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Tommy was pretty late for eating breakfast. Wilbur had managed to finish his entire meal before catching sight of his younger brother. When the youngest finally did walk through the doors, Wilbur got up from the table and went on over to him.
“Hey Tom’s, why were you up so late?” He spoke nasally, a reminder of his cold that was still very much there.
“I just overslept.” He lied, Wilbur had no reason to doubt it. So he believed him.
“Alright, then. Well… I’m going to head to my room, I’ll see you later.” The older brother walked, going past him to head up the stairs. Noticing the sounds of footsteps still very loud, he turned back around, to see Tommy behind him. He continued walking to his room before realising his brother was still behind him.
Wilbur faced his brother, “Tommy, are you following me?” He questioned.
“Nope, not at all.” Was the response he got?
“Mm-hmm…?” He already knew the answer, it was obvious that he was being followed. He was just unsure why. “Wanna tell me why you’re following me?”
“I’m not following you.” He stated.
Wilbur only sighed as he entered his bedroom, with his little brother clinging close behind. So close to him that he’d accidentally stepped onto his shoes a few times. Wilbur ignored it, thinking he was just being his usual, annoying, clingy self. He sat down at one of the chairs of his desk, taking note of how Tommy did the same with his other chair, pulling it up beside him.
“Tom’s, can you just tell me what you’re doing?” He mumbled, coughing into his elbow. He was just a little annoyed that he had a clingy child clinging onto him. Don’t get him wrong, he absolutely adored his brother. Though, it was only slightly inconvenient having someone so close to him while he was trying to focus on his work.
“I won’t bother you or distract your work, I’ll stay and be quiet.” He mumbled. “Please can you just let me stay…?” Glancing anywhere but Wilbur’s shoes.
Whatever annoyance that he had before, had quickly vanished. He was starting to think that maybe, something could be wrong.
Though his worries did calm down a bit when Tommy had laid down and rested his head on Wilbur’s lap. Wilbur grinned as he lightly brushed a few strands of his golden curls behind his ear. He heard the light giggle as his own grin grew wider.
At least he could actually start on his work now, as his little gremlin brother had fallen asleep.
He tried to be as quiet as a sick person could be. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t having a bit of trouble with concentrating on his work. Especially when his brother stirred. The slight whimpering noise his brother was letting out soon stopped as he ran his free hand through Tommy’s hair.
What was going on with him? He internally questioned. He’d been acting really weird today.
Turning back up to the work on his screen in front of him, his stomach growled as he remembered the food he had stored in his desk. Sliding it open carefully, he reached into the back of it and pulled out the snacks. He tried to be as quiet as possible, even if Phil and Techno weren’t home, he knew they’d probably disagree with the choice of eating sugary sweets while sick.
Tommy yawned, glancing up and seeing Wilbur’s face. “You’re extremely loud, you know that, right?” He mumbled as he rubbed his eyes.
Wilbur only chuckled, wondering how in the short amount of time his brother was asleep, his hair had gone so ruffled. As Tommy sat up, Wilbur looked through the jar of sweets, wondering which ones he should eat. Carefully trying to make his decision.
As Wilbur plopped one of the lollipops into his mouth, his brother spoke up. “Could I have some?” He asked, glancing at the jar.
“Can you have some…? Well, I say… Nope!” Lifting the jar up, knowing his height advantage.
Tommy gasped in betrayal. Clearly not expecting the answer to be no. “How dare you, why not Wilbur?” He whined.
“Because I’m not the gremlin who didn’t eat any of their very delicious breakfast that I made.” He replied.
Tommy slouched, slouched more than he was already at least. “So mean, I guess Techno’s my favourite.”
Wilbur gasped back, laughing slightly at the idea. Pfft, Techno? Being Tommy’s favourite? He didn’t think so. Not in a million years would he let that happen.
“Alright, only because I’m your favourite. And I want it to stay that way.” Putting his hand into the jar and pulling out a small wrapped up chocolate. Gently drop it into the small palm next to him.
“Thank’s favourite brother!”
“Yeah, yeah, Gremlin. ”
He had only planned to have a few with Tommy. But they seemed to get the best of themselves as the jar was gone pretty soon after it had been opened.
“Welp, that was all of them.”
“Aww…” Came the smaller response.
“Wait here, I’m going to get some more snacks from the kitchen.” Wilbur coughed, getting up from his desk and heading to the door.
“I’m coming too.” Came from Tommy, already pushing himself up to follow.
“Nope, It’s alright. You can stay here, I’ll just get it and be right back.” Wilbur said.
“No, I’m coming with you.”
Wilbur was honestly so confused, why was Tommy acting like this? He wasn’t ever usually this clingy. So he just decided to go for it and ask. “What’s with you Tom’s? Why have you been so damn clingy today?”
Those words were apparently the breaking point as Tommy turned away from him and spoke in a much quieter tone. “I don’t want you to die like them.” Still keen set on facing at the blank wall, that was much better than looking Wilbur in the eyes.
What? Die? Die like who…?
Forgetting about the snacks, he went up to his younger brother, wrapping his arms around him who immediately sunk into it.
“What do you mean, ‘Die like them?’ Tommy?” He prodded gently.
“I-I don’t want you to d-die.” Tommy was crying, he could’ve probably told that by the new wet stains in his shirt though.
“Tommy, I’m not going to die.”
His brother nodded. “That’s what they said. Then that happened.”
This was clearly someone Wilbur hadn’t met, and he didn’t get it at all.
“T-They said they wouldn’t when they were sick.”
There was only one thing that came to mind when he heard that.
The memory of the adoption centre explaining the files. Saying how Tommy had just lost his parents to illness. Even if they were horrible people towards him, it was upsetting that the young child had witnessed the end of their lives.
Everything clicked.
It explained so much.
Tommy had always clung to the ones who were unwell, even if it was as something as light as a headache.
Wilbur hugged the sobbing child deeper, rubbing his hand through his hair as the tears continued. “Tommy, I might be sick. But I promise you, It’s just a cold. I would never die from that. I’ll never leave you, I love you too much to do that. I’m sorry for not realising before, I promise you. It takes more than a stupid cold to take me down, yeah?” His fingers effortlessly slid through the blondes hair.
“Y-yeah” He sniffed, trying to calm down the hiccupy sobs. “You mean it…?” He asked.
“Yes, I promise you. With all my heart.” Wilbur said.
He meant it.
And he would keep that promise forever.
Tommy hugged him harder, which Wilbur returned even tighter.
When they finally broke from the hug, Tommy wiped his face of the remaining tears that were left. “How about I put the rest of my work off so I can spend the rest of the day with you?”
Tommy nodded, smiling lightly. “That sounds epic, Big Man.”
“Let’s go get those snacks!”
“Good idea.”
Wilbur grabbed his brother's hand as they walked downstairs, laughing and smiling the whole way.
Best sick day ever...