'i don't have anywhere else to go.' - a sleepy boys inc story

Tommy wakes to a gentle hand on his shoulder, shaking softly. When he doesn't stir, it removes itself from his arm. He turns over slightly at the calmness, slipping back under the blanket of sleep before he's smacked back into the world of the conscious by a person jumping on him and bouncing on the dark grey couch cushions.

"Oof. WHATWASTHATAAAAHSTOPITWHOAREYOUIMSLEEPING-" He quiets as he blinks slowly and blearily, seeing the dark outline of Tubbo's face looking down at him. "It's- what time is it? It's still fucking dark outside."

"Tommy. Wake up. We're going to be late to pick up Ranboo."

"What- oh, fuckin' Ranboo, fuckin' Americans and their time zones. What's the time?"

"Not even that early, it's..." Tubbo fishes his phone out of his pocket, blue light illuminating his face. "4:27 am. C'mon, we've gotta be at the airport by quarter past five, come on, come on!" He walks out of the room after two last bounces. "Phil's driving us, he's already waiting in the car."

Tommy groans, tosses the many layers of blankets away, and heaves himself off the sofa to go get dressed and follow his friend.

---

They didn't end up being late at all, thanks to Phil's remarkably dad-like tendencies of waking up far too early to go to the airport. When Tommy found out Ranboo's flight would be arriving at 6:00 am, instead of 5:15 like he had previously thought, he complained relentlessly about how long they had to wait around at the airport.

When the number of their friend's flight was called for arrival, the three immediately recognised him in the crowd of people, just because he was so tall. Tommy hadn't even seen Ranboo's face before then but instantly knew it was him and yelled his name.

The hug between Tubbo and the American was almost a comical sight to behold - there was more than a foot's difference between them, so even though the brunet was reaching as high as he could, Ranboo still had to bend over to be able to properly embrace his friend.

Hugs, a few greetings and "Holy shit you're tall-"s were said and they set off back to the house, the sunrise gradually beginning to surface.

---

Faint joyous shouts sound from the other room as Tommy fills the empty glasses with tap water. He hears footsteps approaching the kitchen and turns.

"I've been sent to get more chips."

Ranboo is standing in the doorway, slightly tilting his head to fit under its frame.

"You mean crisps. They're in the pantry." He goes back to the sink as the other boy hunts for the chip packets. Various crinkling sounds emit from the corner. "Where in the pantry? I see no chips."

"Crisps. Behind the pasta." Tommy corrects, pausing to contemplate how he's going to carry six glasses in one go - because only losers take more than one trip to carry things into another room. The crinkling from the pantry grows louder before there's a thump as Ranboo dumps four packets of chips on the countertop. They stare at the red and blue foil bags in silence.

"Tommy?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry. About your parents. Tubbo didn't tell me everything they did, but what he did tell me sounded awful. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

Tommy's quiet and Ranboo wonders if he's said the wrong thing or overstepped a line until he feels two skinny arms wrap around his waist and hears a sniffle. He's slightly taken aback - this is probably the most heartfelt moment they've ever shared - but he hugs Tommy back and it's quiet, and peaceful, and it's suddenly like all the noise in Tommy's mind is muted.

As the two boys break apart, Ranboo jokes, "Twitter will freak out when they hear about us all meeting up. You know we have a name? Alliumduo, we're called."

Tommy laughs. "No. Really? Why? The fans know I hate you. What the fuck's-"

A very muffled call comes from the living room. "Where are my crisps? Ranboo?"

---

When Tommy and Ranboo walk back into the room - it had somehow only taken the two of them one trip to take all the snacks back - Techno greets the brit with the information, "You weren't here so I took your turn for you."

"What- YOU TOOK MY GREENS? TECHNO-"

"I gave you money in exchange, look." He points at Tommy's pile of five-dollar bills. "I gave you $15. That's a good deal in my books."

"Fifteen dollars for Bond and Oxford? Shut the fuck up, gimme my shit back."

Techno smirks, shaking his head. "It's a good deal." His smug expression is quickly replaced with one of fear as the teen lunges toward his neatly ordered property cards, a high-pitched scream coming from the man's mouth. "No! Please! Not my stations! My precious stations!"

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