Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was no secret that common folk didn’t like nobles, but Wilbur thought that his family were generally well liked, turns out ‘generally’ doesn’t equate to all as Wilbur learned whilst he nearly had his throat torn out by a faceless attacker. The assailant had gotten a good gash on him however with his throat dripping blood. He sought refuge in the rundown chapel which he used to play in as a kid, he’d use it to escape from his little brother when he got too annoying and inviting him to ‘spar’ didn’t sound appealing. 

His throat wound would need medical treatment quickly, he grit his teeth, at the risk of alerting his attacker it was probably worth calling out for help, the chapel should echo his shouts well enough that it’d be hard to pinpoint his location anyway. 

“HELP! SOMEONE HELP!” Wilbur choked out, his voice cracking on his second ‘help’, his words were garbled by the amount of blood filling his throat. Tears flowed steadily down the man's cheeks as he stumbled through corridors and around pillars. Fuck why was this place such a maze he thought bitterly, gripping to his neck trying to stop the blood from spilling. 

Footsteps echoed in the distance, two pairs from what Wilbur could tell. He limped forward, away from the footsteps. He didn’t know why but something in the base of his brain was screaming for him to run, a primal sort of fear ran through him turning his blood cold.

He only made it two steps before his legs gave out from under him, bringing the man to his knees josling his wound painfully, he bit back a pained noise as he tried to slow and quiet his breathing, he really didn’t want to be caught by whoever’s footsteps those were. 

The footsteps kept coming closer as if they were zeroing in on Wilburs location, louder, louder until Wilbur was sure whoever it was could see him, making one last attempt he began to crawl away, which was not helped when a crossbow bolt found its way into his leg. He screamed in pain, the noise echoing through the old chapel. 

Wilbur winced as he dragged himself behind a pillar grabbing the back of his leg with a free hand. Contemplating pulling the bolt out so he wasn’t completely defenseless but didn’t have much time to think before the footsteps were right in front of him. 

Nervously his eyes trailed up the lanky robed figure, whoever this person was they wore eerily familiar clothing from what he could tell by the sections not covered by the person's cloak. The person - whoever they were - let out a long drawn out sigh, one a disappointed parent would make when their kids got into trouble, it was patronizing. 

Wilbur opened his mouth to question and snap at the person but was cut off by them flicking their hood off. Wilburs eyes widened at the familiar face, the boy’s blue eyes, golden blonde hair, little raccoon ears which were buried in his nest of curls, and the scar that crawled up his cheek stopping just shy of the boy's left eye. 

He stared up at the boy, his brother in name and nothing else. The bastard was smiling, Wilbur grit his teeth biting back a string of insults and curses. 

The boy’s cold blue eyes had no remorse as they stared down at Wilbur in a look of nothing but pure disdain. The second setp of footsteps from earlier echoed through the building and soon next to the blonde stood a taller man, also robed, who had some creepy mask covering his face with a dumb smile on it. 

“Come on Wilbur, we’re just sparring, don’t be such a baby,” Tommy grinned as he cooed at the brunette, an almost maniacal laughter erupting from his chest as he saw the horror painted all over Wilburs face.

“What's with the look? Don’t you think I’m playing fair, or is it only fun when you’re not the one being beat?” His words turned cold at the end of the sentence. 

Wilbur grimaced at the reminder of how he treated Tommy during their sparring sessions, the kid was annoying and constantly whined about wanting Wilburs attention. He was only really bad when Tommy deserved punishment, but this couldn't even be considered comparable, sure Wilbur used Tommys over-eagerness to spar in order to get back at his brother for annoying him, but he’d never go this far. It was as if Tommy was genuinely trying to kill Wilbur, all with that stupid smile and that stupid masked weirdo.

“Tommy, Tommy stop it,” Wilbur choked out as if he still had authority over his little brother. 

Tommy raised an eyebrow, his tail flicking back and forth in annoyance, displeasure and unamusement on his face, at least he wasn’t wearing that stupid smile anymore. 

“Wilby, you have no authority over me anymore,” Tommy smiled, resting a hand under the brunette's chin lifting it ever so slightly so they were making eye contact. 

“Those wounds look pretty bad, you sure you don’t wanna quit?” He cooed, reciting one of the lines Wilbur had used on Tommy in the past, stroking his fingers through the blood that leaked from Wilburs neck wound.

“What?” Wilbur managed, it sounded hoarse and rough as if his throat was dry and not currently wet with blood. 

“Is that what you want? Me to admit you beat me? Fine, done, you won. Happy?” Wilbur’s vision was beginning to blur, he tightened his grip on his throat. His head pounded as the world began to spin.

His head started to hurt, he grit his teeth, tightening his grip on her throat as much as he could, cutting off his breathing completely until his body finally told him to relax, he loosened his grip, taking in deep gulps of air, breathing unevenly. He tried looking up at Tommy but his world wouldn’t stop spinning and his throat would sting, pain shooting through him like lightning, so he kept his eyes trained on the ground. 

“You’re looking a bit pale there Wilbur, maybe that neck wound was a little too deep,” Tommy frowned, he didn’t sound remorseful at all, more like a cat sad that their mouse stopped moving, stopped being fun .

Static overtook Tommy’s words, Wilbur could hear broken parts of his taunts but never the full thing. His ears were full of whitenoise, the sound of blood rushed, his heart trying desperately to pump but it’s steady rhythm slowing down, his breathing pained and wheezy, the occasional half-hearted cough that hurt to produce. 

His eyes were glazed over and red from the amount of crying he’d been doing from how much pain he was in. A haze of black feathers swallowed his vision, he couldn’t help it when his lips pulled into a slight smile. 

“Pl-ease D-Dad,” Wilbur had begun to see the image of his father, his straw like blonde hair, the mass of black feathers that made up the man's wings, his cherished father, was he here to save Wilbur? From whatever sick, twisted game Tommy was trying to play.

Tommy frowned, tilting his head, not that Wilbur could see, he made a low humming noise as if he were in thought before speaking up.

“You can see him soon I’m sure, right Dream?” Tommy stared up at his companion expectantly.

The cloaked man - Dream apparently - looked down at Tommy, tilting his head like a confused and curious cat before nodding. 

“See Wilbur, I can send him after you, you guys can be happy without the ‘annoying little gremlin child’ that sounds nice, doesn’t it?”

“W-il-bur?” Tommy hummed in a sing-song like tone, but his words fell flat when he looked down at Wilbur.

“Oh, guess you can’t hear me huh?” You could hear the frown in the blonde's words as he stared down at the man considered to be his brother.

What? Of course Wilbur could hear him, hard to ignore that obnoxious voice, loud and annoying as always… 

“After all… you’re dead.” 

Wilbur felt cold. He wasn’t? He reached up towards his throat, shit! When did he drop his hand, he paused, there was no blood, why was there no blood? That wasn’t normal- that's not-

His breath hitched, it felt like it did at least, but it wasn’t possible for it to hitch, because he wasn’t even breathing.

Horror and realization hit him like a truck as his eyes trailed down to him, slumped against a pillar, his hand flopped to the ground, his skin ghostly pale and skunen, showing the shaping of his skull, his jaw hanging open ever so slightly, blood still trickling from his neck albeit much more sluggishly. 

He tried chasing after Tommy, he heard that threat, he couldn’t let his “brother” go anywhere near their- his father he- he couldn’t. 

“Tommy, stop! Stop, you got what you wanted! Please! LISTEN DAMMIT,” he begged, pleaded, but Tommy didn’t even notice him, notice his cries, his shouts. Completely ignorant to Wilburs presence at all.

“Please, not dad, he- he was nothing but good to you, please-” Wilbur croaked, if the last thing he could do was save his father he’d do anything, anything at all in his power, he had to. He-

A hand landed on his shoulder and he whipped around, startled to see a girl, she looked like a child, short, bright green eyes, dirty blonde hair. She seemed sympathetic yet Wilbur couldn’t help but notice a mischievous glint in her eye. 

“Hello Wilbur!” She greeted him as if they were old friends, a cheery tone in her voice which somehow managed to sound like spring itself. 

Wilbur didn’t respond, his eyes chasing after Tommy and his cloaked companion, a desperate need to follow after them but couldn’t seem to move as if his ankle was chained to the ground. 

“Wilbur Soot Craft, son of Philza Craft, young lord of L’Manburg, I have a proposition for you,” the girl smiled as she addressed him, ignoring the way he fought against her grip trying to chase after the blonde. 

She sighed, making a small tsk noise before they no longer stood in the chapel, instead they were in a scene that looked right out of alice in wonderland, an impossibly long table, stretching as far as the eye can see, stacked high with teapots, teacups and sugary sweets. 

He looked to the sky to see pathways, with what looked like magical creatures nonchalantly walking across them paying no mind to Wilbur and the strange girl who brought him to this weird place.

Creatures like jackalopes, unicorns, hippogriffs, griffons and foxes that looked to be on fire. They all pranced along the pathway like it was normal, things that Wilbur would dream of as a kid and they were here, in front of him.

He shook his head, he didn’t have time to get mesmerized, he needed to save his father, his father needed him. 

“No no, I have to, I have to stop him, send me back! SEND ME BACK!” Wilbur cried, flinging his head in all directions trying to spot an exit anything that would get him out of this topsy turvy world.

“Calm down, I’m getting to that part,” the girl huffed, taking a seat at the ridiculously long table and pouring herself what looked to be chocolate milk out of a teapot. 

Wilbur shook his head trying to ignore the mass of questions that had begun forming in his head, he had to get out of this- this, what even was this place? Where on earth even was he? 

“I can answer any questions you have, first of all this is my domain, isn’t it cool? Second of all you're not on earth, not technically at least, pretty sure you call it… limbo? Or that’s probably the simplest way to describe it. A world between worlds I suppose,” she shrugged nonchalantly, taking a long, loud slurp of her drink.  

Wilburs eyes shot wide open, she can read his thoughts? Who even was this girl, she didn’t even look to be any older than Tommy, if anything she looked to be most certainly younger. 

“I’m only here to help you, why don't you take a seat so we can chat?” she coaxed, gesturing to a chair which pulled out from that table as if on command.

“Please you don’t understand, I need to leave,” Wilbur stressed, flicking his head in all directions until he was dizzy. 

“You humans are so impatient,” she huffed, rolling her eyes and setting down her teacup so she could reach for a cupcake with green frosting and gold accents. 

“With all due respect Lady- um-”

“Drista.”

“Lady Drista, please I don’t even know where I am I have to save my father, my little brother is-”

“How are you going to save him when you can’t even interact with the world of the living?” She asked, meticulously removing the cupcake liner, to show a white, pink and brown marbled cupcake - neapolitan Wilbur assumed. 

Wilbur opened his mouth so he could argue but closed it almost immediately, when he tried to talk to Tommy the boy hadn’t even heard Wilbur let alone seen him, how was he planning to save her father?

“There we go, finally understand now? You can’t save him directly, not in this life at least.”

Wilbur looked up at Drista confusion painted across his face as his brows furrowed, one raising to further show his lack of understanding. 

She sighed, taking a bite of her cupcake, humming to herself in thought, silently gesturing to the chair that had been pulled out for Wilbur.

Wilbur grunted, he could stubbornly stand around but he probably wouldn’t get anywhere by continuously demanding things from ‘Drista’ so he chose to sit down, anxiously bouncing his leg.

“Being impatient won't get you out of here any quicker,” she warned before taking another bite of her cupcake.

“Well? Help yourself, would you like anything to drink?” She insisted, gesturing to the stacks of sweets and savories. 

Wilbur frowned, biting back a groan, he didn’t have time for this, his father could be dying at the hands of his little brother right now, Tommy could- nope. Stopping that thought right there before it could fully form, Wilbur wasn’t even going to humor the idea that Tommy would put their father through even a little bit of what Wilbur had to go through, the fear, the panic, the pain. 

“I can get you anything, coffee? Tea? Chocolate milk?” She offered, flicking her wrist which seemingly summoned a myriad of teapots to come flying down the table, floating above her head dancing around in midair, occasionally trickling some of their contents, which remained afloat in the sky. 

Wilbur opened his mouth to try to urge her along with how in the world he was going to save his father when she raised her hand, silencing him, her green eyes glowing in a strangely calming manner. 

“We’ll get there, now, pick out something to eat, and tell me what you’d like to drink,” she smiled, the teapots bobbing up and down in the air, colourful liquids that split from them twinkling in the sun. 

“Lady Drista, please this isn’t-” 

“Young Lord Wilbur, do not make me repeat myself.” 

Something about her tone made Wilbur flinch back, even in the face of what looked like a kid - though Wilbur was starting to get the sneaking suspicion she was most definitely older than she looked - he was afraid.

So he listened, he looked over the table of sweets and pastries wondering what he could bear to stomach and finally decided on a small croissant that wouldn’t take more than a few small bites to finish.

Drista smiled nodding her head approvingly as he finished her cupcake and went to take another sip of her chocolate milk.

Shakingly Wilbur brought the croissant to his mouth, it was weird that Drista was just- watching him as he hesitantly took a bite of the croissant, it was sweeter than he was expecting but not unbearingly so. He continued to take small hesitant bites until he finished it, looking up at Drista to see she was no longer paying attention to him, her eyes were closed as she took another sip from her teacup, making a small humming noise as she did. 

“Now, a drink?” Drista offered, though it didn’t sound like Wilbur had much of an option. 

“Coffee?” Wilbur sighed, giving in to Dristas ‘demands’. 

