Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Wilbur often found himself imagining what people would say if he was in human form.  

He became a regular to the school children, responsible for bringing smiles to their faces after their monotonous days. It became indispensable to him; he found himself beaming whenever he brightened their days with a simple flick of his tail. No one questioned anything, and parents often came up to him as well, brushing off their own stress momentarily with each stroke to his fur. ‘He’s just a friendly cat,’ they’d claim to strangers, ‘not a hybrid, just a street cat wanting company.’  

Wilbur would return home after that, curl up into his carboard box down a cold alleyway and watch as people strolled past. Occasionally he’d make an appearance, mewing softly when he could tell someone needed him. Humans and hybrids were alike in more ways than they’d think, and Wilbur knew that giving company to perturbed individuals helped more than people liked to admit.  

He couldn’t help but have favourites either; simply choosing to always make an appearance when he noticed the familiar blond hair of a raccoon hybrid hanging around. They both seemed to be comfortable in the routine they’d developed; habitually lingering in their usual meeting area until the other showed up. Wilbur wasn’t sure why the hybrid was so insistent on seeing him every day, but he simply assumed that the content expression on his face meant that he enjoyed the company of a feline.  

Their routine continued for weeks without a hitch, and Wilbur soon found himself knowing more about the raccoon hybrid than he did about himself. He seemed to love to talk, babbling away about various topics while stroking his fur and waffling on about everything and anything until his phone blared with messages. Months passed quickly and Wilbur still hadn’t learnt the teenager’s name despite knowing the names of everyone close to the hybrid. He seemed to talk about his adoptive family the most, sharing memories and little stories with Wilbur about their hybrid types and favourite things.  

Wilbur often zoned out whenever the raccoon hybrid left, the memory of their first meeting often resurfacing. The teenager had been suspicious, accidently cornering Wilbur as he demanded to know if he was a hybrid. He had been terrified at first, his back curling into an aggressive stance as he was shuffled further and further into the alleyway. The day had ended with Wilbur curled up in the hybrid lap; unsure of how they had gotten that far from the earlier intimidation. He’d even began purring when the teenager started apologising profusely, clearly having forgotten that he still believed Wilbur was a cat who supposably couldn’t understand what he was saying. 

He never shifted anyway; he may as well not be a hybrid.  

Wilbur had doubted that he would ever return; wariness mixing with surprise the first couple of days that he noticed the hybrid waiting around for him. He allowed himself to become comforted by the routine, getting used to the soft feeling that bubbled inside him whenever the teenager smiled at Wilbur’s head butting against his legs, grasping his attention easily.  

He pushed aside the realisation that they’d get along better if he shifted into human form, purring louder as he settled in the raccoon hybrid’s lap for another day of one-sided conversations.  

Wilbur tried not to let the feeling of despondence engulf him as he shuffled inside the carboard box, the bitterness of the weather causing him to huddle even closer. It was the first day in months that the raccoon hybrid didn’t turn up, and he couldn’t even place it down to the rain. The teenager often turned up with an umbrella on those days, balancing Wilbur in his arms and coaxing him to curl closer for heat as he attempted to find a dry spot for them. The fact that raccoons didn’t mind the rain made it even more dismaying and he was forced to accept that the teen most likely didn’t turn up out of choice.  

He drifted to sleep slowly, the sensation of water occasionally dripping down his back and sliding off his name tag feeling mildly uncomfortable despite being used to it. He was a cat hybrid after all, it was practically in his nature to dislike the rain. It didn’t help that the box was already damp, sticking to his white and brown paws no matter how he settled down.  

‘Tommy, are you sure the cat’s even around here?’ 

‘First the doubt about him being a street cat and now doubt about him even being here? Do you have any trust in me big man?’  

Wilbur had barely drifted off before he heard the familiar voice, slowly stretching downwards as two figures arrived in his view.  

‘Look, there he is!’ The hybrid pointed at Wilbur, heading his way over towards his box with his usual energy. He greeted the teen with a small meow, allowing himself to be picked up and huddled under the umbrella. Wilbur closed his eyes again as he purred softly, uncomprehending that a second figure was around in his somnolent state.  

‘Tommy!’ Wilbur’s eyes snapped open at the second voice, startled so much that he almost jumped out of the hybrid’s arms. He gradually relaxed again once he examined the taller figure, his green and white bucket hat contrasting the solid grey of his wings.  

‘Phil, you scared him!’ The teen exclaimed, holding him tighter as the realisation that Wilbur finally knew his name settled in.  

‘Tommy, he has a name tag...’  

‘I know? His name is Soot apparently. A cat hybrid must have brought a tag for him like all the other cats.’  

Wilbur zoned out of their conversation, the sounds of rain pattering onto the umbrella relaxing him even more. ‘Tommy’ had been correct with his assumption, and Wilbur still couldn’t help but feel bad for the cat hybrid who named him. He constantly claimed that he didn’t need a nametag and that they were wasting their time, but eventually allowed the hybrid to fit the tag around his neck. It had been the last time he conversed with someone, and Wilbur could remember how unfamiliar it felt.  

He snapped back into reality when a white gun was pressed against his neck, and he instantly growled at the figure. Phil dropped the item in shock, clearly startled by Wilbur’s sudden shift in moods.  

‘Bloody hell Phil, it’s okay Soot it’s just a chip scanning device.’ Soothed Tommy, stroking Wilbur’s fur in a futile attempt to calm him down. He allowed himself to relax slightly, pretending that it was the raccoon hybrids attention that placated him instead of the knowledge that he wasn’t being threatened by a real gun.  

Wilbur was still wary when the device was held by his neck, freezing completely in Tommy’s arms as Phil moved it around his curled figure. He remained still until it was removed again; the object held close to Phil’s eyes as he tried to read something. ‘He- He doesn’t have a chip...’  

‘Yeah, cause he’s a street cat! Honestly Phil, you should trust me some more-’  

He once again tuned out of their conversation, recognising when Tommy was about to babble on about something useless. Wilbur probably shouldn’t of, after all there was still a complete stranger within strangling distance, but Phil didn’t look like a threat. Though he couldn’t be too careful, he was yet another hybrid and Wilbur didn’t want to risk being found out.  

