Chapter Text
"So what you're saying is that I have to-" Foolish was cut off by the sound of someone slumping down onto the slick cobblestone road outside of the toll booth.
"Hello?" He asked, turning and sticking his head out the booth. He quickly recognised the old and faded trench coat, the many patches from swords stabbing through, old bloodstains still faint on the back.
"Wilbur Soot!?" He shouts out, and the person on his communicator shouts back for Foolish to put it closer to his ear again.
Wilbur didn't bother to listen much to the conversation between Foolish and whatever the person was on the other end of the communicator, but he did catch onto his name.
He was soaked at the moment, the snow and rain from running around the server with no set place to live wearing out his clothes faster than he expected. His hair was sticking to his forehead and frizzing up everywhere. The strange freezing weather of the desert was painful as well, cold winds biting at his exposed fingers and ears.
It wasn't nearly as cold as the regular mountains, but it still wasn't the smartest decision to wear fingerless gloves in the snow.
Wilbur didn't hear Foolish hang up the communicator, or the warning that he had shouted out. He had simply shoved himself against the wall and slumped, tired from hunger and low on health.
"Wilbur Soot. Thought I banned you from here," Quackity mumbled as he walked over, unphased by the snow in his short sleeved outfit. It was his usual atire, a pair of suspenders, dark black boots, and a white collared button up shirt.
"Quackity?" Wilbur looked up, disoriented as Quackity approached him and squat down in front of him.
"Yep. That's me. So, why are you here? Do ya know?" Wilbur shook his head weakly.
"Didn't know you'd be here, didn't know this place," He mumbles back, pulling his knees up to his chest as a form of protection. As if it'd save anything.
"You're from the other side of the server. What on Earth are you doing over here?"
"Exploring. L'manburg's gone, Quackity. I don't have a home anywhere else."
"Ah. L'manburg has been gone for quite some time."
Wilbur nodded, shaking and trying to repeatedly search his inventory for food. Quackity watched him go through it at least 3 times before sighing.
"Hey, Wilbur Soot, how about I take you inside? Is that alright?" Wilbur nodded and Quackity picked him up, positioning him on his back so he could carry him better.
Foolish merely let them pass, going back to staring mindlessly at the clock on the wall as the snow fell down slowly.
Surprisingly, Quackity didn't have as rough as a time carrying Wilbur as he thought. He was extremely light, shocking for someone his height. If anything, it had told him how little he had been eating recently.
"Wil, you hungry at all?" The man nodded, resting his face in Quackity's shoulder again, letting Quackity carry him to the couch.
"Yes p'ease." He mumbles, watching Quackity get up. He sat up quickly, watching Quackity as he moved around the kitchen.
The warmth of the penthouse was soothing to his stressful mind, and the idea of just letting go and giving into the fuzzy feeling of his mind was extremely tempting. However, he didn't think it'd be too good of an idea with his past one night stand in foreign land wasn't too good of an idea.
Even though he knew it was unsafe, he let himself slip. Quackity didn't seem like he was going to kill him yet, so he assumed he'd be okay. Pushing back the headspace would only make it worse.
"Wilbur? Hello?" Quackity snapped in front of his face and his eyes immediately hooked onto them to follow.
"Here, I have some jerky." Wilbur takes the bag from him and chews on some of the jerky, Quackity mumbling something before walking back into the kitchen.
"Hey, I have a meeting in about 30 minutes, so I'm expecting you out by then. Got it?" Wilbur stared at him silently, not blinking enough to creepy Quackity out.
"Okay then," Quackity answers to himself, walking back over and sitting on the couch. Wilbur continues to watch him, staring blankly.
"I can do that too, y'know." He stares at Wilbur, locking himself into a staring contest with him. He loses quickly, Wilbur unphased and blinking once after Quackity groans in defeat.
"What all are you doing? Limbo changed you this much? You're acting like a-" He cut himself off. "Oh. You're acting like a cat right now, aren't you? That's how you're thinking, huh?" Quackity hesitantly ran his fingers through Wilbur's hand and the other man nodded, headbutting his hand in an attempt to demand him to keep going.
"Alright then. What else am I supposed to do? Tiger likes to just be left alone. Then again, you're probably not a tiger, just a little housecat. Not ferocious or scary at all," He rants, Wilbur nodding in agreement.
"Hm. Are you okay with me brushing your hair, maybe? It seems like you enjoy me playing with it."
Wilbur nodded, letting out a row rumbling noise that was extremely close to a purr. Quackity's eyes widened in surprise at the noise, shocked by how accurate he was.
"Alright, let me get a clean brush real quick." Wilbur nodded and moved over into Quackity's spot when he stood, purring excitedly.
Quackity comes back over and taps Wilbur's side, signalling for the man to let Quackity sit down. He quickly shifts back onto Quackity's lap, leaning against him and continuing to purr.
Shortly after Wilbur falls asleep on his lap, and the low rumbling sound mimicking purring stopped. He did continue to hold onto Quackity's shirt, holding on tightly as if he was afraid of Quackity leaving him.
"Hey, Quackity- Oh, uhm- there's people here for the meeting. I took them to the confrence room. What do you want me to... tell them?" Foolish gestured towards sleeping Wilbur.
"Tell 'em I'll be down in 5 minutes. I'll be bringing Wilbur, if any bother to care." Foolish nods and leaves the room, Quackity standing and holding Wilbur onto his hip. The sleeping man whines and clings to him tighter. Quackity was sure that if he had a tail it would be wrapped around him to make sure he didn't drop it.
"Shhh, you're fine," Quackity coos. Wilbur doesn't react, so Quackity continues to head towards the elevator to take them down five floors.
Quackity sat through the entire meeting with Wilbur asleep on his lap, the catboy only waking once people were leaving and Quackity took a sip of his whiskey.
"Ah, you're awake. Sleep well, kitty?" Wilbur nodded and hummed again, nuzzling Quackity. Quackity carried him up to bed again, cuddling while watching TV. Sure, he might've been holding a grudge for quite some time about their affair back in Pogtopia, but now, he could let it go. At least while Wilbur was here, letting Quackity care for him.
It felt great for both of him, and at the moment Quackity was more than happy to spoil Will with all his attention.