“Iced or hot?”

“Hot.”

Drista made a subtle hand movement and one of the teapots came flying over pouring a dark brown - almost black - concoction into the teacup that was in front of Wilbur. Steam rolling off the top of the liquid, Wilbur looked at it curiously, it smelt and looked like coffee but in this place Wilbur wasn’t really sure he could be certain of it. Now that he was thinking about it he might have been too willing to eat that croissant.

“It’s not spiked, I only spike my brother's drinks when he comes around,” she claimed, almost proud of the fact she spikes drinks occasionally.

“Oh! I should have asked if you wanted milk and sugar…” Drista muttered, disappointment lacing her words as she frowned, waving her hand, summoning a few sugar packets floating them over to Wilbur in silent offering. 

“No- it’s fine, I normally have my coffee straight anyway,” Wilbur replied, staring at his coffee, not making a move for it yet. 

“Oh alright then,” Drista snapped her fingers and the sugar packets disappeared and the teapot returned to their places on the table. 

“Drink your coffee so you can save Lord Philza,” Drista urged, floating the teacup and saucer closer to Wilbur. 

“Explain to me how it’ll work first,” Wilbur demanded, staring at the teacup of coffee, scrutinizing it. 

“You don’t have much room for negotiation here,” Drista responded, her tone flat and warning as a screen flashed above the table, showing Tommy and his companion wandering through the halls of Craft manor. 

If Wilburs heart was still beating he could tell it’d be stuttering right now before picking up speed and his breath would match the pace of his heart as he watched helplessly the way Tommy stalked the halls like he was a predator on the hunt. 

Wilbur looked between the screen and his teacup, he didn’t know why Drista was so insistent he drink it but if it would save his father…

As Wilbur had made his decision and picked up the cup, finding that it was surprisingly weightless, probably due to a side effect of Drista’s magic.

He watched the screen in horror as Tommy walked into their fathers office, a bright smile on his face as he greeted their father, who smiled, welcoming the young blonde with open arms. Wilburs mouth and throat felt painfully dry.

There was no sound that came with the screen but he could tell Tommy and their father were talking, Tommy was introducing his father to his companion and his companion- his companion had an axe.

Wilbur in an instant downed the coffee which wasn’t as hot as the steam would suggest looking at Drista in a panic, pleading and desperation on his face.

She smiled, the screen went blank, she extended a hand for a hand shake, her eyes swirling with that mischievous glint. Wilbur took her hand without much thinking, adrenaline pumping through his unalive form. 

“Young Lord Wilbur Soot Craft of L’Manburg, I am DristaXD god of chaos and mischief, I will send you back to before your brother joined your family, you make the choices of what you want to do, either seek revenge or prevent these events all together, it’s all up to you,” Drista smiled, a mask with ‘XD’ carved into it appearing to cover her face, a double set of white feathered wings sprouting from her back.

“Wait, what do you mean!?” Wilbur yelped as his hand began to burn at the touch of Dristas, he couldn’t read her expression but heard her giggling. 

“Here I’ll give you a companion, he’ll help you decide your route,” Drista giggled, a pink rabbit hopping over to the table, it looked up at the goddess unimpressed and annoyed, almost making Wilbur want to flinch back, even though this is a rabbit, a bunny.

“His name is Technoblade, take care of him please.”

Wilbur didn’t have the words to respond, he nodded as acknowledgement, looking down at the bunny who looked up at him, wiggling its nose in interest. 

“Oh and Wilbur, if you want to take revenge…” 

Wilbur almost couldn’t hear her next words, the sound of magic rushing past his ears was almost overpowering but his eyes widened as her next words spilt from her lips.

“You’ll have to kill your brother to prevent this from happening again.” 

Wilbur gasped for air, a hand on his chest as he heaved, it felt strange for air to enter and exit his lungs, he hadn’t even been dead for that long right? Only a few minutes, thought anything was probably possible in that weird wonderland like place. 

Dad… his dad! He rushed out of his bed, running down the halls, skidding around the corner and banging on his fathers door with all the strength he had in his five year old body. 

He heard footsteps from inside slowly make their way over to the door before it opened, on the other side stood the tired figure of his father holding an oil lamp, rubbing one of his eyes as he looked down at his son with a sleepy smile on his face.

“Wil, you alright mate?” He asked.

He- he was okay, Wilbur couldn’t help the sob that tore its way from his chest as he reached for his fathers robes, burying his face in them. It was stupid he was an adult, but he was so overwhelmed, his father was okay standing infront of him, alive. 

“Did you have a bad dream mate?” He asked, bending down so he could set the lamp on the floor and lift Wilbur off the ground before picking the lamp up again. 

Wilbur nodded, it felt like a bad dream, he wanted to believe it was a bad dream, but he knew it probably wasn’t, you don't just dream up a whole life on a whim right? That didn’t just happen. 

His father carried him all the way back to his room, all the while muttering gentle words of affection to Wilbur who was crying like a newborn, sobbing into his fathers shoulder, and gripping to his robes for dear life. 

“It's alright, everything is gonna be okay, I’m here, I’m always gonna be here,” his father hummed, rubbing Wilburs back gently, his hand occasionally trailing up to ruffle the boy's hair.  

Hearing his fathers words just made him sob louder, burying his face as deep as he could into his fathers shoulder, trailing tears and snot with it, not that his father minded.

“You wanna talk about it?” His father gently coaxed as he walked down the hall.

“I was dead,” Wilbur sniffed, gripping tighter to his fathers robes just in case if he let go his father would disappear.

“A-and you were gonna be- and I couldn’t save you,” Wilbur cried, he couldn’t give all the details, but he could give that much. He really sounded like a baby and it made him cringe internally, he hated it, but he couldn’t help the tears and the neediness, the need to know his father was okay, that it really was all a ‘dream.’

“I’m still here and you’re alright, I won't let anything hurt you, I swear it,” his father promised, the words already helping to calm Wilbur as his sobs started to calm, though his tears were still stubbornly streaming down his cheeks.

“I love you,” Wilbur muttered as his father entered Wilburs room.

“I love you too Wil.”

 Those words made Wilbur completely melt in his fathers hold, he snuggled into his fathers shoulder, wiping the last of his tears off as the oil lamp was set on Wilburs bedside table and his father began tucking the boy in.

“I can stay if you need,” his father offered, taking a seat on the side of the bed, Wilbur smiled back sleepily at the offer. 

“Just until I’m asleep?” Wilbur asked, biting his lip.

“Of course,” his father replied simply, leaning down and placing a goodnight kiss on Wilburs forehead. 

“Night,” Wilbur mumbled as he got himself comfortable in the bed, sprawling himself across the bed, taking up as much surface area as he could without disrupting his fathers place of seating.

“Night Wil,” his father replied in a low chuckle, brushing away the chestnut curls from Wilburs face as he began to drift off.

Drista frowned at the seat that once sat Wilbur, now that she had sent Technoblade away with the human, who was she meant to annoy? 

Her thoughts drifted off to the point she didn’t notice another presence entering her domain, let alone another god, her brother of all gods too. 

“Drista…” a low voice called in warning.

Drista immediately shrunk, sinking her head into his shoulder to appear smaller as she turned her head almost mechanically to see the imposing figure of her brother, mask on and wings out as always. What a show off.

“Yes darling biggest brother who I love dearly?” She laughed nervously.

“Death said you’re messing with mortals again,” he sighed, floating over and taking a seat next to his sister, watching her through the mask.

“Who me? Nooo, I’d never,” she lied, avoiding any possibility of accidental eye-contact, even through her brother's mask. 

“Drista.”

“He was having brotherly troubles! And it only happened because you meddled first! Sending one of your humans to help a child murder, not cool!” She huffed, flicking her wrist aggressively and pouring herself another cup of chocolate milk before crossing her arms angrily, using her magic to float the cup to her lips so she could get a drink, all the while making eye-contact.

“So it’s my fault?”

“Yeah, exactly, glad you caught on that fast,” she hissed, taking another sip of her chocolate milk. 

“Drista, I don’t mess with already dead souls…” 

“Well maybe I do.”

“Drista-”

“Unless you’re here for a snack or a drink, leave me alone, I shouldn’t have to explain my intentions to you.”

The god stood up, a long exasperated sigh leaving him as he glanced at Drista one last time, she glared back. He turned around and left her to do her thing, more often than not Drista had it her way, she had a plan and she was going to stick to it, whether or not the other gods approved.

Chapter Text

Wilbur whimpered in his sleep, tossing and turning as the memories of his fear, his panic, his anxiety, his trepidation swarmed around him in remembrance of looking his brother in the eyes, a boy who used to be full of sunshine, sunshine that Wilbur selfishly burnt out. His eyes snapped open as his hands flung up to his throat, pulling them away and sighing in relief as there wasn’t a drop of blood on them.

He now has to start his plan, nurture his little brother or- or kill him. Wilbur bit his lip, as much as he didn’t want to admit it the second option was tempting. He laid back in his bed, his eyes fluttering shut for momentary peace before an insistent tapping on his window began to reach his ears. He frowned, turning his head to look at the large glass door in his room which led outside onto a balcony, even when squinting he couldn’t see outside since it was still pitch black.

He thought back to his ‘past’ life, not that it was much help, he was probably fast asleep, he couldn’t even remember if he had a friend who’d knock on his window at ridiculously hours in the morning.

The knocking got more aggressive, rapid, almost too fast for a human. Wilbur snuck out of his bed, clutching onto a throw pillow for protection, it wouldn’t do much damage but it could serve as a decent distraction. 

He slowly slunk out of bed, inching over to the doors that led to his balcony, the grip he had on his pillow turning Wilburs knuckles white. As he got closer to the windows, he blinked seeing a small patch of… pink? On the ground outside. 

Nothing else seemed to be too strange until the pink… ball? Started shifting around, stretching upwards and slamming part of itself against his window, what that thing making all that noise? 

Seeing no reason to consider the pink thing dangerous - or at least probably not able to do any major damage to him - he unlocked his door, opening it to the cool night breeze.

The ball of pink turned to look up at Wilbur, it was a rabbit, a pink rabbit. It wiggled its nose at Wilbur, it hopped towards him and into the room without waiting for an invitation. Wilbur stared in confusion for a few beats before remembering what the goddess had told him.

“His name is Technoblade, take care of him please.”

The goddess’s words echoed in Wilburs mind as he watched the rabbit - Technoblade - sniff around his room.

“Mr… Technoblade?” Wilbur muttered, closing the door upon getting too cold from standing next to it and wrapping his arms around himself to keep warmer and following after the rabbit who hopped around like he owned the place. 

Technoblade sniffed along the ground and over to Wilburs closet, sniffing at the garments he could reach and when he got bored of that he hopped over towards Wilburs one and only living plant, a monstera plant that Wilbur later found out in his past life that the only reason it was still alive is because he father Philza himself would tend to the plant because he knew how happy it made Wilbur to have at least one living plant. Technoblade, sniffed at one of the leaves, nibbling at it curiously before apparently deciding it didn’t taste nice or something because Wilbur could swear he pulled some kind of a face. 

“Excuse me, Mr Rabbit, Technoblade?” Wilbur tried again after getting no results the first time, biting back a groan at the lack of respect he was receiving from this so-called ‘magical’ rabbit. Wilbur wasn’t actually all that certain Technoblade was magical but what kind of a regular rabbit is pink and comes from a god’s dimension. 

The rabbit didn’t acknowledge Wilbur at all and continued his exploration of the room, dick. He eventually stopped at the foot of Wilburs bed, staring up at it, wiggling his tail and lowering his body to the ground. 

“Hey! That's my-” 

Technoblade hopped up onto the bed and began to make himself comfortable, paying no mind to Wilburs clear objection. He padded around in circles for several seconds before deciding he was comfortable and laying down.

“You can’t be on my bed!” Wilbur hissed, sure this was a “magical” rabbit, but it was still a rabbit! And Wilbur didn’t want him on his bed. 

Technoblade, seemingly taking offense to Wilbur’s demands, picked himself up and hopped over to Wilburs pillows, making direct eye contact before the bastard situates himself on one of the pillows, all the while being incredibly smug.

“Absolutely not,” Wilbur seethes, his fists balled at his sides as if he was about to fight some rabbit over his bed. 

He walked over to his bed, mumbling curses as he watched Technoblade stretch out and make himself comfortable, not paying Wilbur any mind. He grit his teeth, the amount of disrespect this rabbit was showing reminded him of Tommy, how annoying the blonde was, and whilst Wilbur was sure that sometimes Tommy pissed him off on purpose he also knew most of the time Tommy had no clue he was actually bothering Wilbur. 

A pang of guilt wormed its way into Wilburs chest as he grimaced thinking about the way he treated Tommy, his kid brother. If he had known Tommy would snap he would have been a little nicer… maybe. 

He shook his head, it didn’t matter, that's why he was here now, to fix things, to save himself and his father. His eyes drifted to the rabbit currency sprawled out on his pillows as if it were his bed and not Wilburs.

Wilbur ever so gently slid his fingers underneath Technoblades soft underbelly, the rabbit let out a tired, annoyed grumble, one Wilburs almost certain an actual rabbit wouldn’t have been able to make that noise but what did he know.

Technoblade began to wriggle around in annoyance, his silky smooth fur almost helping him slip from Wilburs grasp a few times before the boy tightened his hold and dropped the rabbit to the ground without care for Technoblades safety. 