Wilbur was startled when Tommy started moving with him still curled tightly in his arms. He didn’t do much, assuming that he was searching for a dry spot as it was still chucking it down, until they were a couple minutes away from the alleyway. Tommy held him tighter when he started to fidget, attempting to leap from his arms before he was carried too far away. He wasn’t looking forward to the walk back already, but it seemed that they were adamant on making him trek a long distance.  

He started to panic when they started walking towards a house; the common sense that was concealed within his brain started shouting at him to leave. Wilbur took his chance when Tommy was distracted, leaping out of his arms with limited resistance and forcing his paws to hit the ground at a perfect angle.  

‘Shit!’ Tommy shouted when Wilbur hit the ground, his thoughts swarming as he tried to scramble away. He barely moved a foot before arms were around him again, forcefully stilling him their warm hold with surprising care. Wilbur quickly started wriggling when he comprehended that Phil was the one holding him, his grey wings stretching to their full length and resting above his head to shield them from the rain.  

Tommy’s hand was threading through his brown fur soon after that, whispering reassurances as he gently stroked the area next to his eyes. Wilbur instantly started purring, his eyes closing with rapture at the attention. He had always been extra sensitive there, and his cat instincts took control instantaneously as he lost awareness of what was happening.  

The raccoon hybrid was still stroking him when warmth suddenly engulfed him, a small part of his human brain resurfacing with the acknowledgment of what had happened. It was absorbed by his cat instincts, and Wilbur couldn’t help but continue purring and ignore the sound of a door closing.  

‘How are you doing that so easily?’ Phil asked, his voice barely clear in Wilbur’s occupied mind.  

‘He’s always really liked it... It calms him down.’  

‘Gees Tommy, how do you know so much about a stray cat?’ A third voice interrupted his train of thoughts, his awareness snapping back to him within a second. He looked up rapidly, glimpsing at the new figure and taking in every detail. The piglin hybrid looked older than Tommy, his long pink hair platted neatly and soft eyes watching him with fondness.  

Wilbur paused for a few seconds, his brain still swarming with thoughts. Piglin hybrids don’t like rain, it’s raining, he can’t be in the rain anymore. Phil gently lowered him to the ground when he started twisting again, glaring at the closed door as his paws scrambled around against the wooden floor.  

He did what every human would do in that situation, and abruptly dove under the nearest sofa.

Chapter Text

Phil watched as Soot dove under the nearest sofa, his nametag clanking as it collided with the wooden legs. He simply sighed, already knowing that they didn’t stand a chance of getting him out for at least an hour and rose his eyebrows at Tommy’s pout.  

‘What were you expecting Toms?’ He asked, a fond tone in his voice as he ruffled his hair. The raccoon hybrid simply shrugged in response, gripping onto Phil’s hand with silent gratitude.  

The elytrian hybrid grinned knowingly, allowing the teenager to curl into his side, his wings folding around him softly. Tommy was known for seeking out comfort, always finding opportunities to nestle into other people's warmth whenever he could. It made for an interesting mix, with Phil’s other son being more secluded, only opening up to people he’s close with despite the fiercely protective nature of the piglin hybrid.  

Phil was extremely apprehensive when Tommy told him about Soot; fully expecting to find a domesticated cat who simply liked the company of others. He couldn’t help but feel shocked when the cat had no chip, his hesitation crumbling when he saw the extent of the friendship the teen had built with the cat. His answer was secured when he took one look at the carboard box that was Soot’s home, allowing Tommy to carry the stray cat back to their house.  

He knew that cats were mainly independent creatures that didn’t require a vast amount of care, but Phil couldn’t help but feel unprepared anyway. They didn’t have any cat food in the house yet, it had been a spontaneous decision after all, and the elytrian hybrid was sincerely hoping that the creature liked tuna.  

Techno seemed to be reading his mind, an unopened packet of tuna and a plate held in his hand with a questioning look. Phil nodded silently, not wanting to startle Soot even more, and prompted him to open the can for the cat to eat. Soot looked malnourished, and all three hybrids were eager to feed him to help get him healthier. 

Phil leaned against the living room wall, folding his wings gently behind his back before it could damage the door. He watched as Techno handed the plate to Tommy, practically shoving him into the living room when the raccoon hybrid started complaining, his nose scrunched up in obvious distaste.  

‘Soottttt.’ Tommy called out, turning around to look at Phil when the cat made no sound.  

‘Just place it by the sofa and see if he comes out for it.’ He suggested quietly, silently accepting a golden necklace that Techno handed him with a thankful smile. The piglin hybrid often gifted Phil and Tommy various pieces of jewellery, and he knew that Soot would soon be given random golden things for him to play with. It was in Techno’s nature after all, and the elytrian hybrid had a sneaking feeling that him and the cat would bond sooner than expected.  

‘Why isn’t he coming out?’ Phil’s thoughts were interrupted by Tommy’s whining, the plate of tuna abandoned on the floor.  

‘The cat probably hasn’t been inside for a while now Tommy.’ Techno pointed out from his place beside Phil, his bored expression trained on the teenager. ‘He’s probably just overwhelmed.’  

‘What if I shift?’ Tommy asked, his eyes sparkling with the idea.  

‘What?’ 

‘What? Tommy, that’s not-’ Phil tried to say, but stopped when a medium sized raccoon stood in front of him instead of a blond-haired human. He knew that he was just listening to his raccoon instincts, but he feared that his playful side would scar the cat even more.  

Phil almost face-planted, mirroring Techno’s fed-up expression, when Tommy slowly started moving towards the sofa.  

Wilbur didn’t even bother trying to overhear anything, too occupied with looking area the room. His head crouched awkwardly under the sofa; his whiskers practically nudged against the floor as he tried to gather his bearings. The sofa might not have been the best place to hide, Wilbur thought inattentively, but he wasn’t about to risk moving.  

He eyed the room cautiously, noticing several large oak bookshelves layered on the walls and a couple of paintings hung around randomly. Wilbur prioritised looking for hiding places, subconsciously memorising the directions of furniture that he could easily dive under and strategizing which would be more beneficial in certain situations. He liked the look of the TV stand, his cat eyes suited for seeing in dark places enabled him to see the snug gap that looked comfortable enough for him to fit under.  

