to reach itch being scratched and it felt kind of silly feeling so safe and happy in a burger establishment but no one was there to judge him and tubbo was there so.. can't really fault him.

He'll hold on to this, just for a bit longer. The day is still young he can deal with whatever is going on with Wilbur and ranboo later.