“You are not sleeping on my bed,” Wilbur stated, his room did have a couch in it, if Technoblade was that insistent on having somewhere soft to sleep he could stay there. It wasn’t as warm as his bed and it was much firmer but he didn’t want to share his bed with some overgrown magical rodent.

“Rude.”

Wilbur stared at the rabbit dumbfounded, it just- it just talked, or was he finally losing it. It’s a magical rabbit of course it talks! Why wouldn’t it talk? Wilbur groaned, holding his head in his hands.

“You could talk all this time?” Wilbur queried between hopeless groans of annoyance and exasperation. 

Technoblade stared back at him, blinking slowly.

“Ribbit?”

“Rabbits don’t- okay…” Wilbur groaned, not only was he going to be stuck with newly adopted toddler Tommy in a week, he was now also stuck with some magical rabbit who can talk and apparently ribbits. 

Wilbur watched as Technoblade looked between him and the bed clearly planning on jumping on it again and making himself comfortable. He sighed, lifting Technoblade up and off the floor, which he resisted surprisingly little against and instead allowed himself to go limp in Wilburs hold, he flopped Technoblade over one shoulder, leaning back slightly so Technoblade would slip out of his hold, he grabbed a pillow off his bed and walked over to the couch sat in the ‘center’ of his room. 

He placed the pillow down on the couch, tucking it into the corner, assuming that's where Technoblade would prefer to sleep and gently placed the rabbit down onto the couch for him to get comfortable. 

Technoblade sniffed at the couch, pawing at the cushions already on the couch, seemingly ignoring Wilburs bed pillow he so graciously offered.

“You can stay here, but not the bed,” Wilbur stated, watching Technoblade as he began to situate himself, approving of the couch as his resting place it seemed. 

Wilbur breathed a sigh of relief as he could finally settle down into his bed comfortably. He wandered over to his bed, glancing over to the couch one last time, a sleepy smile of victory on his face. He settled back down into his bed and drifted off, the questions of how to explain a random pink rabbit to his father in the morning buzzing too quietly in the back of his head to distress how tired he currently was. 

Wilbur later awoke to sunlight streaming through his windows, he shielded his eyes as he slowly woke up for a third time, grumbling to himself how it was too early for this. 

His brain slowly clued in to a weight spanning across his torso. He tilted his head to see Technoblade laying, semi curled up and directly on top of Wilbur snoring lightly, content with his spot on Wilbur, soaking up the warmth of the sun which filtered through the windows right into Wilburs eyes. 

“Mr Technoblade?” Wilbur grumbled, stroking the soft pink fur absentmindedly, it was kind of like having a pet, if that pet was sentient and magical… and could talk. 

Technoblade buried his head into Wilburs chest, his ears flopping down and tickling Wilburs face.

“Five ‘ore minute Drista,” he slurred, sounding completely and utterly exhausted. Wilbur sighed letting his head fall back onto his pillow, gently carding his fingers through the fur on Technoblades nape. 

A soft knock hit the door, Wilbur blinked, his father must be getting him for breakfast, whilst generally kids of nobility would have servants wake them, Philza was insistent he be the one to wake Wilbur and help him get ready for the day if necessary as his father.  

All at once the realization that he had a pink rabbit laying on top of him and his father was coming to wake him up, he wiggled Technoblade down to his lap and sat up, unsure of how to go about waking up the rabbit. 

“You don’t happen to be invisible to everyone but me right?” Wilbur whispered.

Technoblades only response was in a snort as he curled up on Wilburs lap, paying no mind to his distress. 

“Seriously because-” 

The door opened and in walked Wilbur's father draped in his green robes, an emerald hanging from his ear, twinkling in the sunlight reflecting green specs onto his face.

“Morning Wil! You’re up early, oh! And who's this little fella?” His father greeted, walking over to kneel by his son's bed and pet Technoblade’s fur.

“I- um- his name is Technoblade he uh- sorta wandered in here last night,” he wasn’t lying just not telling the full truth is all. 

“Poor thing, looks like someone dyed him,” his father frowned, tickling Technoblade under his chin a few times before picking himself off the floor and dusting off his robes. 

Wilbur stared up at his father, this is no way his dad is just ‘okay’ with this, a random pink rabbit who’s wandered into Wilburs room in the dead of night? That feels like something a parent should very much not be so nonchalant about. 

Technoblade finally picked his head up to look at Phil, sniffing in his direction curiously before his eyes caught sight of the shiny gold rings on his hand. All at once he leaped off Wilburs lap and began pawing at Philza’s legs like he wanted something. 

“Aren’t you adorable?” Philza cooed, gently lifting Technoblade off the ground.

The rabbit seemed more comfortable in Philzas arms than he did Wilburs. Traitor. Technoblade made a point to look over smugly at Wilbur, that was the last straw because Wilbur flung himself out of bed and nearly snatched Technoblade right out of his father's hands just so he would wring the stupid rabbits throat. But he didn’t, instead he looked up at his father with all the charm of a nobleman and smiled.

“Good morning father, sorry for bringing him in here… but can he stay?” Wilbur pleaded, smiling up at his father, back in his old life his father almost never said no to him when he was this young, not unless Wilbur had a really bad idea, like how he wanted to make a glider and jump off his balcony which in turn almost gave his father a heart attack. The drop wasn’t even that bad! Wilbur only received a few broken bones from it. It was worth it in the end too since it took attention away from Tommy for at least a few days.

“He looks like a pet Wil, and he’s really docile, I dunno he might already belong to someone,” his father frowned, holding Technoblade in one hand and petting him with the other. 

“How did you know his name anyway?” 

Shit… Wilbur didn’t think that one through, he could just say he named the rabbit but really his father knew better. Wilbur wouldn’t come up with a name like ‘Technoblade’ but it's not like his father knew that… hopefully. 

“I named him…?” Wilbur sounded more like he was trying to convince himself of the lie rather than his father, he internally cringed at the uncertainty his voice held, it’s not like he ever needed to lie to his father - besides when Tommy got too roughed up ‘sparring’ but that was an easy lie to cover.

“Wilbur…” his father started, raising an eyebrow, skeptical as ever, of course that lie wouldn’t work, his father knew him better than anyone!

Technoblade shifted in Philzas grip, kicking his legs in impatience, apparently he’d gotten sick of being held. 

“Oh sorry mate,” Philza muttered, setting the rabbit down onto the ground.

He hopped over to Wilbur and sat directly in front of him, glaring up at Philza with all the ferocity a bunny’s face could hold. 

“Alright, but if I hear anything about a missing pink rabbit we’re returning him,” Philza chuckled in defeat. 

Technoblade turned to look at Wilbur looking like his usual smug self that was starting to make Wilbur want to kick the rabbit, but he wouldn’t… not in front of his father at least. 

“Well, it is breakfast time, and I’d like to talk to you about something Wil, it’s nothing bad though so don’t stress mate,” Philza smiled, not waiting for a response, leaving and allowing Wilbur time to get ready. 

Wilbur breathed a sigh of relief before turning his attention - and annoyance - towards Technoblade.

“First of all, why did Lady Drista send you here, second of all, why were you so complacent with letting my dad know you're here!?”

Technoblade stared back up at Wilbur, clearly unimpressed as he wiggled his nose and hopped around Wilburs feet, ushering him away from the bed and to his closet. 

“I know you can speak,” Wilbur huffed, walking over to his closet and almost tripping over Technoblade in the process.

“Ribbit,” Technoblade replied, much like how a person would say it rather than the noise a frog actually makes. 

“You’re not helping your case…” Wilbur sighed as he shut the door to his walk-in closet leaving Technoblade on the other side in his room and swiftly got changed into his white poet shirt, black trousers and golden vest. 

“So do you have an answer?” Wilbur asked, opening his closet door and walking over to his bed so he could put on his dress shoes that were freshly polished. 

Technoblade shook his head, his ears flopping about as he did.

“Alright… c’mon we have to go down for breakfast.” Wilbur sighed, slipping off his bed and heading to the door, Technoblade hopping after him. 

“What do you eat anyway?” Wilbur queried, in an attempt to make small talk with the rabbit who didn’t at all seem like he wanted to talk back. “You’re magic, I think, so does normal rabbit food work? Or do you need some rare-”

“Carrots,” Technoblade responded simply. 

“Like-”

“Golden carrots,” Technoblade clarified.

“How do I find golden carrots?” Wilbur complained as they made their way through the halls and into the manors dining room where Philza sat, waiting for them, a book in hand and plates of breakfast already on the table.

“Morning father,” Wilbur greeted again, taking his seat next to Philza at the table as Technoblade hopped up onto the chair opposite to him, stretching his body so he could rest his paws on the table as if he were waiting for his food too. 

“Normally we don’t allow rabbits at the table Wil,” Philza chuckled, Technoblade made a huff sounding noise as he wasn’t the one being addressed directly over matters that revolve around him. 

“Please dad, he’s so well behaved I promise!” Wilbur smiled, not before he sent a warning glare over to Technoblade, a silent look of ‘you better thank me for this later.’

“I suppose, he is rather polite,” Philza replied, giving Technoblade a few scratches under his chin.

“What should we get for you hm?” 

“I think he’d like carrots,” Wilbur offered, he was not about to ask for ‘golden carrots’ that’d just make him sound pretentious, Technoblade could surely make due with regular carrots. 

Technoblade stamped his foot shooting a glare at Wilbur. 

Wilbur almost chuckled at the ferocity that emanated from Technoblade in that moment and if he didn’t know any better he would think that Technoblade was biting his lip in an attempt to not speak for himself of what he wanted.

“You don’t want carrots huh mate? Would you prefer it if they were golden?” Philza chuckled, his tone was joking on the surface but underneath that it seemed almost like a genuine offer which left Wilbur at a loss for words, completely unaware of how his father was going to magically make golden carrots appear.

Technoblade stared at Philza in awe, tapping a paw on the table, a needy request for the golden carrots.

“Alright, golden carrots coming right up,” Philza smiled, Wilbur stared at him in heavy confusion, golden carrots didn’t exist in this world, or at least Wilbur had never seen them in this or his past life. 

Philza picked himself up from the table and left for the kitchen, Wilburs eyes followed after him completely dumbfounded, what could his father be planning- Wilbur was sure there was no ‘golden carrots’ in this world, maybe in Dristas universe but Wilbur was sure they were far from there.

He returned with a wooden bowl in hand, held too high for Wilbur to look at the contents as he waited as patiently as he could to see what his father metaphorically cooked up.

The bowl was placed in front of Technoblade who seemed delighted and ecstatic to be receiving his ‘golden’ carrots. Wilbur craned his neck to look at the contents of the bowl and holy shit! They actually looked golden. He stared at the carrots in awe, and if he were actually a five year old he might believe that his father actually made golden carrots. But no, using cognitive thinking skills Wilbur figured out rather quickly his father just painted naturally yellow carrots gold with cake decorating paste or something. 

Yet Technoblade seemed none the wiser - or more likely just didn’t care as long as they looked the part - that they weren’t real ‘golden’ carrots that were probably in Dristas world. The rabbit ate the carrots happily, getting a light dusting of gold around his muzzle which he wiped off easily using his front paws - though it's more like he just transferred the mess to his front legs and paws.

“Enjoy your carrots mate?” Philza asked, stars, he was beginning to sound just as crazy as Wilbur talking to a rabbit, at least when Wilbur talked to Technoblade he had a small chance of receiving a verbal response. 

Technoblade nodded, finishing the last of his carrots, only leaving the stems in the bowl. 

Wilbur rolled his eyes and began to eat his own breakfast that had gone slightly cold, but that's okay whats some cold eggs and bacon anyway. Sad. Sad is what it is, he used to have breakfasts like these in his past life when his father got busy with his noble duties and promised Wilbur to have breakfast with him, only to never show. But Tommy always did, he always showed and always tried to make Wilbur feel better, but how was he meant to feel better about his father working so hard he can’t spend any time with his sons. 

And before Wilbur knew it he was crying over cold eggs and bacon, Philza jumped out of his seat and paced over to Wilbur, kneeling down and wrapping gentle arms around his son's shoulders.

“Wil? What's wrong mate?” He coaxed, gently carding his fingers through Wilburs curls.

Wilbur couldn’t respond, he just tightly gripped onto his fathers robes, Technoblade hopped down from his chair and hopped under the table to Wilburs legs where he used one front paw to… pet? Wilburs legs, unlike how a pet would when asking to be picked up or if they wanted attention but almost in an attempt to calm, like Technoblade was trying to replicate how Wilbur and Philza pet him. 

The simple action almost made Wilbur want to laugh while he cried. It was endearing, the way Technoblade seemingly had no idea what to do in the situation so he tried to mimic others, albeit in his rabbit body but the thought is what counts. 

“Shh, shh, I’m here, I’m here,” Philza murmured softly, tightening his hold but still letting it be loose in case Wilbur no longer wanted the contact. 

“Please don’t leave me,” Wilbur sobbed, pulling at his fathers robes desperately to keep him by his side forever. 

“I’d never leave you mate, that's what I promised to you, and I will do everything in my power to keep that promise okay,” Philza hushed.

Wilbur nodded into his fathers shoulder as his sobs tapered off into small whimpers and sniffles, he felt small, and like he was an actual five year old, not just his future self in his body from when he was younger. 

“Better?” Philza murmured, but didn’t dare let go of Wilbur, not that he’d be able to go far if he did anyway with Wilburs white knuckle grip on the man’s robes, even as a child he had a fairly strong grip and Philza didn’t have the heart to pry him away from anything he desperately wanted - granted it wasn’t something that would hurt the boy. 