The sound of a plate clattering against the floor startled him, his tail whacking against the sofa in surprise. His eyes flung to the direction as the smell of tuna drifted through the air, shock layering its way through his mind. They were feeding him, and Wilbur wasn’t sure why. The cat hybrid chose not to move, watching the plate hesitatingly despite hearing footsteps backing away.  He didn’t know their intentions yet, and Wilbur was used to warding off the hunger anyway.  

He distantly heard Tommy’s whining and Wilbur was barely resisting the urge to steal his attention. The teen clearly wanted him to come out from the sofa, but he couldn’t help but listen to his cat instincts; hiding under the sofa where they would struggle to grab him. He had already been placed inside a random house, and Wilbur did not do well with adapting to new surroundings.  

The sound of shuffling grabbed his attention and his eyes snapped towards the edge of the sofa. He jumped in surprise when he noticed two raccoon eyes staring back at him, his paws sliding against the wooden surface before he could stop himself. Wilbur darted under the TV stand, half expecting to hear Tommy chasing after him. He’d only ever seen him in human form; the shock of seeing him as a raccoon clouding his already overwhelmed mind before he could really think.  

‘Well, at least we know for sure he isn’t a hybrid. I don’t think he would have reacted that way if he was.’ He heard Techno deadpan; his voice thick with faux boredom. Wilbur’s heart fluttered with relief, silently thanking the playful raccoon hybrid.  

‘Well, I did tell you that!’ Tommy exclaimed; his voice energetic as usual despite having just shifted back. ‘He still hasn’t eaten the tuna...’ His voice sounded sad, and the cat hybrid instinctually moved forward, fighting the desire to comfort him before he could step into their view.  

‘Maybe he doesn’t like tuna?’ Phil’s voice threaded itself into his comprehension, his tone soft and gentle. ‘We need to buy actual cat food anyway, but we can see if we have anything else for now.’  

Wilbur didn’t think much of it for a few seconds, the realisation hitting him all at once. They were allowing him to stay in the house, buying cat food for him like a pet and actually caring if he ate or not. His heart fluttered at the feeling of being wanted, barely riding off the instinct to purr at the happiness as butterflies started swimming inside him. It had been a while since he felt that sense of contentedness, and he couldn’t help but let the warmth float around his brain. 

The cat hybrid swore to do what he could to give them as much comfort as possible, curling up against them and helping to relieve their stress as often as he could. Well, as soon as he gained the guts to come out from the TV stand... 

Besides, they wanted him as a cat, not as a human, and Wilbur was fine with that.  

Techno shuffled down the stairs in the middle of the night, flicking on the living room light before he could trip over something. It had happened before, and Techno knew that Tommy had a habit of leaving random things around the house. He sighed as he flopped on the sofa, grabbing several blankets and curling into the warmth. His piglin instincts didn’t often surface during the day, but Techno couldn’t help but want to surround himself with as much heat as possible at night. 

Despite having three blankets, Techno still felt the familiar itch of chill travelling up his spine. He groaned, unable to get comfortable enough to sleep no matter where he was. The piglin hybrid had come downstairs for a change of location, having gotten bored of staring at the same somber ceiling, but it didn’t seem to do much. Techno was used to getting little sleep; the piglin part of his brain was always restless during the night, but that didn’t make it any less exasperating. 

He zoned out briefly, his nether instincts running wild in his mind and dominating the human part of his brain that screamed for rest. Techno snapped out of his thoughts when a small meow echoed through the quiet room, his eyes instantly focusing on the TV stand before glancing at the (still full) plate of tuna. Sighing again, he made a small calling noise, softly speaking the cat’s name until he noticed a brown ear poking out from the stand.  

The piglin hybrid watched as Soot hesitated, more and more of his head popping into view as the cat gained confidence. Eventually Soot squeezed out from beneath the stand, stretching in a C shape before trotting further into the room. Techno expected him to make a beeline for the food, he didn’t even want to know when he last ate – his protective instincts already flaring without that knowledge, and he couldn’t help the surprise that twisted onto his face when he didn’t. 

Soot mewed softly from the foot of the sofa, his paws reaching upwards and pulling at one of the several blankets that Techno had layered around him. He simply watched the cat, not wanting to spook him under yet another piece of furniture, as Soot sat beside him with curious eyes. Eventually Soot jumped onto the sofa, ambling towards the piglin hybrid with his tail curled into a question mark.  

Techno didn’t move an inch as the cat crossed onto his lap, unsure of what he was meant to do. Soot meowed expectantly, kneading his paws into the layers of blankets as he purred loudly. He carefully stroked the cat, closely listening to his contented sounds as he got less wary of his actions. The cat practically flopped on his lap when he stroked the area by his eyes, carefully copying Tommy’s earlier actions and receiving a similar reaction.  

He found himself smiling at the cat, shifting slightly so Soot had more room to settle. He was shockingly warm, radiating the heat that his piglin instincts so strongly craved with each purr that reverberated in the quiet room. Techno allowed himself to curl closer to the cat, the sound of his purring lulling him gently to sleep with surprising ease.  

And if Phil came downstairs the following morning, noticing Techno’s relaxed sleeping face and arm curled around Soot protectively then he didn’t say anything. After all, he had been correct that the piglin hybrid would bond with the cat swiftly.

Chapter Text

(4 weeks later...)  

Wilbur enjoyed how quickly he had developed a routine.  

He spent the day watching Phil work, conveniently brushing up against him and meowing softly when the elytrian went a couple hours without eating or drinking. Phil always assumed it was when he was hungry, his confused expression never vanishing when Wilbur didn’t make a move to eat the food he’d placed down. The cat hybrid was content anyway; succeeding in getting him to take a break for food even if it wasn’t done out of his own accord.  

Wilbur would spend the evenings curled on Tommy’s lap; watching as he spent hours doing homework and getting the raccoon hybrid to play with him when the stress bubbled inside him rapidly. He knew it was helping – Tommy’s playful raccoon instincts often surfaced, and he always seemed so much calmer afterwards. His heart always felt warmer when he succeeded, the sensation of happiness often flooding his brain.  

