Teardrops On Pages And Cuddles In The Cold

Chapter 6

"Alright... it might feel a bit weird for a few, I'm not the best at cutting entirely black nails, so I might have cut them too close... but at least they can't dig in anymore?" Tubbo offers quietly, storing the nail clippers in the drawer again.

"I hate this..." Ranboo mutters, looking down at his claws- they looked more like human nails painted black now- and mourning their loss.

"I know Boo... but at least we're working through it? I'm sorry about your nails, but I couldn't just leave them as long as they were knowing what you do," Tubbo says gently, stepping in front of Ranboo to press their foreheads together, tangling his hands in the hair beside his beloved's ears.

"How hard is this going to be?" Ranboo asks, voice quiet and broken.

"I wish I could tell you... but I don't have the answers for this yet. We're gonna figure it out together."

When Ranboo doesn't respond, just closing his eyes and leaning more into Tubbo, he continues.

"And... just so you're 100% aware, I'm not judging you for anything, at all. I'm here to support you. You're safe with me, you can share whatever you want, I won't make any judgements."

"...promise...?" Ranboo mumbles out, voice hoarse. They haven't had enough of his special water recently, the only water that doesn't burn enderian skin, the only water Ranboo can drink.

Yet another issue for them to work through.

"Swear Boo... swear on my life."

"I love you..."

"Love you too Boo... always have, always will."

The words held true. Even before the two realized what they felt, they had always just clicked so incredibly well. Ranboo and Tubbo's humor had mixed like sugar and honey, the two quickly becoming dependent on each other, even as just friends. Now they were inseparable.

And though Ranboo was struggling, and Tubbo was doing his best to help, they both knew they'd make it out of this dark tunnel they'd driven into.

They had made it out of tunnels before.

They'd do it again.

And as for the child?

He knew his parents well.

He knew they could handle their things without him.

Even if he and his chicken might have tried to help a little by staying upbeat and happy for the next few months.

Or maybe Micheal was just a kid who didn't really care that much.

Either way, the Beloved family, though they struggled, lived happily.

Until they didn't.