“Mhm,” Wilbur mumbled, dropping one hand so it could dangle off the side of the chair and search for Technoblade so he could stroke the rabbit's soft fur. 

Technoblade begrudgingly complied, hopping over to the boy's hand and stretching himself upwards so Wilburs fingertips could brush over the rabbits head.

“You said you wanted to talk about something?” Wilbur muttered, he knew what his father wanted to say, they had this conversation before, it was about bringing Tommy home. Wilbur hadn’t questioned it in his past life, he was happy to get a little brother if anything - he’d change his mind later when he actually got to know how annoying Tommy was. But Wilbur would do anything to get the current spotlight off of himself.

“You sure? You’re alright?” Philza asked.

“Yeah, I just- I don’t wanna lose you,” Wilbur muttered in response. 

“Aww mate, never, okay? Never.” 

Wilbur smiled at that and nodded, never, that sounded good. 

“But I’ve heard word about…” Philza hesitated before continuing.

He let out a long drawn out sigh.

“There’s a little boy who’s currently not in a good situation and he might end up with us, is that okay?” Philza asked, it wasn’t even like he was trying to convince Wilbur to say yes, he was just being as transparent as he could with the details.

“Mhm,” Wilbur replied, pulling back slightly to look at his father, his eyes shining with determination.

“I don’t know how long it’ll be Wil, but from what I’ve heard he’s very sweet, a little raccoon hybrid, you’ll love him,” Philza smiled, a look of pride on his face as he looked back at Wilbur.

A week. In one week Tommy will be in their house and Wilbur will have to decide what his plan of action is. 

“Okay dad.”

A week later his father came home cradling a bundle of blankets, within the folds of fabric was a cute little blonde toddler, the tiniest ears Wilbur had ever seen peeping out from a nest of curls, his blonde hair looking golden in the setting sun. 

“Hey Wilbur, this is Tommy, you’re new little brother okay,” Philza hummed, shifting to hold Tommy in one arm so he could ruffle Wilburs hair with the other. 

“He’s so… little,” Wilbur breathed, he had forgotten just how small, s mall and quiet  Tommy first was when he came to their manor.

“Yeah, but we’re gonna help him okay?”

“Yeah,” Wilbur nodded in agreement, help… help him. Wilbur still didn’t know if he wanted to get rid of the possibility of Tommy hurting his family at all or help Tommy become part of that family.

Technoblade had followed Wilbur everywhere for the week never once leaving his side, well he let Wilbur get changed and go to the bathroom but that was it! Other than that Technoblade was at his side no matter what. Wilbur had given up on trying to get Technoblade to sleep anywhere but directly on top of him - or next to him on warm nights - he found he didn’t mind that much. Technoblade still wasn’t much for conversation but would occasionally ‘ribbit’ unprompted as a way of filling the silence.

The two of them stood - well Wilbur stood and Technoblade sat - in silence, watching over a sleeping Tommy, Wilbur sighed, grimacing at the idea of hurting him.

“This is this easy way,” Technoblade huffed, looking up at Wilbur.

“I know, it’s just…” 

Technoblade looked at Wilbur thoughtfully, a silent request to keep going and he’d be there to listen.

“I was the one that pushed him to do what he did… he deserves a good life,” Wilbur mumbled, tears pricked at his eyes which he quickly wiped away, grumbling to himself.

“If that's what you want,” Technoblade responded simply. 

“Yeah… I think it is.” 

“Guess I’ll be sticking around then,” Technoblade chuckled.

“Really?” Wilbur tried to hide his excitement, he’d gotten quite attached to the rabbit and his antics, always asking for golden carrots, his ribbiting - even when Wilbur has told him multiple times that rabbits do not ribbit - and most of all the very awkward attempts at calming Wilbur down from his nightmares when he didn’t feel it was necessary to wake his father.

“Yeah I’ll uh- stick around until I know you’re out of the woods for sure.”

“Yeah- yeah okay, cool.”

“Cool,” Technoblade repeated.

“You think I can really be good to him this time?”

“Ribbit.”

“Why you!” 

Technoblade smiled, “Yeah, I think you’ll do just fine.”

All of Wilburs hostility drained as he smiled back before turning his attention to the sleeping toddler.

“Hey Tommy, your big brother Wilby is gonna treat you well this time kay? I promise.”

“Wil-by,” Tommy repeated in his sleep, cooing as he rolled over cuddling his stuffed animal.

 Wilburs heart melted in his chest then and there, he stroked the precious blonde locks lovingly, “I promise,” he repeated in a whisper.

The pair, human and rabbit, turned and left the room, returning to theirs so they could finally rest with Wilbur having made up his mind, his stress lowered and he could finally rest. Technoblade curled up utop Wilbur who began to lightly pet the pink fur, mumbling his goodnights before letting his eyes flutter shut and drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Living with the toddler was… exhausting to say the least, but it was rewarding when Tommy would finally calm down from his crying fits and made cooing noises at Wilbur hands grabbing at his emerald necklace that Wilbur in their past life never let him touch. What's a few smudged fingerprints anyway?

“Hey Toms, you can’t put it in your mouth okay?” Wilbur hummed, unclasping his necklace from around his neck and dangling it over Tommy's crib so he could grab at it and smack it so it’d swing around and reflect pretty green light across the room. 

“Wilby it pre’y” Tommy babbled as he watched the light reflect through the crystal and onto his skin. 

“Yeah it is, isn’t it, one day you’ll get your very own,” Wilbur smiled.

Technoblade nudged his legs, pawing at Wilbur’s shoes impatiently. 

“Sorry, did you want to see Tommy too?” Wilbur chuckled, putting his necklace back on (much to Tommy’s upset) and lifted Technoblade off the floor so he could see Tommy.

He didn’t like Tommy that much - or so he claims - the toddler pulled at his ears and got spit and grease through his fur, but even still, he was cute, in a ‘this is a child’ type way.

“Hello Theseus,” Technoblade greeted, Tommy cooed excitedly reaching his arms out.

Technoblade tucked himself further into Wilburs grasp; he didn’t particularly want to mess up his coat today. Tommy frowned, his arms dropped to his sides, he started sniffling then wailing as fat drops of tears rolled down his cheeks.

“WANT TECHNOOO,” Tommy cried, slamming his fists onto the mattress of his cot and kicking his legs, his tail swishing from under him to further accentuate his upset. 

It didn’t take long for their father to run in, concerned at why his newly adopted youngest was wailing. 

He lifted Tommy from his cot, rocking him back and forth in his arms, shushing him gently. 

“Wanna pet bunny,” Tommy pouted, reaching out for Technoblade who shuffled in Wilburs arms raising himself to be over the boy’s shoulder trying to get as far away from the toddler as possible.

“Mate, Techno doesn’t want to be pet right now okay?” Philza hushed, still rocking Tommy back and forth, a motion that seemed to make Tommy fairly quiet as he yawned and began to chew on one of his fists.

“But Wilby…” 

“Wilbur doesn’t try to put Techno’s ears in his mouth mate,” Philza hummed.

Tommy grumbled, still reaching for Techno with one hand, “‘M sorry.”

Technoblade huffed, resting back down fully in Wilburs arms and leaned towards the child so he could pet him, what's a little bit of greasy fur anyway? 

Tommy cooed happily as he pulled at some of Technoblades fur, it wasn’t hard enough to hurt but it certainly wasn’t the most comfortable thing. 

“Ah, gentle mate,” Philza cooed, shifting his hold on Tommy so he was holding the toddler with one arm and reaching out to stroke Technoblade with his other to show Tommy how to be gentle.

Tommy mimicked Philza’s movements, squealing with excitement when Technoblade began rumbling as a sign of contemptment. 

The little raccoon hybrid began to mimic the noise, albeit in a much higher pitch and broken between babbles but it had both Philza and Wilbur cooing at the noise. Tommy’s tail swished with excitement at the reaction he received as he continued his rumbling noise, trying to go louder with it to ‘out-rumble’ Technoblade.

Technoblade took on this challenge happily, letting his own rumbling become louder

Eventually Tommy’s movements became less controlled as his arm limply fell just shy of Technoblades fur. Tommy let out a small whine before it tapered off into sleepy mumbles, shifting himself in Philzas arm to make himself more comfortable. 

“You did good Technoblade,” Wilbur praised as he let the rabbit hop out of his arms and back onto the ground, taking his place at Wilbur's side. 

Philza put Tommy back into his cot, watching over the little toddler as he slept soundly. Wilbur let out a small coo. Tommy was loud, and brash and annoying but as a toddler he was small and precious, like a crystal you just wanted to hold and hoard away so that no one could hurt it. Ironic that Wilbur became the very thing to hurt Tommy later on in their previous life. 

“C’mon Wil, it’s lunch time,” Philza hummed, resting a hand on his son's shoulder as a small reassurance.

Wilbur nodded and followed his father out of the room, Technoblade hopping along after them diligently. 

“And of course we have golden carrots just for you Tech,” Philza smiled down at the rabbit who sped up excitedly, racing to get to the dining room for his ‘golden’ carrots.

Wilbur had tried to tell him before that they weren't real golden carrots but Technoblade was adamant that they looked and tasted the part so they must be. Wilbur didn’t have the heart to correct him, if he says they’re real golden carrots then, they must be real golden carrots. 

He ran after Technoblade, racing to the dining room, not that it was a very fair race but a race nonetheless. One that Technoblade won by miles much to Wilburs exhaustion.

“I will- beat you- next time,” Wilbur promised between sharp inhales as he tried to catch his breath. 

Technoblade smirked, his eyes twinkling with that annoying level of cockiness he held, “Ribbit.”

“I’m gonna drop kick you to the sun.”

Technoblade tilted his head, making a scoffing noise before turning away from Wilbur and hopping over to his chair, waiting patiently with his paws resting on the table for his food.

Wilbur huffed, taking his own seat glaring daggers at Technoblade.

It wasn’t long before Philza joined them, chuckling at the stare off going on between Wilbur and Technoblade.

“Did he beat you again Wil?” Philza asked, his tone light and playful.

Wilbur gave an annoyed grumble of agreement, “But I’ll win next time!”

Technoblade snorted in response, which to Philza probably just sounded like the rabbit had something stuck in his throat.

“I’m sure you will mate, now we should probably get lunch hm?” 

Both Wilbur and Technoblade simultaneously turn their attention to Philza nodding eagerly.

Philza barks out a hearty laugh, full of warmth as always, “Well I can’t let my boys starve now can I?”

They had a servant bring in the lunch; vegetable soup with cheese on toast on the side, and of course Technoblades special ‘golden’ carrots.

Lunch was fairly quiet with a small amount of chatting when their messenger ran in.

“I’m sorry for disrupting, but there is an urgent request for your presence Lord Philza,” the messenger exclaimed, shuddering when they noticed the sharp glare Technoblade was sending them.

Wilbur kicked at the rabbit from under the table, not making it very far but Technoblade got the hint and dropped the hostile look.

“Sorry to cut lunch short Wil,” Philza sighed, “And Techno,” he added when he noticed the pitiful look their resident rabbit was giving him. 

“It’s not a problem at all father, it seems important,” Wilbur smiled. 

Sadness tugged at his chest, this message was what kickstarted Philza’s spiral into his workaholic state in their previous life, apparently an old ally of his fathers was having trouble with some underground blackmarket. They were good at hiding their tracks, it took years before his father and associates even figured out one name who turned out to just be a mercenary who for whatever reason wouldn’t rat out the heads for whatever reason.

“You can take care of Tommy right?” Philza asked as he got up from the table, petting Technoblade a few times before walking around to the other side of the table to press a quick kiss to Wilburs head.

“Don't worry dad, I got it,” Wilbur affirmed, swallowing down his sorrows and shooing his father away, he knew perfectly well how to play babysitter at this point considering how many nights he spent in their previous life reading stories to Tommy or rocking the little hybrid to sleep.

“I know you do,” Philza replied, smiling warmly before rushing off to his office.

Technoblade hopped off his chair apparently done with his carrots and took his place seated on the floor beside Wilbur, his chest puffed out proudly. 

“The best little guard rabbit,” Wilbur smiled, leaning down and giving Technoblade a few scratches before getting off his own seat and leaving for his room.

For the next few months Wilbur was on ‘Tommy duty’ entertaining him and putting him to sleep, Technoblade ‘helped’ if you could call it that, he’d sometimes read stories to Tommy - normally stories about ancient wars and mythology Wilbur was sure you really shouldn’t be reading to a toddler - and would often bother Wilbur for attention when he wasn't giving it to Tommy then completely ignoring Wilbur when he tried to ask what he wanted, only ‘ribbiting’ in response (despite Wilburs feeble attempts to teach Technoblade that rabbits don't ever make that noise naturally.)

“Hey Toms,” Wilbur greeted.

Tommy looked up from his seat on the floor smiling wide, “Wilby!!” He squealed clumsily, dragging himself off the floor and taking wobbling steps towards the brunette, arms stretched wide.

“Active this morning are we sunshine?” Wilbur smiled, picking up the toddler and booping his nose gently.

“Where Techno?” Tommy frowned, looking around puzzled for the rabbit.

“Hello Theseus,” Technoblade greeted from behind Wilbur, hopping out into view of the toddler who cooed and babbled excitedly trying to weasel his way out of Wilburs grasp to get to the pink rabbit. 