The cat hybrid would spend the nights with Techno; huddling close to him whenever he saw the shivers rack his body. He did his best to distract him when his piglin instincts prevented him from sleeping; purring loudly when he realised it helped lull him to sleep quicker. Wilbur would stay awake until he fell asleep, kneading the pile of blankets carefully to ground the piglin hybrid when it was needed the most.  

He was there when they fitted his cat flap; Phil’s wings flapping around as he drilled a hole into the door with Techno taking control before Tommy could break anything. His purrs seemed louder that day, and he remembered stretching out on Phil’s lap as they hosted a family film night. Wilbur recalled how uncaring he was as he flipped onto his back, the white fur on his stomach showing with the signal of trust, and how they simply cooed when he almost fell off the sofa.  

A cat fitted into their lives easily, and he found himself ignoring the desire to shift more often; wanting to communicate with them other than in meows and purrs. But it was okay, they were happy and that was really all that Wilbur wanted. 

He was sleeping in a carboard box when he heard them looking for him. Wilbur decided not to move, making a sound of acknowledgment that he didn’t care if they heard before curling up in an even tighter ball. The cat hybrid didn’t like sleeping on the furniture when he was alone, finding various boxes and shelves more comfortable. He didn’t particularly care that it was often inconvenient, his heart swelling with warmth whenever he discovered a towel laying there the next day.  

‘For fucks sake where is that cat?’ He heard Tommy say, his footsteps getting closer to him.  

‘Did you check the bookshelves?’ Wilbur snorted inwardly in amusement at Phil’s question, hearing Tommy getting further away from the hallway.  

‘Nah, Soot’s not there.’  

‘Please tell me he isn’t stuck in the fucking airing cupboard again.’ The cat hybrid didn’t appreciate Techno bringing up that memory, any thought of moving to find them himself disappearing instantly.  

‘Bloody hell how hard is it to get a cat to eat in the morning?’ Phil’s voice echoed through his mind, the realisation of why they were looking for him made Wilbur want to hide even more. He would search for a better spot, but he couldn’t be asked to move anymore.  

‘I swear Soot just doesn’t like eating food... Don’t cats usually want food like, constantly?’  

‘Yes, Tommy but apparently this one doesn’t have an appetite. He’s probably hiding on purpose.’ Wilbur was, but they didn’t need to know that. Besides, he valued sleep too much for that. 

‘Sneaky bitch!’  

They continued searching for him for a solid 5 minutes, long enough for Wilbur to drift off again, before he heard Phil’s wings hitting one of the hallways doors. He sighed, revelling in the few last seconds of peace, until he heard the distinct sound of fingernails hitting carboard boxes.  

‘You’ve got to be shitting me... I found Soot!’ The cat hybrid slowly opened his eyes, stretching upwards for a few seconds before sitting and blinking at the elytrian innocently.  

‘Where was he this time- Was he in the fucking carboard box?’ Techno’s bored voice was soon heard over Tommy’s footsteps, his head poking into Wilbur’s view quickly. ‘Right, who left the boxes out?’  

‘Was this a bad time to arrive?’ The cat hybrid simply purred when Phil picked him up from out the box, zoning out of Tommy’s defensive squawking as he was taken into the kitchen.  

He was gently lowered to the floor by his food bowl, a pointed look in Phil’s eyes when he didn’t move to eat anything. The cat hybrid merely trotted away, making sure to curl his tail into a question mark shape because yes, he did enjoy their frustration.  

‘Oh, you little fucker-’ Phil’s voice was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell, and Wilbur sat by the kitchen entrance as the elytrian went to answer the door. His curiosity peaked when he heard even more footsteps entering the house; the sound of several voices pulsing through the silence.  

The cat hybrid ran upstairs when he heard them getting closer, wanting to keep his distance as much as possible. Wilbur didn’t know who they were, the fact that he hadn’t recognised their voices making him even more anxious. Instead, he sat on the stairs, half listening to their conversation as his eyes started closing again. They just had to wake him up like that didn’t they? 

His head shot up when he heard rain pattering into the windows; the previous sunny weather disappearing instantly without warning. The cat hybrid sighed, the instinct to stay hidden upstairs or comfort a certain piglin hybrid battling in his mind. Wilbur knew that Techno would probably be anxious, the fact that it started raining so suddenly would instantly set off his piglin instincts that he could help calm him down.  

Wilbur was moving before he could comprehend the decision, running down the stairs and into the living room before he could change his mind. He practically threw himself onto Techno’s lap, purring instinctually when the piglin hybrid snapped out of his trance and kneading softly when he made no move to shoo him away.  

The cat hybrid barely glanced at the other figures in the room before settling down on Techno’s lap, restraining himself from flopping like he usually would. There were two new people in the room: a blonde-haired woman with a bright smile and another teenage boy who was sat by Tommy and looked to be similar ages. Tubbo, Wilbur presumed; used to hearing stories about the teenagers.  

‘Ah I forgot to mention about Soot...’ Phil trailed off as the cat hybrid curled further into Techno’s lap.  

‘Tommy told me all about Soot! He’s that cat who often hung around school!’ 

‘Tubbo, you didn’t tell me about that!’ The woman teased; her eyes still trained on Wilbur’s supposedly sleeping figure. He had gotten pretty skilled at pretending to be asleep, the instinct coming naturally when he was around new people.  

He zoned out of their conversation after that, completely uninterested in whatever random topic they were conversing about. The cat hybrid continually pretended to be asleep, only fidgeting when Techno stopped stroking him for a couple minutes; knowing full well that he was helping calm him down. 

Wilbur pretended to wake up when the room went silent, stretching silently before looking around. The woman, whose name he still hadn’t learnt yet, was watching him softly, her eyes flashing with an emotion that he couldn’t quite pick up.  

‘How often does he shift?’ The cat hybrid froze at the question, his brain begging that she was talking about Tommy.  

‘Hmm, Tommy tends to shift at least once a day. Don’t worry, I make sure he shifts a healthy amount.’ Said Phil, and Wilbur immediately relaxed with his answer.  

‘Oh, that’s good. I meant Soot though.’ Wilbur’s head suddenly felt like cotton wool, every single thought evaporating from him instantly as he realised that she knew. The woman must have picked up in their confusion as even Tommy and Tubbo stopped to listen into their conversation.   

