Chapter Text
Revivedbur comes back, and the moment he sees Jack and Niki again, instead of the heartfelt reunion Niki thought she was going to have with her long lost best friend. Wilbur, however, just stares in utter disgust and hatred.
They try to be heartfelt, and nice, but he just gives them curt answers and hums. He, instead, turns his back to them, with a question on his lips.
He asks them, "What happened on January 26th, hm? I heard it was quite interesting."
His posture straight, arms folded behind his back, like back when he was president. Of course, in true Wilbur fashion, he looked down at them, when glanced at them over his shoulder.
Jack and Niki just mention the bombs that day. They dont mention the assassination attempt on Tommy's life, at all. Wilbur, of course, just scoffs and glares at them both.
"I don't like liars, you two. I want to know. What the ever loving fuck did you do on January 26th." He turns around to face them.
"We don't understand, what you mean, Will? That's- That's what we did!" Niki stammers, feeling judged and uncomfortable under Wilbur's harsh gaze. He feigns look of surprised.
"Oh? Hm, well, care to tell me why Tommy was so close to the bomb site that day?"
One step closer. They flinch, dread pooling rapidly in both of their stomachs.
"Care to tell me why, when Ghostbur asked both him and Tubbo why he was there, he said it was because you, Ms. Niki, led him there?"
Another step. Wilbur's voice gets louder, and more angry at the second. Jack glares at the ground when he hears that both Tommy and Tubbo snitched. His clenched fists don't go unnoticed by Wilbur.
Niki tries to save face with the spruce wood excuse that she gave Tommy. Wilbur clearly isn't buying it.
"Alright, I'll just cut the bullshit right now." Wilbur sighs, stopping Niki's rambling. "I know you tried to kill Tommy. And I know you're still trying to."
"So let me make this clear." He starts, his hands falling to his sides. "Leave my baby boy alone, or else I'll make Doomsday look like child’s play. Do you understand me?"
Niki growls under her breath, and starts recounting the tales she's told herself and many other people many times. "Everything on this server that happened, he’s always been involved, and he's ruined the lives of everyone here! He started wars and left us to rot in them!"
Wilbur is silent, until he's not. "Who started the revolution, Niki? Do you know?"
"Everyone originally in L'manburg did, right?" She replies quietly. She didn’t like where this was going. Wilbur only ever used this tone when he was about to lecture someone.
"Wrong. I did. They just followed me." Wilbur asks again. "Who started the pet war?"
"Tommy did!" Jack butts in. Niki nods her head in agreement.
"Also wrong. Sapnap did." Wilbur sighs. "Disk war?"
The answer is immediate. "Tommy."
The reply is as well. "Also wrong! Dream did when he took Tommy's disks."
Wilbur starts listing names.
"Schlatt; Manburg v. Pogtopia. November 16th; Technoblade and Dream. Doomsday; Also Technoblade and Dream, with my father this time!"
"Where, in that timeline, does Tommy seem to be the cause?" His voice is quiet.
"Well-"
"Save it. I'm just going to ask you two directly now. Why do you despise him so much, when it was me, Technoblade, and Dream who have put you through everything? When it is us, that deserve your hatred?" Wilbur asks, waiting for Niki's answer.
The blonde’s composure breaks.
"He's rude. He's selfish, and loud. He screams and he hurts people just so the center of attention would be on him. He acts like he has every right to- to wear your coat, to mourn you, he acts like hes entitled to so much, it isn't fair!" Niki rants, clutching her hair. It takes all her willpower to not break down and start sobbing on the spot.
"Tommy's rude because being nice got him stepped on and bullied. He's selfish because being selfless got him robbed. He screams because screaming makes people remember he's there." Wilbur clenches his own fists. "Tommy hurts, because he doesn't know how to not hurt. And oh, oh Niki" Wilbur coos, his expression turning stone cold.
"I believe my child does have the right to wear my coat and mourn me after my passing. Especially when a good 7 or 8 years of his life revolved around me entirely."
Nikki froze, hearing those last two sentences.
My child? 7 or 8 years?
Wilbur ignores the look of confusion on faces of the two teenagers in front of him.
"None of those things are excuses. But they are reasons. Explanations. Tell me, do you think killing him will fix that?! Do you think more abuse and suffering will fix what those very same things caused?!" Wilbur yells, clearly pissed off.
Jack is smart, and wisely keeps his mouth shut.
"HE ISN'T A DOG, YOU DUMBASSES! MORE DISCIPLINE WON'T MAKE HIM BETTER! TOMMY, MY TOMS, IS A HUMAN CHILD." Wilbur screams, trying to get his point across.
A long silence follows the outburst.
"Why do you keep saying that?" Niki was the one to break it. "Why do you keep referring to him as yours, or your child?"
"Because he is my child by law, Niki. I have legal rights to him completely. For a good portion of his childhood, he was also under the impression that I was his father emotionally as well. It didn't change much, just his first word."
"Then why do you call him your brother?" Jack asks awkwardly.
"Because, Manifold, I was young, and terrified of being considered a dad. I was 19 when Phil brought Tommy home. I think I'm more open to the role, nowadays. I still see him as a little brother, but in more ways than one Tommy is my pride and joy." Wilbur hums.
"Hes the one thing I've had that's been mine completely, with no competition, and he stuck by me until death. For that, I'm willing to do anything to protect him. The fact remains that I will personally kill the both of you, should you go after Tommy again. I'm sure a few others share my sentiment."
With that, Wilbur leaves.