Wilbur and Technoblade had the conversation of if it was actually a good idea for Technoblade to be talking to Tommy, but they justified that Tommy probably wouldn’t remember it and Technoblade enjoyed reading to Tommy (and Wilbur). Wilbur enjoyed it too even, not that he’d admit it. 

“Techno! Techno!” Tommy chanted, making small chirping noises, ones you’d hear an avian make rather than a raccoon, no doubt a habit he picked up from Philza. 

“Technoblade?” Wilbur looked down at the rabbit, silently asking permission to set down the toddler so he could play.

Technoblade nodded in response and got ready to hop away as Wilbur carefully set Tommy back on the floor.

The toddler giggled, his tail flicking happily as he chased after Technoblade with his arms outstretched, flexing his fingers and grabbing at the air.

Wilbur sat down, and watched his brother and Technoblade chase each other.

But as the saying goes, “it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye” not that neither Technoblade nor Tommy lost an eye but Tommy did get his foot caught on a fold in the carpet causing him to fall flat on his face.

Wilbur looked on in horror and Tommy screamed a shrill cry that could make your ears bleed. Wilbur quickly rushed over cradling Tommy in his arms and rocked him back and forth. 

With all of Tommy’s noise it wasn’t long before Philza rushed in to find Wilbur calming and shushing Tommy, he’d gotten good at it in their past life whenever Tommy would end up crying from their ‘sparring’ matches and he’d take care of the blonde before going back inside so Tommy wouldn't snitch. 

“What happened?” Philza asked, panic clear as day showed on his face. 

“Techno fault!” Tommy cried out, holding his arms out for Philza, his face dripping with tears and snot. 

Technoblades ears pinned back at Tommy’s words, his red eyes shining with regret.

“They were just playing and Toms tripped and got a fright, didn’t you sunshine?” Wilbur murmured, rocking Tommy a few more times before passing him to Philza.

“Tech is mean,” Tommy whimpered, pushing his face into Philza's chest, tugging on his fathers coat, grumling words of upset. 

“It was just an accident mate, you’re okay,” Philza hummed, rocking the toddler back and forth in similar motion to Wilbur.

“Does it still hurt?” Philza queried, rubbing small circles onto the toddler's forehead.

Tommy shook his head, tucking himself further into Philzas hold, sniffling as the tears finally stopped flowing. 

“Aw, you tired mate?”

The toddler nodded, yawning as he blinked sleepily.  

“Okay, bed time for you then mate, and it’s just about bedtime for you too Wil,” Philza smiled, turning towards his eldest who nodded stiffly. 

Technoblade followed after Wilbur but not before giving one last guilty glance towards Tommy who was resting peacefully in Philzas arms. 

“He’ll be okay, kids are resilient like that,” Wilbur explained as soon as they were far enough away from his little brother's room. 

There was a beat of silence as Technoblade took in and acknowledged Wilburs words, his ears relaxed as he thought over his next words carefully. 

“Is he scared of me?” Technoblade mumbled, avoiding looking at Wilbur at all costs, keeping his eyes trained down and away from the boy.

Wilbur blinked, startled at the question, how anyone could be afraid of him is a mystery to Wilbur (he was not scared when he first saw the rabbit. Shut up.) After all, Technoblade was a fluffy pink rabbit.

“No, you’re not exactly what I think qualifies for ‘scary,’” Wilbur snickered.

Instead of a snide remark or gods forbid another ribbit, Technoblade just nodded his head letting out a short pleased rumble.

“Aw, does itty bitty Technoblade like my little baby brother? You want him to still be your friend, that's cute,” Wilbur teased, holding back his laughter knowing it’d echo through the halls and alert his father to some form of mischief.

Technoblade stared up at Wilbur, a snicker of amusement barely escaping him, “Ribbit.”

Wilbur grinned, scooping Technoblade up off the ground. Being met with no resistance he fixed his hold of Technoblade so he was cradling the rabbit like a baby. 

“Little Technoblade like my little gremlin brother,” he sang, taunting the rabbit in his arms as he swung him around and swayed with his steps like some drunkard. 

The rabbit in question huffed in a way that sounded more fond than annoyed before he started his rumbling noise as Wilbur swayed and swung him about until reaching their Wilburs room.

Wilbur sat Technoblade on the bed and continued on his waltz to his closet only to come out seconds later in his pajamas. The brunette quickly curled himself into bed, having Technoblade slide in next to him acting as a glorified stuffed animal.

Each day Tommy was beginning to look more and more like Wilburs little brother, the same little brother that killed him.

No, not his little brother, a monster wearing Tommy’s face, a monster Wilbur made. So maybe Wilbur deserved it, deserved the nightmares, the hallucinations, the way he’d see his murderers face in a child, all of the hurt. He deserved it all. But he was being better, he was going to nurture Tommy in the way he deserved, no ‘sparring’ sessions, Wilbur didn’t even raise his voice against the raccoon hybrid.

Because this wasn’t the same person Wilbur would remind himself, this was this timelines Tommy, this Tommy wasn’t going to snap because Wilbur was going to be a good big brother this time. He played with Tommy, watched over Tommy, read stories to Tommy, let Tommy play with his necklace.

Did he need to do anything else? He let Tommy cling to him like glue, a little limpet who followed Wilbur around through the halls, who begged to be carried when Wilbur was “having too much Techno-time” Wilbur would laugh and comply, he’d swing Tommy around until the boy was making happy squeals and eventually got too tired to continue. 

But sometimes Wilbur would look at him and he’d see that same look of disdain, the same disgusted look. Wilbur would flinch back and shake his head of the thought and he’d again be staring at his little brother's face, a bright smile on it, no scowl, no cold looks, just pure sunshine. And Wilbur would be okay again. He just had to shove down any doubts. 

He was doing fine, words he told himself over and over. As long as Tommy was happy, as long as Wilbur didn’t raise a finger against him, everything would be okay.

But sometimes he couldn't. Sometimes pretty promises to himself didn’t work. Sometimes he had to flee. Sometimes shutting his eyes and shaking his head didn’t hide the tricks his mind would play on him. Sometimes he thinks it’s not too late to take the easy way out and deal with the consequences later.

That thought horrifies him the most, thinking of giving up and hurting Tommy, putting out the kids bright flames again, covering the sunshine so it couldn’t light up Wilburs world. He didn’t deserve it. Wilbur didn’t deserve Tommy but Tommy didn’t deserve to be alone, without a brother, without someone constantly caring for him, teaching him things, being there for him. 

But sometimes Wilbur thinks he could hold the knife against himself instead, there's no threat for Tommy to go off the deep end if Wilburs not there to push him.

Wilbur slammed his head against his door, streams of tears sliding down his face, why is it so difficult, he just has to be the big brother he should have been, so why, why did it have to be so needlessly difficult. 

Technoblade hopped over to his side, leaning against him and rumbling, a sound that never failed to calm Wilbur from his thoughts.

“Am I doing this right?” Wilbur sobbed through shaky breaths.

“You’re doing fine,” Technoblade replied, pushing against Wilburs side, applying small amounts of pressure, encouraging Wilbur to relax. 

“I don’t- he doesn’t-” Wilbur let out a frustrated sob.

“You’re doing fine,” Technoblade repeated, further pushing against Wilburs side.

“Are you sure because-”

“Everything is going to be fine,” Technoblade insisted, moving onto Wilburs lap.

“Okay… I believe you.”

Wilbur would later find himself in bed, Technoblade curled on top of him, small snores floating through the air. He questioned it in the back of his head, he knew he didn’t carry himself but his father probably came in to say goodnight and found Wilbur on the floor. So he went back to sleep, muted worried singing in the back of his head that can be addressed another time.

“Wilbur! Wilbur! Wilbur!” Tommy chanted, he was all dressed up, ready for visiting the town, his red vest sparkling in the sunlight. 

Five years with Tommy is how long it took for him to turn into his annoying-clingy-child phase, and Wilbur was beginning to slowly regret not getting rid of the gremlin when he had a chance. Of course he wouldn’t! It’s his fault that the last timeline ended up so bad, he had to fix it, be nice to Tommy and all will be well. Wilbur thinks that's how it works at least.  

He still had panic attacks when he looked Tommy in the eyes every now and then so he made a habit to not look at his brothers face, Tommy didn’t seem to mind or even notice, the boy was to busy dragging Wilbur everywhere, through the halls, into the garden, exploring every inch of the manor until Tommy had it memorized by the age of eight. 

Technoblade was always there to calm Wilbur and was constantly at his side, the rabbit still sat at the dining table and still got fed his special ‘golden’ carrots. Still ‘ribbited’ much to Wilburs constant reminders that “rabbits don’t ribbit” not that Technoblade cared.

Wilbur looked at himself in the mirror, smiling. Yeah. Everything was gonna be fine.

“Five more minutes Toms,” Wilbur replied, combing his hair to perfection.

“You spend more time on your appearance than a girl! And I’d know women love me,” Tommy boasted from outside Wilburs ensuite, waiting on his brother's couch with Technoblade right outside the ensuite door, like a good little guard rabbit. 

“Women run from you screaming, love’s not the word I’d use,” Wilbur taunted as he fixed his yellow turtleneck sweater, giving his appearance a once over before opening the the door, arms open wide to show off his whole appearance, receiving a small noise of amusement from Technoblade.

“You can’t just bring that up all the time! It happened once,” Tommy groaned, holding his head in his hands.

The incident in question was when Wilbur had befriended a young noble lady and invited her for tea, extending pleasantries when Tommy barged in covered head to toe in mud which left the young lady running away screaming. Wilbur didn’t care much, he found the noble lady annoying and her screaming did not add to the little charm she had. 

“I can, will and do,” Wilbur replied smugly, reminiscing on the moment like it was yesterday and not two full years ago. 

“You’re so mean!” Tommy pouted, arching his shoulders and lowering his head trying to make himself bigger as his ears sat, pinned back against his hair.

Wilbur scoffed, rolling his eyes ‘if only you knew’ words that echoed in the back of his head, he made sure to squash them down. It didn’t matter, the past was the past and in the past Tommy got his vengeance anyway and if Wilbur fucked up a second time, Tommy would get his vengeance again. 

He shivered involuntarily at the thought as he looked down at his little brother, imagining the easy way out, blood on his hands, a body on the floor… his fathers look of anguish. Yeah, maybe Wilbur wouldn’t be taking the easy way out, even if he wanted to he wasn’t sure if he could at this point, the guilt would destroy him. He already feels more than guilty about their past life and living on with more guilt than that is more than one man should ever shoulder. 

“WILBUR!” Tommy shouted, standing on his tiptoes waving a hand in front of his brother's face.

Wilbur blinked, stepping back in shock, his mouth agape in surprise. 

“You spaced out big man, you good?” Tommy asked, tilting his head, ears flopping about along with the movement of his head.

Wilbur shook his head, dispelling the memories of their past life. He is here now, what he did isn’t important, he’s taking the good route this time. 

“Yeah, let's go, bet you’re excited huh?” Wilbur grinned, going to the main town of L’Manburg was always an adventure, you never knew what to expect. But they were going for business, their fathers business specifically. Ordinarily they’d just be left at home however Tommy begged their father to let him tag along and naturally the offer was extended to Wilbur and he of course agreed and Technoblade was non-negotiable, if Wilbur was going Technoblade was going. That's final. 

On cue their father called for them and the boys quickly made their way out of the room, Technoblade barreling past them, beating them both to the foyer where Philza awaited them. 

“Still can’t beat Tech huh Wil?” Philza greeted with a tease.

Wilbur huffed, “I’ll beat him one day!” He proclaimed, a look of pure determination on his face causing his eyes to shine with valour. 

Technoblade snorted at the proclamation which earned him a glare from Wilbur.

“Are you both ready?” 

The two boys nodded eagerly as Philza led them out to the carriage, Wilbur helping Tommy in followed by Technoblade, himself and then their father. Technoblade situated himself between the two boys, resting his head and front paws on Wilburs lap.

The carriage ride was quiet with occasional excited squeals from Tommy as he looked out the window to see shops bright with candle light and people wandering the streets in fancy and interesting clothing.

“Woah! Wilbur! Wilbur! What’s that place?” Tommy’s eyes shone with interest as he pressed his face up to the carriage window. Wilbur followed his brothers line of sight, smiling softly to himself, whilst it’d be a few years until it was officially but that bakery would one day be owned by Lady Niki who, whilst of noble blood considered herself ‘simply a humble baker’ truly admirable. 

“It’s a bakery toms, if you’re good I’ll take you there one day,” Wilbur answered, absentmindedly stroking Technoblades fur causing the rabbit to let out a soft rumble.

Tommy grinned at that and began rocking back and forth on his seat in excitement. 

Their carriage soon stopped and Wilbur gently shook Technoblade out of his stupor. Technoblade made a few noises in response that made Wilbur pale but it didn’t seem like the other two paid any attention to it. 

Being the amazing person Wilbur is, he gently held Technoblade in his arms so the rabbit didn’t have to wake all the way up. Technoblade seemed to enjoy this set up because soon enough he was rumbling with contentment. 

Philza led them through the winding streets to a jeweler shop, Wilbur smiled, his eyes glittering, he knew what this was, in their last life he didn’t accompany his father, neither did Tommy leaving the boys home for Tommy to annoy Wilbur and for Wilbur to slam his door in Tommy’s face shouting how he was annoying. 

Wilbur grimaced, sending an apologetic glance to Tommy that the boy would never understand.