‘What do you mean.’ Techno spoke first, his hand still stroking Wilbur despite the obvious tension in his posture. The cat hybrid tried to relax, pretend that the woman was somehow wrong, but his body refused to despite his attempts.  

‘I think that there might be a misunderstanding... Niki, Soot’s not a hybrid.’ Phil spoke up, but Wilbur could tell there was no certainty in his voice; his gentle eyes watching the cat hybrid despite the statement.  

‘I- I got my degree in hybrid care, he’s definitely a hybrid...’ Niki spoke carefully, and suddenly everyone's eyes were on him. Wilbur couldn’t help but look over at Tommy, notice how his mouth practically fell open with surprise. Phil hid his shock better than the teen did; his eyes only sparkling with confusion as he gave up trying to subtly watch Wilbur’s reactions. He couldn’t help but feel glad that he couldn’t see Techno’s expression from where he was sat, his heart crushing under enough weight without that. 

‘Soot...?’ Tommy’s voice was incredibly quiet, and Wilbur knew he’d made a mistake when his head immediately snapped towards the teen. It felt like time froze after that, and the cat hybrid knew that there was no turning back. He wanted to comfort them, reassure them and pretend that he wasn’t a hybrid that pathetically hid his human part. Wilbur didn’t want anything to change; his pessimism combining with his anxiety to tell him that it would inevitably exacerbate. Phil slowly stood up and Wilbur couldn’t help but back away quickly, a hiss leaving his mouth before he could prevent it. The elytrian held up his hands in response, carefully taking calculated steps forward when the cat hybrids defensive stance never backed down.  

Wilbur panicked when Phil was almost in arms reach, dodging Techno’s attempts to pull him back into his lap and jumping rapidly off the sofa. His cat instincts had completely taken over, the human part of his brain shrinking and overridden by his thoughts, it’s futile attempts to surface overwhelming him even more. Run, he had to run. 

He darted towards the cat flap, ignoring the muffled cries he heard before he slipped through the door. The cat hybrid turned around when the sound of footsteps cleared in his mind; noticing Techno’s eyes reflected in the clear plastic, concern dancing around them gently. Wilbur wanted so desperately to run back inside, shake off the rain that had drenched his fur and clean the fear in their eyes. He instinctually moved back towards the flap; jumping backwards when he heard the front door opening, Tommy’s loud voice echoing in the air.  

Wilbur jumped over the fence as Phil rounded the corner into the garden, leaping off it before they could say anything. He sprinted in a random direction, his mind flying everywhere as he tried to stop himself from panicking. One thought was clear in his mind, creating loops of sadness inside him and fuelling his desire to ditch his adrenaline.  

They wanted a cat, not a hybrid, and Wilbur couldn’t even do that for them. 

Chapter Text

Techno could see the exact moment Soot realised he’d fucked up and he hated it.  

He hated how he couldn’t grab him, prevent him from darting out the cat flap in complete, utter fear. The piglin hybrid loathed the way he could tell that he was terrified; his cat eyes sparkling with trepidation as they made eye contact through the plastic flap. Techno’s desperation consumed him when Soot started walking back; consternation crushing him when he saw him jump over the fence, his fur spiking up from the rain.  

The piglin hybrid sank to the floor with a loud thump when he heard Tommy’s cries, the shock fully setting in.  

‘Techno, I’m so, so sorry... I-’ Niki began, interrupting his thoughts before they could even begin.  

‘Thank you for telling us...’ He settled on; his gaze pinned on the cat flap as he spoke. His piglin instincts swarmed his brain, the anxiousness of the rain instantly being absorbed by the desire to find him. 

‘Niki, Tubbo.’ His head snapped to Phil, his figure standing by the open front door and his hair flat from the rain. ‘I hope you don’t mind if we go and look for Soot? I-’ 

‘No of course, Phil. Let me know if I can do anything.’ 

‘Niki... Could you drop me back? I don’t have any other-’ 

‘Of course, Tubbo.’ Niki smiled softly; the sound of her voice barely heard in Techno’s brain. ‘We’ll call you if we see Soot on our way back.’ 

‘And I’ll ask some of my friends for places he usually hung around in, just in case...’ 

He couldn’t find it in himself to move. It was like he was glued to the floor, the muffled sounds of Phil saying goodbye to Niki and Tubbo did nothing to distract him. The piglin hybrid pulled out of his thoughts when a certain raccoon hybrid stood in front of him, his arms open for Tommy to fall into as he barely registered the damp feeling against his skin.  

The teen sniffled in their hug and Techno felt his heart stop, unsure of what to do. He’d usually try and find Soot if Phil was busy, knowing that the cat had a sense for calming people down. The piglin hybrid brushed off the realisation that it was because he understood him, the conveniency of him always being around when they needed him becoming clearer and clearer. Techno could tell Tommy was having a similar realisation, his sniffles pausing briefly to look around the room.  

This time Soot wasn’t there, and Techno felt sadness blossom in him.   

‘We’ll find him Toms.’ He whispered softly, his head snapping to the door when he saw Phil watching them. They made eye contact briefly, but it was enough for Techno to know that they were thinking the same thing. It may have not been their plan to adopt a cat, but that never stopped them before. And well, Techno didn’t think anyone would be opposed to having another hybrid in the house anyway. 

The sound of shuffling broke his and Tommy’s thoughts, both looking up like meercats at Phil instantly.  

‘I’m going out to look for him before he can get too far...’ Phil started; a protesting look in his eye when Tommy dragged himself towards his own coat. ‘Tommy-’ 

‘Don’t even try, you have more than enough skill to carry me as you fly.’ Tommy pointed out, a smile growing on his face when Phil simply sighed and rubbed his eyes. 

Techno was also moving before he could stop himself, the smooth feeling of his shiny coat causing him to cringe as he pulled it over him. He’d never liked the rain, always avoiding it whenever he could, but his protective instincts absorbed that instantly. The piglin hybrid knew he wouldn’t be able to sit in the house and do nothing anyway, not when he felt a pull at his heart and impulse to go in a certain direction.  

‘Techno, it’s raining. You can’t go outside.’ Phil stopped him before he could follow that impulse, his hand lightly blocking the entrance.  