“So why are we here?” Tommy asked, his curiosity buzzing as he bounced on his toes, eyes blown wide as he looked through the windows at all the shiny crystals on display, brooches, rings, earrings, necklaces, all kinds of jewelry.

 “You’ll find out soon Tommy,” Philza replied with a gentle smile as always.

Tommy pouted but didn’t complain out loud.

“I’ll stay out here with Technoblade,” Wilbur stated, scratching at the lion's mane of fluff around Technoblades neck.

“Alright, Tommy you stay out here too,” Philza hummed in response.

“What but-” Philza raised a hand, cutting off Tommy from continuing his complaints.

“Fine but I'm not happy about it,” Tommy grumbled, pouting and crossing his arms as he slid down the wall, ending up on the ground where he crossed his legs like some preschooler sent to the naughty mat.

Philza gave a quick thank you before leaving the two boys outside.

It didn’t take long for Tommy to cause chaos because of course it didn’t, he started humming and whistling in the way he always did when he wanted to say something but didn’t want to outright say it, so Wilbur turned his attention to Tommy, sighing and raising an eyebrow as if to say “go on then.”

“Hey Wilbyyy,” Tommy started, his words giving away the fact he was in ‘I want something’ mode.

“I’m not telling you why we're here, Toms,” Wilbur sighed, turning away from his brother.

“So you do know!” Tommy exclaimed as if it were a shock.

“Course I do, I’m more observant than you.”

“Are not.”

“Am too.” 

“Are-”

Technoblade grumbled annoyed at all the noise the brothers were making, shifting around in Wilburs arms. Tommy snapped his mouth shut, staring at the rabbit in bewilderment, his tail flicking in interest. 

“Technoblade?” Tommy muttered curiously, quickly getting off the ground and looking at the rabbit, his eyes sparkling with interest.

“Tommy?” Wilbur replied with a raised eyebrow, shielding Technoblade and shaking him gently, trying to wake him up.

“Did you hear that Wil?” Tommy asked, his gaze was far more intense than Wilbur ever remembered it being in their previous life, a gaze that felt like it tore apart everything that was Wilbur, stripping him down the bare bones, a gaze that lingered on the skin long after it’s broken. 

Wilbur stared at his little brother, biting his lip, weighing his options. Let Tommy in on the secret or convince Tommy he imagined it. It wasn’t really Wilbur's secret to tell but gaslighting his little brother? That sounded like a step back from the direction he wanted to go in this life. 

He jabbed at Technoblades back with his thumb, waking the rabbit up who looked at Wilbur, grumpy and unimpressed. 

“What did you hear, Tommy?” Wilbur asked, turning the question back on his brother to buy time, his chest burning with the desire to tell Tommy about Technoblade, not all the details of course, just that he was a talking rabbit. A secret for them to hold as brothers.

“Techno grumbled, he! He spoke!” Tommy exclaimed, his eyes pleading for Wilbur to believe him.

Technoblade tilted his head at Tommy, his ears flopping and twitching at Tommy’s words.

“Are-” Wilbur gulped, biting his lip and silently hopping for Technoblade to speak up.

“Wilbur?” Tommy pleaded.

He didn’t have a response, Wilbur was completely uncertain how to handle this conversation, he looked down at Technoblade for answers.

Technoblade didn’t give him any answers, just staring back at Wilbur slowly blinking, not making an effort to add anything to the conversation. 

Wilbur bit back tears, this was stupid. He was stupid. Crying because he didn’t know what to do, crying because he thought he’d mess everything up if he made the wrong decision. 

So maybe he was being stupid but he’d do anything to prevent his little brother from becoming the person he became in their previous life. 

“Technoblade,” Wilbur muttered, a quiet threat of ‘you make a decision or I do.’

He sighed, scrutinising Tommy from Wilburs arms.

Wilbur stared down at him desperately, words on the tip of his tongue, begging to be spilt, begging to tell Tommy about Technoblade, how he’d read Tommy bedtime stories and call him ‘Theseus’. How much Technoblade (though he won't admit it out loud) adores how Tommy lights up a room with a single smile and endlessly goes on about whatever caught his interest that day. 

As Wilbur slowly gave up on getting Technoblade to speak for himself, he took a deep breath, looked Tommy in the eyes and- 

“Ribbit.”

Both brothers stood in silent shock, Wilbur muttered a quick ‘thank you’ and scratched at Technoblades chin to show his gratitude. Tommy on the other hand looked like he was going to explode with questions and exhilaration.

Tommy’s eyes grew wide, a series of excited chirps and chitters leaving him.

“You can talk! You can talk! Wilbur did you know? Techno how long have you been able to talk??” Tommy chittered excitedly, bouncing on his toes unable to contain the excitement that was quickly bubbling to the surface. 

“I knew,” Wilbur smiled, placing Technoblade gently on the ground and watched as he hopped to Wilburs side, sitting proudly.

“How come I didn’t get to know!” Tommy complained, his tail swishing.

“Dad doesn’t know either, only I did,” Wilbur explained, letting his fingers weave together absentmindedly as his thumbs traced circles along his skin.

“So… it’s like our secret?” Tommy grinned, his eyes sparkling.

Wilbur nodded, “Yup, our little secret.” 

Tommy pulled Wilbur into a hug with surprising strength, Wilbur stood shocked before returning the hug. Maybe everything would be okay after all.

“Love you Toms,” Wilbur muttered into his little brother's curls, holding him tightly.

“Don’t get all sappy on me,” Tommy complained, trying to pull away from the hug but being unable too.

He huffed, going limp in Wilburs arms letting out a small rumble of contentment, letting his tail wrap around Wilburs leg loosely. 

“I love you too,” Tommy smiled.

After the tender moment was over and their father still hadn’t left the jeweler store, Tommy’s impatient, gremlin, chaos-causing nature came back full force, he gave Wilbur a sly grin.

“Bet that I can run to the end of the street and back quicker than you,” Tommy proclaimed.

“Tommy we really shouldn’t-”

Before Wilbur could finish Tommy ran off for Wilbur to give chase, he had longer legs than his brother so it wasn’t an issue, he’d catch up and drag Tommy back eventually.

Wilbur reached out his hand, his fingertips brushing the tufts of Tommy’s hair that stuck out when Tommy was pulled into an alley from right in front of Wilbur, he halted immediately, Technoblade let out a growl as his ears laid back.

“You’re one of those fucking craft kids aren’t you,” snarled a man in white, a gold chain hung around his neck, Wilbur narrowed his eyes, he knew this man, he was the mercenary his father tracked down and had interviewed. Punz if Wilburs memory served correctly. 

“Put him down,” Wilbur seethed, stepping into the alley fully, fists balled at his sides.

“And you must be Wilbur, aw and you have your little guard rabbit with you, isn’t that cute,” Punz cooed mockingly.

Technoblade snarled, it sounded more like a noise you’d hear from a bobcat then a rabbit, but Punz didn’t seem the slightest bit threatened. 

“That thing needs a muzzle,” Punz hissed dryly. 

“Put. Him. Down.” Wilbur repeated, his eyes flickering to the object in Punz’ hand, a golden switchblade.

“Oh yeah? Or what brat,” Punz smiled, holding the blade to Tommy’s throat.

Tommy tensed up and his tail flicked nervously, he stared at Wilbur, eyes full of tears and f ear. 

A look Wilbur was well acquainted with, a look Wilbur would be given time and again in their past life, a look that was reserved just for Wilbur to draw out when he was done taking out his stress on Tommy.

“Wilby,” Tommy cried as the tears began to overflow, dripping down his cheeks.

Wilbur took a step forward only for Punz to press the blade against Tommy’s throat, drawing out whimpers from the young blonde.

“What do you want?” Wilbur queried, raising his hands and looking down at Technoblade nervously. 

“Your father caused me a whole world of trouble for me and my employers, they just wanted to send a message, and it looks like you ran right to me, funny how things work out right?” Punz boasted, dragging the blade lightly across Tommy’s skin. 

“Put him down, take me instead please-” Wilbur pleaded desperately, everything he’d done, everything for Tommy he couldn’t let it be undone by some vengeful asshole.

“Why should I?” Punz challenged, raising an eyebrow. 

“Please- please just put him down,” Wilbur begged, desperately wanting to reach out for Tommy to drag him away from this- this monster, wrap him up tight and hide him away from the world so that no one lays a hand on him. 

“No, I don’t think I will,” Punz smirked, flicking the blade around a few times before bringing it down hard. 

The next moments blurred together, Wilburs cries, Tommy’s sobs and Punz’ blood curdling screams. 

Tommy was torn away from Punz and handed to Wilbur, Wilbur wrapped his arms around Tommy as tightly as he could, holding the boy close.

A pink haired man stood over Punz, snarling and grinding his boot down on the man's wrist.

“Do not touch them. Ever again,” he snarled.

Wilburs head snapped up, that voice… he looked to his side where normally a familiar pink rabbit would sit.

“Technoblade…?” Wilbur muttered, shrinking back with Tommy still in his arms.

“Wilbur, Wilbur is Tommy okay?” Technoblade asking, shrinking down into a younger form, looking to be around Wilburs age.

“Have you always-” 

“Wilbur I’ll explain later, is he okay?” 

“He’s scared but the wound wasn’t that deep.”

“That's good, let's get him back home,” Technoblade smiled gently, helping the boys off the ground and turning back to his rabbit form and following them back to the jewelry shop where their father stood looking around frantically. 

“Are- are you okay? What happened?” He asked frantically, hands itching to grab Tommy out of Wilburs clutch.

Tommy whimpered burying his face into Wilburs neck, clutching tightly to Wilburs shirt with a white-knuckle grip. 

“Can we go home?” Wilbur asked quietly.

Neither boy mentioned anything about the attack, Wilbur didn’t even know how to lie to cover it up, he didn’t have the strength to take down an attacker, especially a trained assassin like Punz, Technoblade could only do it because he had the element of surprise. Neither wanted to talk about it, they were still processing all of the events. Tommy clung to Wilbur like his life depending on it and Wilbur found he didn’t mind much, he couldn’t really blame Tommy it was a terrifying experience, even for him. 

So the carriage ride was quiet, Philza didn’t push, he didn’t even mind when the boys ran off to Wilburs room, or when they didn’t come down for dinner, or when Wilbur accidentally snapped at him when he went in to say goodnight. They were scared Philza understood that, they could talk to him when they were ready. 

“Wilbur,” Tommy whimpered, clinging to Wilbur tightly, sobbing quietly. 

“I’m here, I’m here,” Wilbur muttered in response, holding Tommy close whilst Technoblade kept guard in his rabbit form. They’d have a conversation about his forms later when Tommy had calmed down.  

Tommy slept in Wilburs bed that night, clinging to Wilbur tightly, Technoblade beside them, protecting them from whatever might dare try to hurt them. 

Wilburs sleep was dark and dreamless, he didn’t want to sleep but his body was too tired to stay away, he had to protect Tommy, he couldn’t help but wonder if he fucked up somehow, should he have been the one to step in? Punz was going to kill Tommy and he just stood there like a deer in headlights, like an idiot. 

He clung as tightly to Tommy and Tommy did to him, a silent promise of safety and protection. 

The morning came slowly, Technoblade was awake and alert as Wilbur woke up, still with Tommy in his arms. He frowned at the bandage wrapped around Tommy’s neck, muttering soft apologies to the still sleeping boy.

“Morning Wilbur,” Technoblade grunted, his voice deeper than usual.

“Morning Technoblade,” Wilbur replied, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

“Did you sleep much?” Wilbur added, he had a suspicion he already knew the answer but wanted to hear it from Technoblade himself.

Technoblade ignored the question, turning away from Wilbur.

Wilbur sighed, pulling Technoblade onto his lap, stroking his fur gently. 

“Get your rest, I’ll take watch duty,” Wilbur offered, drawing out rumbles from Technoblade.

“Wilbur-”

“You did well, it’s alright, I’ve got it,” Wilbur promises.

Technoblade mumbled a small agrement and made himself comfortable, rumbling quietly as Wilbur carded his fingers through his soft fur. 

Wilbur laid back down as Tommy shuffled closer to him, whimpering slightly. Wilbur sighed, lifting a hand to give Tommy’s curls the same treatment as Technoblades fur, humming softly.

Tommy soon calmed down, chirping in his sleep and later purring as Wilbur scratched gently at the base of his scalp.

Their day was long and slow with Tommy needing constant contact with Wilbur, intertwined fingers, Wilbur carrying Tommy or Tommy slumped against his brother with his arms wrapped around Wilburs.

In their past life Wilbur would call Tommy a baby and say he needs to grow up, but not this one. This life Wilbur let Tommy be his limpet, he let Tommy cling to him, and he didn’t mind it, not when if he tore away from Tommy the boy would flinch and look like he was going to cry.

They sat quietly and ate breakfast, chairs pushed up right next to each other so there was no gap and they could sit hip to hip whilst they ate. Their father titled his head at their behaviour but didn’t push for answers which both were grateful for.

After breakfast they fled back to Wilburs room where they stayed for their ‘mid-morning snack’ coffee (or coco in Tommy’s case) and a tray of biscuits. 

Technoblade sat next to Wilbur, munching on one of his carrots happily as the boys sipped at their drinks. 

“So, are you a human Techno?” Tommy piped up, tilting his head.

“Do I look human?” Technoblade snorted in response as he finished his carrot. 

“You did yesterday,” Tommy grumbled, leaning into Wilbur who laughed and ruffled his hair gently. 

“It’s more accurate to say I’m a rabbit with a human form,” Technoblade explained, turning to his human form, he looked around Wilburs age with medium length pink hair, surprisingly no rabbit ears, a poet shirt (one that Wilburs sure went missing from his closet a month ago) black pants, boots that went up to his knees and a red velvet cape trimmed with soft fluff that looked like clouds.

Tommy’s eyes sparked and his tail flicked with interest.

“So- so you’re like- less a pet and more-” Tommy thought for a minute, unsure of what word to use, “Our brother?”

Technoblades eyes shone with something Wilbur didn’t have time to read as Technoblade turned back to his rabbit form.

“Sure if you want,” Technoblade muttered, his tone didn’t seem to hold any emotion but Wilbur could tell Technoblade was happy to hear Tommy considered him as much, and there was certainly a hint of pride hidden under his monotical tone. 

Tommy and Wilbur stood outside their fathers door, exchanging looks of uncertainty, they finally came up with a believable story to tell Philza and they know he’s been worried about them. It’s only fair they tell him the truth, even if it's not the full truth.  

Wilbur and Tommy’s fingers were intertwined, Wilbur raised a shaky fist and knocked on his fathers door, waiting for an answer. They heard his footsteps and soon enough the door creaked open and he looked down at his boys smiling gently. 

“Are you alright?” He asked, scanning their faces for tears or any signs they were upset.

“Um- can we talk about what happened yesterday,” Wilbur mumbled, taking the lead and looking at the floor, shuffling his feet awkwardly. 

“Of course, come in,” Philza replied, stepping aside so his kids could wander in, followed by Technoblade of course. 

Together they explained that a man dressed in white with a gold chain attacked Tommy, held a knife to his throat and threatened him, how he said he wanted to cause harm to Philza by hurting his kids but Technoblade saved them by biting his ankles hard enough that he let go of Tommy and they ran away back to the jeweler shop and the man didn’t follow.

Philza looked horrified that someone would go after his kids to get to him.

“I’m so sorry,” he muttered, holding his boys tightly, wrapping his wings around them, making small sorrowful, trilling noises. 

“It’s not your fault,” Tommy replied, burying his face into his fathers robes, fighting back tears and sniffling as he mimicked Philzas trills. 

“It’s probably a bad time but…” Philza leaned back to rummage through his bedside tables drawer, pulling out a small box.

“This is why we were at the jewelers yesterday,” Philza smiled, offering the box to Tommy.

Tommy took it cautiously, looking up at Wilbur who nodded, encouraging him to open and view its contents. So Tommy did, he lifted the lid gently peering inside.

What he saw drew a small gasp out of him, inside the box sat an emerald encrusted bracelet, he looked at Philza and gently picked up the bracelet, the inside encrusted with “Tommy ‘Kraken’ Craft” he chittered excitedly slipping it on his wrist. The fit was slightly too big so he could grow into it, but that didn’t matter, what mattered was the meaning behind it.  

Tommy had joked to Wilbur about how his middle name should be Kraken because he was 'worthy of the title' Wilbur found it amusing so he discussed it with Philza and he agreed to have it engraved as Tommy's middle name. 

“Welcome to the family Toms,” Wilbur smiled, giving his brother a side hug.

The bracelet was a proclamation, a welcome to the Craft family, a symbol of them being part of the Craft family, Wilbur had a necklace and Philza had an earring and now Tommy had a bracelet, that only left one person.

“What about Technoblade?” Tommy asked, Technoblade tilted his head at Tommy quizzically. 

“I suppose we could figure something out,” Philza smiled, looking down at Technoblade and scratching under his chin a few times drawing out happy rumbles. 

It was perfect, Wilbur smilied, leaning against Tommy. Everything is on track. Everything will be fine. Everything was perfect. 

Chapter Text

Everything was in fact not perfect. That illusion shattered when Tommy’s eyes trained themselves upwards, wide and fearful at Wilbur, red handprint on his cheek, a look of unspoken horror and hurt on his face.

And just like that the rope snapped, Wilbur said he wouldn’t hurt Tommy this time, Wilbur said he would be a good big brother, Wilbur said he wouldn’t lay a hand on Tommy, Wilbur promised he’d keep Tommy safe. 

“Tommy- Tommy no I- I’m sorry,” Wilbur stuttered, holding his hands up, his right palm just as red as Tommy’s cheek.

The raccoon hybrid's tail twitched as he processed what happened, a hand reaching up to his cheek, wincing at the pinpricks of pain he felt when he ran his fingers across the mark. 

His lip wobbled and tears threatened to spill but he didn’t make a noise, not a single squeak as he looked at Wilbur, betrayal and confusion written all over his face, from the slight furrowing of his brows, the way his lips shook as they formed a thin line, the uncertainty shown in the way he flicked his tail.

Wilbur took a step, holding his left hand out keeping his right raised, worry and concern bubbling to the surface as he took in how small and fragile Tommy seemed, just like- just like their previous life…

Tommy flinched back as Wilbur moved towards him, and it hurt, Wilbur didn’t mean to hit Tommy, he just- he got in the way. Wilbur was- well he was- why did he do that? Why did he hit Tommy? 

He looked at his hand as if some answer would just show up, it’d come to him like clockwork. But nothing did. He stood, like an idiot, staring at his hand completely at a loss for what to do.

Something nudged his leg, he jumped startled. His eyes trailed down to see Technoblade in his rabbit form tilting his head and Wilbur. An almost annoyed grunt came out of Technoblade, his face matched with the noise too, his ears twitching and trained towards Tommy’s confused sniffles. 

“Wil-by,” Tommy's voice cracked as tears of shock and pain began to spill, his look of betrayal stabbing Wilbur like a sword through his chest.

“I- I’m sorry I didn’t-” Wilbur gasped, turning his attention back to Tommy, his fingers twitching to wrap the boy up in a tight hug and apologise over and over.

Technoblade switched to his human form and wrapped his cloak around Tommy, holding the boy gently. 

“Wilbur didn’t mean to, it was an accident,” he grumbled, resting his head atop Tommy’s and began to make a rumbling noise which had Tommy melting into his hold as he began his own small broken rumbles. 

Wilbur watched helplessly, wanting to join them but not wanting to scare Tommy further, so he stood, waiting for guidance from either Technoblade or Tommy, twitching at every small noise Tommy made, every sob, every whimper, every sniffle, watching powerlessly, his body impossibly stiff forcing himself to stay put even when it physically hurt.

Tommy looked at him, his eyes bloodshot and puffy, Wilburs heart shattered a second time, such a pitiful look of confusion and hurt, the mark still visible as he reached out for Wilbur.

In their past life a look like that would make him want to laugh, make him want to cackle; he always looked so pathetic, looking up at Wilbur with tears in his eyes, confusion and hints of betrayal forming behind a surprised expression. But now, Wilbur only wanted to comfort him, wrap him in blankets, hold him close and sing to him gentle melodies he thought up on a rainy day.

Wilbur would let Tommy steal his necklace and joke about how he prefers Technoblade over Wilbur - in reality Wilbur knows Tommy could never pick a real favorite they were equally important to him, equally his brothers - joke about how with Wilburs singing talent he could be a siren, but they already tested that theory Wilbur was a ordinary human… if being reincarnated was considered ordinary that is. All so Tommy could be happy and Wilbur wouldn’t have to see that expression on his little brother's face ever again.

“Wilby?” He cried, reaching out like a child, pulling away from Technoblades hold and Wilbur immediately rushed up to him, holding him in an impossibly tight hold.

“I’m sorry, I’m so so so sorry,” he spluttered, clutching desperately to his little brother, running his fingers through Tommy’s curls continuously mumbling apologies over and over, happy if he managed to earn even a shred of forgiveness. 

Technoblades looks of concern didn’t go entirely unnoticed by Wilbur but he was too preoccupied by shushing his little brother and calming himself down to acknowledge it much. 

Tommy eventually calmed down, Technoblade turned back to his rabbit form and Wilbur- Wilbur didn’t know what to do, he didn’t even remember hitting Tommy.

But it’ll be fine- it was a one off occurrence, he’s being a good big brother this time, Wilbur isn’t going to hurt Tommy anymore. Tommy doesn’t deserve it, Tommy is his little brother. Sure he’s annoying but he’s a kid and he deserves a good big brother.

Wilbur hummed small melodies to Tommy as the kid purred and rumbled in his arms, the blonde didn’t have to say it outright that Wilbur was forgiven and Wilbur couldn’t be more glad. However he was beginning to feel the sparks on the anxiety coil in his guts, just what made Wilbur suddenly lash out?

He can find out later maybe, for now what was important was the boy in his arms he held so dearly. 

One stand alone, insignificant incident soon turned to two. Wilbur could feel the flickers of anger spark from him, quickly replaced by worry and concern.

Tommy glared at Wilbur, fury in his eyes along with hints of confusion, like a kid being told they can't do something without rhyme or reason.

“Wilbur! What was that for?” Tommy snapped, unlike the first time he just seemed mad like he wasn’t expecting to get hit.

It was so unlike both the Tommy from their previous life and the limpet that is Tommy in this life that it caught Wilbur more than off guard as he stood for a minute his mouth agape at how standoffish Tommy was. Sure he was a gremlin but he never had genuine fury in his eyes, he got annoyed and grumbled a lot at Wilbur's antics but never wholehearted hatred.

“I- I don’t,” Wilbur muttered, trying to remember why he hit Tommy or what the events leading up to it even were, he doesn’t remember Tommy being ‘annoying’ just how he usually is, going on about some circus or whatever

“Y’know you’re being a right wrong’un just now! Not listening to me after you asked about my studies and then you go and hit me!” Tommy hissed, his tail flicking to show his agitation as he rubbed his sore cheek.

Wilbur just shook his head as if to dispel thoughts he wasn’t having. Wilbur didn’t know anything about Tommy’s studies! They were talking about being a knight or something - Wilbur in all fairness wasn’t really paying attention - so maybe they were talking about Tommy’s studies but why the hell had Wilbur hit the kid! It’s just like the first time his memories are all fuzzy and jumbled and he remembers nothing of the action but he can’t deny it was him, his palm matches the red shade of Tommy’s cheek perfectly. 

Technoblade regarded the brothers his brothers with blank red eyes, an expression he wore well where not even Wilbur could tell what the rabbit was thinking or feeling, not helped by the fact Technoblade was indeed in his rabbit form.

“I- I’m sorry Tommy, I’m not feeling very well,” Wilbur muttered, it wasn’t entirely a lie, the gaps in his memory made his stomach twist and turn in unpleasant ways making him feel sick, not that it was a good excuse.

“You need to get some rest, big man? I can get dad to call the family doctor,” Tommy offered, his tail has stopped lashing and flicking about and now hung limply, maybe sometimes swaying subtly, Wilbur couldn’t tell, paying attention to it made him feel more dizzy. 

“Yeah, I think- I’ll just go lay down,” Wilbur replied, frowning

Two off soon turned to a few incidents, Wilbur standing over Tommy, that horrible look of betrayal and fear swirling in crystal blue eyes, leaking tears which slid down his cheeks as his mouth hung open in silent shock and confusion.

“Tommy- I-” Wilbur muttered staring at his hand, it stung but he couldn’t even remember causing the pain, he couldn’t remember hitting Tommy, like his previous life had come back for a split second and took its wrath out on Tommy again.

Technoblade watched silently, a worried look on his face as he tilted his head, his ears twitching at the quiet sniffles that came from Tommy.

“Wilbur? What did I do?” Tommy’s voice was heartbreaking, quiet and cautious, everything he wasn’t like he was walking on eggshells afraid of Wilburs reaction if he spoke too loudly.

“No- No Tommy I-” Wilbur couldn’t even find the words to excuse his actions, could he really say ‘I don’t even remember hitting you, I’m sorry I don’t know why I did’ as if that would be believable. 

His hands itched to just reach out and hold Tommy close to his chest, to stifle the boys cries, card his fingers through Tommy’s blonde curls.

“Tommy can I-” 

Tommy flinched back as Wilbur tried to move closer, his whole body tensing in fear, arms raising quickly to shield his face. 

“Wilbur didn’t mean to,” Technoblade promised, hopping over to Tommy, rumbling gently, encouraging Tommy to return the noise. 

“Can’t- can’t- I can’t,” Tommy sobbed, pulling Technoblade closer to himself, curling around the rabbit, wrapping himself with his tail.

“Wilbur, I think you should go,” Technoblade stated, his voice a lot colder than what Wilbur was used to, like he was being reprimanded. He inhaled sharply but nodded, walking away and letting Technoblade deal with the situation whilst he stared at his hand, still feeling the little pinpricks of pain from hitting Tommy.

Wilbur couldn’t trust himself around Tommy anymore, couldn’t trust himself to even see Tommy anymore. Opting to lock himself away in his room barely coming out for meals until his father caved and had servants bring him his meals which he’d eat alone, sending Technoblade out to eat with Philza and Tommy, no reason to keep Technoblade trapped with him. He’d ignore the calls from Tommy as he requested to see Wilbur (even if it pained him to do so.) How could Wilbur face him when he hurts him constantly, and he can’t even stop, he doesn’t know why he’s even causing harm to his brother.

Even when Wilbur ignores him completely he’d always come back telling Wilbur how much Tommy misses him and that he’s sorry for whatever he’s done. 

That he’s sorry. 