‘I think I can find him,’ he stated, ignoring the shock that morphed onto Phil’s features.  

‘Don’t tell me this is another one of your piglin instincts that suddenly allow you to know where people are...’ Tommy commented, a smile growing on his face at his silence.  

A hidden feature of being a piglin hybrid meant that Techno had directional instincts of where those he cared about were. It usually came in impulses, sudden convulsions whenever they’d go past them and tugs to certain locations. He hadn’t realised it at first, only discovering it when Tommy had gotten lost and the piglin hybrid had been able to find him easily, but it came in handy more than he’d like. Phil often liked to joke about it; claim that it showed how much he really cared about them. Techno never proclaimed against that, simply shoving random pieces of jewellery in their hands as an answer and choosing not to argue otherwise.  

Phil didn’t say anything else, passing him an umbrella in silent acceptance. Techno resisted the urge to whack the elytrain when he noticed a small smirk growing on his face, snatching the keys from his hands and shoving them out the door. 

‘What?’ He sighed as Phil wrapped his arms around him and Tommy, slowly flapping his wings as he gained more height.  

‘I fucking knew you would bond quickly.’  

Tommy ignored how concerned they were when they realised how dark it was.  

It was late when they eventually set off, the raccoon hybrid gripping onto Phil’s arm harder than he should of when they slowly gained height. He ignored their comments that he was safe and focused on the ground instead, making sure he didn’t let go of Phil’s arm despite the reassurance.  

They realised their issue when Phil nearly crashed into a glass building; the combination of dim lighting and his struggles to see glass proving to be fatal. Tommy smirked at them when they resorted to using him to navigate; choosing to go blind at their worries when they accepted that they were completely dependent on the raccoon hybrid. His good eyesight at night was finally becoming helpful and the teen planned on never allowing them to forget that.  

‘Go right.’ Techno demanded, yanking Tommy from his thoughts. ‘I think I’m catching his scent.’  

‘Well, that’s not creepy at all.’ He stated, pulling his sight from the grey floor below to raise his eyebrows at the piglin hybrid. 

‘Tommy, please. I don’t want to crash into something before we can get anywhere.’ Phil said, barely flying out of the way of a house that was suddenly in their way. 

The raccoon hybrid simply tutted at Phil, instructing him of the location of a couple tall trees to reassure him and holding on tighter when he swerved to the side. It had to be heights; Tommy hated heights.  

‘Stop!’ Techno startled them both, and the elytrian hybrid almost crashed into a tree at the surprise. ‘We’ve gone past him...’  

‘Why couldn’t you say that before Phil flew further away!’ He whined, not wanting to drag out the situation. The raccoon hybrid’s coat was practically drenched, and the only reason he wasn’t completely complaining was because he had his hood to protect his hair. Not that he wouldn’t complain later, that was his speciality after all.  

‘Phil bring us to the ground.’  

‘Are you sure?’  

‘I think- I think so.’ Tommy sighed in relief, practically leaping out of Phil’s arms when his feet were no longer hoovering in mid-air. He watched impatiently as Phil opened a couple umbrellas, shoving one in the piglin hybrid hands before they could do anything else. The raccoon hybrid wanted to run; check some of the alleyways that he knew Soot liked to hide in, but he decided to wait for Techno. He trusted whatever instincts he had without admitting that out loud.  

They had stopped on a deserted street, a place that looked like a roundabout with the number of alleyways leading from it. Graffiti was painted across the walls, the usual bright coloured lettering seeming unusually lacklustre as the rain pattered against it. He smiled when he noticed a large, white owl painted onto the walls, its usual obnoxiously vivid colours being dulled down to an acceptable level. 

‘Tech, which way?’ Phil asked, pulling Tommy under his own umbrella as they followed the silent piglin hybrid, the dark colours of the streets numbing his eyes. He wasn’t sure how many alleyways they passed until Techno suddenly stopped in his path, muttering something under his breath as he looked around.  

‘Oomph,’ Tommy laughed as Phil walked straight into the piglin hybrid, his wings flapping randomly as he tried to stabilise himself. ‘What happened-’ 

‘He’s somewhere here.’  

The raccoon hybrid’s head snapped to the nearest alleyway, thankful for his ability to see in the dark. There were carboard boxes everywhere, covered in a dull mucky grey colour from where the rain had brutally destroyed its life. He shuffled forwards, narrowly avoiding the specks of glass that littered the floor, green pieces of shattered bottles crunching beneath his shoes. Tommy placed his hand on the wall, grimacing at the moss that covered his hand, leaning his weight against it as he rummaged through some of the open boxes.  

He was about to leave and search a different corner of the street, before he noticed something that barely caught his eye. A small hole was camouflaged in the corner, hidden chaotically by the shadows that loomed over it. Tommy knelt, ignoring the way his jeans were instantly covered in grime, and poked his head through the small gap. His eyes adapted to the even darker light; barely detecting the tiny hint of fur that shook in its ball like shape. ‘Weird.’ the raccoon hybrid muttered to himself. ‘It kinda looks like-’ 

‘Fucking hell!’ He jumped backwards, grabbing the attention of Phil and Techno as he knocked all the boxes over, startled by his own delayed reaction. 

‘Tommy? What the fuck did you do- Why on earth are you kneeling on the floor?’ He ignored Phil’s concerned voice, popping his head back inside the gap to double check.  

‘I know you like dirt Tommy but now isn’t the-’ 

‘He’s in here.’ Tommy stated, cutting off Techno’s rather rude statement instantly, cavilling when he was instantly shoved out the way.  

‘Soot?’ Tommy glared at Techno as he knelt down, his own head popping through the gap.  

‘Why does everyone need to double check what I say?’ The raccoon hybrid grumbled, leaning into Phil’s hand that ruffled his hair instinctually. ‘He’s not gonna come out... is he?’ He whispered into Phil’s side, curling into his warmth even more when he didn’t answer, barely comprehending the rain slowing down.  

‘Shit... how are we going to get to him?’ Techno turned around to face them, the umbrella gripped like a lifeline in his hand as his voice slightly trembled.  