Tommy shouldn’t have to feel sorry, it’s not his fault, it was never his fault and that makes it all the more heart wrenching for Wilbur. His little brother, his baby brother, thinks this is all his fault. Tommy never did anything wrong he just- he was clingy and he got too hyper at times but he never deserved to be hit for it. Wilbur should be able to communicate with Tommy. Tommy is more than old enough for communication to be more or less easy. It’s not even that hard all he has to do is talk to him. But what would they even discuss? Wilbur doesn’t remember ever hitting Tommy in this life on purpose, he’d never raise a hand against the boy if he could help it.

Wilbur ignored the sounds of quiet knocking, turning away from his door as he hand ghosted over the knob. With all the strength and willpower he had in his body he turned away. But the knocking didn’t stop, a weak tapping, the tapping would probably be annoying to anyone else but to Wilbur it just served as another reminder that he’s messed up again how he was mistreating Tommy again. 

Eventually the knocking ceased and Wilbur could hear the distinct sound of Tommy’s back hitting his door as he slid down to the floor, chirps begging for attention sounded through the door.

Wilbur wasn’t an avian like his father, a raccoon hybrid like Tommy or any other kind of hybrid, he was just human but he still felt the pain and loneliness the chirps held. He struggled to not return his own mock sounds, to not open the door, to not thoroughly apologise over and over.

“Wilby-” 

He bit back the need to calm his brother, to not state “I’m here, I’m right here, I love you, I promise.”

To swear to Tommy on everything that Wilbur is, title and all that he’d lay it all on the line to protect Tommy to look after him. It’s funny looking back on his previous life, he’d never be caught dead with this line of thinking. He never took the time to get to know Tommy, seeing him as first and foremost an annoying child and a spoiled brat, not bothering to understand Tommy as a person, only as a nuisance and a tool to take his grievances out on.

“I don’t know what I’ve done,” he continued, Wilburs heart breaking more and more hearing Tommy’s weak whines and whimpers.

Desperately Wilbur wants to tell Tommy he hasn’t done anything. Nothing he could do would make Wilbur hit or ignore him, something he wants to believe so badly but with all the evidence against him… it's hard to make himself seem innocent.

“Dad said he’s taking me to town tomorrow, I hope you’ll come, there's meant to be this cool jousting tournament, Technoblade said he’ll come… won't you?” Wilbur could feel the pain, the desperation in Tommy’s words, a child who wants so miserably to be loved. 

Wilbur could give him that love, he could open the door and- and then he’ll hurt Tommy again. So Wilbur doesn’t open the door, he sits with his back against it, mirroring Tommy on the other side, he can hear Technoblades rumbles and Tommy’s little purrs. Wilbur can't help but notice the way even Tommy’s purr’s sound sad. 

His sunshine… he could almost see the way it flickered, still burning bright but, it’s tired and weak, the warmth is barely there, Wilburs cold, cold without his sunshine, burning bright his own piece of stardust, his- his brother.

A small warble escaped Wilbur, he couldn’t properly produce the noise like Tommy would have been able to do, or how Philza has been able to make that noise since he could make noise. But he could mimic it, a series of notes going from higher to lower as he pressed a palm to the door, and on the other side Tommy did the same.

“I don’t know what's going on with you but… I still love you, I promise,” Tommy confessed, trilling back at Wilbur softly. 

“I love you too Toms,” Wilbur replied, barely above a whisper.

“One day, I think we’ll look back on this and I’ll make so much fun of you, your edgy phase where you shut me out cause-” a sudden sob tore through Tommy’s words as he pressed himself up closer against the door.

“We can laugh at this one day, cause- cause you won’t be in there forever and you’ll look at me again oneday and you’ll say some stupid shit like ‘did you miss me sunshine’ and I’ll look up at you not crying and say ‘yeah, yeah I did’ please- please let that happen Wilby, please,” Tommy begged between sobs, his hand sliding down the door and he pressed his whole body against it as if he could just phase through it if he tried hard enough.

Technoblade didn’t join Wilbur that night, not really unexpected, he was probably with Tommy letting the boy cry into his fur, or maybe he’s hold Tommy tight to his chest like what Wilbur should be doing giving gentle words of encouragement, helping Tommy comb through his hair and brush out all the tangles with gentle hands. All the things a big brother should do in this situation. 

The next day came quicker than Wilbur would have liked, he ate breakfast in his room, sat alone, staring at his monstera plant, it’s leaves had started to brown, that was bad. His father normally watered it, but with Wilbur not accepting visitors… Can plants even die that fast? By the looks of it, it seemed to be true. First his sunshine had dimmed and now his plant was dying, this whole ‘staying in his room until the risk of him hurting Tommy is gone’ was getting real depressing.

Firm knocks met his door, startling him out of thought. He walked to his door, his hand hovering over the knob, it’s just his father. It's fine, it's not like he’ll hurt his dad or anything… he hasn’t hurt Technoblade… yet a voice in the back of his head echoed. 

“Wilbur, mate, are you coming with us to the village? Tommy’s really excited about the jousting competition, he’d love for you to join us,” Philza urged.

He didn’t have to convince Wilbur, Wilbur wanted to go, more than anything. He wanted to see that bright smile on Tommy’s face, spoil the kid with sweets and treats, watch as he stared in awe, his eyes basically sparkling with wonder. But he couldn’t, not at the risk of hurting Tommy.

“I’m not feeling too well,” Wilbur replied through the locked door, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Mate…” Philza crooned, Wilbur could hear the want in his voice, he wanted to be around Wilbur as much as Tommy did at this point.

“I’m fine, just- headache,” it wasn’t completely a lie, stressing had been giving Wilbur horrid migraines as he worried about Tommy about what he should be doing to remedy the situation, if he could remedy the situation.

Philza was silent for a moment, before letting out a long breath, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned for you, you can open up when you feel you need to, but I do wish you’d talk to me, Tommy says you’ve been ‘off’ for weeks, that you’ve hit him.”

It’s all true and Wilbur feels horrible but having it said back to him doesn’t make him feel any different, if anything it makes him want to hide himself away even more. 

“Wil, he loves and cares about you, he doesn’t blame you for anything, I promise,” Philza continued.

“I love him too…” Wilbur croaked, fighting back the tears.

Tommy should be mad at him. Should hate him, he had every right too, but he doesn’t. Is it because he sees that Wilbur isn’t meaning to hurt him? That he’s trying? But Tommy from their previous life was like that too, blissfully oblivious to Wilburs smouldering hatred and ire towards the boy. 

“He knows you do, but it’d be all the more meaningful if you told him yourself.” 

“Y’know, without a door in between,” Philza added subtly.

“I’d love to go… but…” Wilbur trailed off, the words and excuses dying on his tongue.

Thankfully Philza of course picked up on what he was meaning, “But you’re not up to it? That alright, I’m sure Tommy will give you the full run down when we get back.”

Wilbur smiled, leaning against his door, a whine escaping him, he wished things didn’t feel so complicated, that he could see Tommy again and not have to be afraid he’d hurt the kid. He couldn’t bear to face that expression of fear and betrayal agan. 

He tucked his head to his knees, he could he the horses out the front of the house as his family prepared to leave, at least they’d have fun… without him. 

His pity party seemed short lived as an insistent tapping on his balcony doors began to sound throughout the room, tapping that reminded him of Technoblades arrival.

It’s not unusual for there to be tapping on his windows, crows flew around the manor all the time, tapping the windows with their beaks in a strange curiosity. But this tapping was less of a crow or bird and more like someone tapping at glass with their nail over and over.

Apparently whatever is outside got impatient as the doors fling open with little effort, Wilbur lifts his head, taking in the sight of a familiar girl, dressed in green and golden robes, white feathered wings hanging limply at her sides, standing on the balcony with a bright smile on her face as she beams at Wilbur before a mask appears which she promptly uses to hide away her expressions.

“Hiya! How's everything going,” Drista chriped, waving enthusiastically and walking in without invitation, tilting her head at Wilbur's current appearance.

“Is this a bad time?” She questioned with a grimace, noticing the downtrot look on Wilburs face.

“No… not at all, what is it lady Drista,” Wilbur greeted, picking himself up off the ground and giving a slight bow to the goddess.

She snickered lighty at his show, clearing her throat before speaking. 

“it seems my brother is causing a mess of things again, say has anything weird or unexplainable happened recently?” Drista hummed in question, snapping her fingers and summoning a teacup and teapot, pouring herself chocolate milk before vanishing the teapot and taking a sip of her newly poured drink. 

“Sorry- where have my manners gone, would you like a drink Little Lord Wilbur?” She snickered at the title she bestowed upon Wilbur, he was fourteen and still taller than her, where was she getting ‘little’ from.

“I’m fine Lady Drista but- what do you mean your brother has been causing issues…” Wilbur queried, his mind already racing at the thought that he knew he would never purposefully hurt Tommy, but why would a god be wanting to intervene. 

“See he’s upset, we have a bit of a sibling rivalry, you know how it is, and since I revived you he… wants to let's say, set the timeline back on track?” 

Wilburs blood ran cold in his veins, of course, of course gods would intervene with his life because why wouldn’t they.

“Is my family really all that important to the timeline that me and Tommy actually getting along will… break things?” Wilbur asked, his brow furrowed in doubt, there were way bigger things that gods could take issue with other than Wilbur.

“Hm? Course not, he just can’t stand that I’m helping you,” Drista replied simply, taking a sip of her chocolate milk.

The brunette gawked at that, were gods really that petty? He briefly remembers Technoblade telling him about some ancient gods who were extremely petty, something about golden apples and a war? Point is it really wasn’t even much of a question of course they were that petty.

“Not to worry though, because I have a remedy,” Drista hummed as she waved her hand around, seemingly weaving something invisible in midair. 

“Open your hands,” the goddess ordered.

Wilbur complied, cupping his hands in front of himself, cocking a brow at the goddess as she dropped an item in his hands. A little… board game piece? Pawn of some sort? It was small with a rounded head attached to a cone shaped body, a ‘XD’ painted on the face similar to Dristas mask.

“It’ll keep you safe from my brothers intervening, at least directly,” Drista explained.

“Wait- what do I do with it?” Wilbur asked, staring curiously at the little thing.

“Just keep it on you at all times, Technoblade can explain further, where is he actually? I swear I sent him to the right world…” Drista mumbled, looking around searching for the pink rabbit.

“Ah, he’s with Tommy right now, they’re watching a jousting tournament,” Wilbur answered, a pang of sadness pulled at his gut as he thought of how much fun they must be having.

“Is he doing okay here? Having fun?” Drista questioned, her feathers ruffling slightly.

“I think so, he’s- Tommy’s claimed him as our brother and he didn’t object so I’d say everything is going well,” Wilbur responded, a fond smile on his face as he reminisced about the night Tommy proclaimed Technoblade as their brother.

“And here I thought he’d hate it,” Drista muttered, barely above a whisper.

“Pardon?” 

“Oh nothing… I should be off, have a brother to hound, you know how it is,” Drista sighed.

“Goodbye Lady Drista,” Wilbur smiled, waving at the goddess as she disappeared.

Wilbur flopped onto his bed, looking at the little figurine Drista had gifted him. It was kinda cute in an abstract way… he stuffed it into his pocket, awaiting his family's return.

They returned several hours later, Tommy could be heard from down the halls talking about how cool it was and how badly he wanted to be a jouster when he’s old enough. Eventually the talking got louder and louder before stopping outside Wilburs door. A sigh. Then he knocked against the wood.

“Wilbur! Can I tell you about the jousting today! It was so cool there was this one really amazing masked guy called Dream there and-”

Masked…?

The rest of Tommy’s words faded out into white noise as Wilbur blinked and took in the name… “Dream.” He’d heard that before, he knows he has.

“You can see him soon I’m sure, right Dream?”

Wilbur didn’t even think as he flung open his bedroom door, looking down at his startled brother, who looked bewildered, delighted and a thousand other emotions to see Wilbur.

“Who was the name of the masked ‘guy’?” Wilbur asked, he forced himself to steady his breath, expecting to see a look at disgust and disdain in Tommy’s eyes.

“Dream?” Tommy answered, his tail swishing lightly in his confusion.

Wilbur audibly gulped but forced himself to stay calm, opening his arms for Tommy, “Okay, tell me all about it alright?” 

Tommy grinned, his tail swishing left and right quickly like a dog as he lets out a delighted purr, flinging himself into the brunette's arms.

Technoblade looked up at him regarding Wilbur with concern and confusion, chuffing lightly at him, in greeting and worry. Wilbur only smiled at him weakly, mouthing to him that he’d explain everything when he could. 

“Okay so…” 

“Enjoy your little outing?” DreamXD hummed, sitting at the table, cup of gods knows what in one hand, and a tart in the other.

“Just fixing your mistakes, so yeah it was fun,” Drista snarked, rolling her eyes and taking a seat.

“Mistakes? I’m merely making sure the timeline is on track,” DreamXD corrected, setting down his teacup and taking a bite of his tart.

Drista hissed under her breath, “A timeline that’s not broken, well done.”

DreamXD stared at his sister blankly from under the mask, slowly blinking at her tone.

“I know you don’t understand, you’re still young after all but everything I-”

“Everything you do, you do for a source of entertainment, you messed everything up the first time, why do you think Lady Death allowed me to bring Lord Wilbur back, back off,” Drista warned.

“That’s fine… I have all my cards set anyway, I don’t even have to lift a finger.”

“What's that supposed to-” 

Before Drista could finish her sentence her brother was gone, leaving his half eaten tart behind, she glowered at his seat an unexplainable anger festering in her gut.

He didn’t even say bye…