Tommy stared into space, unsure of what he was meant to do. He wondered if they could coax him out, steal a blanket from a nearby shop and wrap Soot in it. His thoughts drifted to what he was like; he found himself wondering if he was older than him, what he sounded like when he spoke, what he looked like. He’d only ever seen him in cat form; curiosity bubbled inside him, excitement swimming around in his stomach as he pondered if he looked like the cat he’d gotten to know. 

‘Oh!’ Tommy shot out of Phil’s grip, almost falling to the ground if it wasn’t for the arm secured around his waist. ‘I know what to do!’  

‘Wonderful Tommy, planning on telling us what?’ Techno deadpanned, gradually standing up and leaning against the wall. How did he always look so damn cool- 

‘It’s raccoon time bitches!’ He said, shifting instantly before anyone could say anything. His grey paws hit the ground, slipping slightly as he tried to balance himself before stalking towards the hole in the wall.  

‘Tommy... be careful, okay?’ He inwardly rolled his eyes at Phil’s voice, blinking rapidly at him as some sort of reply. Tommy was never not careful, they had nothing to worry about... 

The raccoon hybrid slipped inside the gap and promptly darted back out when Soot jumped in fright.  

Chapter Text

Wilbur didn’t even know where he was anymore.  

The streets blended like they were mixed in leaden water; the buildings looked identical, and it felt like he was constantly running but getting nowhere. Rain weighed down his fur, the constant ache of sprinting down the empty streets creating even more of a strain as he begun to feel more and more sluggish. 

He darted into an alleyway when he heard a dog bark, his hybrid side already restless without that interaction. Wilbur sniffed around some of the boxes, his paws gripping the lubricious stone tiles with endeavour when he realised how deep it was. The cat hybrid instinctually headed inside an open box, lifting a paw and gently whacking it to test the stability. He sighed frustratingly when it instantly collapsed, the sound echoing through the empty night. Wilbur never understood why his cat instincts always led him to carboard boxes, but it seemed this time he’d have to find something else. 

He wondered deeper inside, noticing a small section hidden away by some of the boxes. The floor was covered in moss, concentrated in the corners and dark in colour. It matched the gloominess of the walls, further emphasising the sombre look of the place. Squeezing his way inside, he butted more boxes to block the entrance; immediately sighing in relief when less wind riffled his spikey fur. He carefully looked around, almost growling when the rain continued to fall rapidly on him. It wouldn’t be a permanent solution, but it would do until he could figure out what to do.  

God why did he allow himself to stay that long? He shivered rapidly, his brain throwing accusations and reassurances at him continuously, leaving him alone and helpless to making decisions. Wilbur knew the risk of staying with them, he shouldn’t have allowed himself to bask in the comfort for so long. Maybe he could have pretended more, stayed in the house and not given up his act so pathetically like he had now. 

The cat hybrid was familiar with spite of bitter weather, yet a dejected heart felt endlessly worse. 

Wilbur curled into himself in a corner, the sluggish feeling in his brain having grown too much to be ignored. Why was he so damn tired? He would normally be able to last longer, his stamina having been built up to withstand the winters weather over time. Yet sleep pulled at his mind, and the cat hybrid couldn’t help but drift into unconsciousness; his shivering dying down enough for his adrenaline to wear off. Something whispered in his mind that it wasn’t a good thing, but he didn’t ponder over it for long, allowing the exhaustion to consume him.  

His mind went blank as he was absorbed into a dreamless sleep, the rain still pattering onto his exposed form.  

It took Wilbur a while to realise what had woken him up. 

He felt beyond groggy; his mind feeling that it was tangled in cotton wool no matter how much he tried to clear it. The cat hybrid slowly gained awareness of his surroundings, sighing gratefully when he noticed the rain starting to slow down and the relief it caused on his back. The shivering gradually returned as he fully woke up and soon his body was racked in shivers despite how much he curled into himself.  

It was hard for him to think, any thought that surfaced to the front of his mind felt empty; clouded unintelligently in fog that he couldn’t seem to clear. He realised that trying was rather fruitless, instead choosing to bask in the bliss of peace that he had been gifted, enjoying the solace of his hybrid and human side not fighting for attention. Everything was muffled, and the cat hybrid couldn’t bring himself to care. 

Oh God he better not be getting si- 

Wilbur jumped when his brain comprehended movement, his eyes snapping to the creature that darted backwards in surprise as adrenaline rushed to consume him. Panic overtook his previously barren brain; the emotion instantly overwhelming him as he tried to figure out what was happening. He hoped that the creature’s fear would be enough to turn them away, scare them into finding another alleyway instead of scrapping mindlessly with him.  

‘Tommy! Would you be more careful... please?’ The cat hybrid stopped in his tracks, his fur standing up on its end as his brain slowly allowed him to apprehend what was happening. They were here... for him? Phil’s voice seemed to always be soft despite the concern littered inside, its gentleness being enough to lull a child to sleep with ease. He so desperately wanted to go to sleep, curl up with the moss and pretend nothing was wrong. 

He slowly backed further away from the entrance when the creature came back inside, the signature grey and white coloured fur blending in with the dark walls as the raccoon shuffled inside. Tommy’s whiskers curled upwards as he gingerly smiled, gradually pulling his entire body into the confined area when Wilbur made no sound of discomfort. The raccoon hybrid paused when his tail slipped completely inside, shifting himself to sit down with angel eyes as Wilbur instinctually pushed his body further against the wall. 

The cat hybrid stood frozen, watching wearily as Tommy tilted his head, blinking at him innocently. Wilbur didn’t know what to do, and neither did the raccoon hybrid, leaving them in an awkward silence that no one understood how to break. He said nothing when Tommy started looking around, his head titling upwards with notion as a familiar look of contemplation flashed through his eyes.  

Wilbur backed up into the wall even further when Tommy shifted, his blond hair folded awkwardly around his legs as he shuffled to sit down. ‘Philllllll’ He drawled out; his eyes trained on the cat hybrid’s protective stance.  

‘Tommy? What’s happening?’  

‘Nothing... I don’t know what to fucking do.’  

Wilbur crouched down as much as he could when the raccoon hybrid came closer, hissing quietly when his arm extended out towards him. He didn’t notice another set of eyes poking out from the gap at first, Techno’s eyes swimming with emotions as he watched them. 

‘Soot?’ His eyes snapped towards Techno’s instantly, white spots clouding his vision before he could blink to clear them, his paws swaying slightly in the process. Wilbur stared confused, looking up at the small drizzles of rain before glancing at the piglin hybrid, concern dancing visibly in his eyes. 

‘Soot, we’re not mad...’ Phil started, and Wilbur could predict the expression plastered on the elytrian’s face. ‘We never were mate... we don’t mind that you’re a hybrid.’ The cat hybrid didn’t notice Tommy coming closer until he was kneeling in front of him, his arm stretched out cautiously by Wilbur’s head with careful eyes. The raccoon hybrid’s hand slowly lowered onto his head, threading through his clumped fur gently as Wilbur forced himself to relax into the attention. 

He eventually closed his eyes when he felt tiredness tugging at his mind, the attention lulling him into a state akin to sleep as he tried to grip onto consciousness.  

‘What’s happening?’ Phil’s whispering caught his attention, his eyes slowly blinking back open and glancing at Tommy. The raccoon hybrid looked relieved, his hand still slowly brushing Wilbur’s fur, untangling some of the parts dried by the rain.  

‘I don’t know, Soot looks relaxed though,’ Techno said back, not bothering to whisper as he made eye contact with Wilbur.  

The cat hybrid started purring softly, yet the quiet hum sounded loud in the silence; Tommy’s smile brightening when he heard it. He felt his fingers move gently over his eyes, the light touch making him purr louder as his grip on the ground loosened slightly. Wilbur shuffled closer ever so slightly, a growing sensation of credence forming in his mind as each second passed. 

‘Soot?’ Techno whispered tentatively, causing the cat hybrid to look in his direction. His voice was so soft, and Wilbur wasn’t sure if he’d ever heard him speak like that before. The piglin hybrid extended his hand, his fingers barely poking out from the entrance and sticking out from the dull colours that surrounded it. The implication was clear, and Wilbur hesitantly shuffled towards him, pausing just out of arm's length when he felt a raccoon’s presence behind him. Tommy nudged his head forward, his grey fur brushing against Wilbur’s with reassurance.  

The cat hybrid felt like a child being coaxed as he slipped away from the cramped area, his head poking into the alleyway when Techno shuffled away from the entrance. Wilbur traipsed fully out of the gap; his attention instantly stolen by Phil’s look of softness from where he leant against the wall. His wings looked majestic to Wilbur, stretched out to what he assumed to be their full-length and hoovering above the piglin hybrid’s head protectively.  

The cat hybrid carefully sat down as they waited for Tommy to follow him out; black dots littered around his vision as he tried to flutter away the tiredness. The feeling of cotton wool in his head hadn’t cleared much, his thoughts barely reaching his comprehension and his limbs felt sluggish whenever he moved them.  

He watched as Tommy shifted back into human form, blinking slowly at him when the teen knelt once again. Wilbur allowed himself to be pulled into his arms, his tail folding gently as Tommy shuffled to his feet and walked towards the elytrian’s open arms. He bumped his head up to Techno’s hand when it hovered over his head, prompting the piglin hybrid out of his apprehension at the realisation that he was hesitating.  

The cat hybrid curled further into Tommy’s arms when he felt Phil lift them off the ground, his brain helpfully supplying that he was completely reliant on a teenager to not drop him. He barely concealed a couple sneezes as he looked down at the ground, watching as the moon illuminated the ground with a white glow and noticing the lack of lights reflected through the windows. Wilbur didn’t know when it got so late, the breeze of the cold air causing him to start shivering slightly in Tommy’s grip.  

‘Are you cold?’ The raccoon hybrid asked, increasing his hold on Wilbur when he noticed his badly concealed shivering.  

‘Is he sick?’ Techno asked, his calculated gaze set directly on Wilbur’s drooping eyes which the cat hybrid knew were becoming hazier. He attempted to shake his head, ignoring the way a couple black dots appeared in his vision at the action. 

‘He’s sick?’ Phil asked, the concern in his voice easily heard over the sound of his wings flapping. 

‘Soot says he isn’t...’ He ignored Techno’s suspicious look as he looked down again, noticing the familiar silhouettes of houses as they got nearer and nearer. Wilbur knew he could just sleep off any sickness that he may have developed, expecting to be able to brush it off before it could deteriorate. 

What he wasn’t expecting was the absolute carnage that occurred when he couldn’t prevent a sneeze from slipping out.  

Chapter Text

Wilbur wasn’t sure why a sneeze became such a big deal.  

Tommy almost dropped him when he sneezed, shouting in surprise and adjusting his grip when the cat hybrid almost fell out. Phil’s wings flapped unmoving in the air when it happened, demanding that Tommy held onto him tighter as they started moving again. He then had to deal with a certain elytrian hybrid nagging on about not hiding when he was sick as well as a teenager asking if he was okay every couple of seconds. 

And well, he didn’t need to look at Techno to know that the piglin hybrid was harvesting an unimpressed look. 

Wilbur was almost falling asleep when he felt Phil lowering them to the ground, the sound of gentle flapping lulling his brain softly as the haziness in his eyes shifted to his head. The cotton wool returned softly, building up in his ears as sounds became more muffled and harder to comprehend. He felt what was like a battering on his skull, causing him to lazily move his head to the side when the cat hybrid finally registered it. 

‘Soot? Soot, can you hear us?’ The cat hybrid blinked slowly as he tried to clear the haziness from his eyes, slowly shifting to look at Techno. The piglin hybrid was stood in front of him, concern reflected in his eyes as he softly continued to tap at his head.  

‘How out is he?’  

‘I think he can hear us, but he looks pretty out Phil...’ Wilbur let his eyes close again, leaning against Tommy more when he lost the energy to hold his head up.  

‘Soot... need... shift?’ 

‘What if... want...’ 

He heard them mumbling distantly, only catching a few words of their conversation. The cat hybrid carefully opened his eyes when he heard a door close, gradually moving to jump out of the teen's arms when the familiar red colour of the sofa came into his view.  

‘Tommy, it’ll be better if he’s on the floor.’  

‘Why?’ 

‘If we can convince him... it’s better he isn’t lying down.’ 

The raccoon hybrid complied and lowered him to the floor; gently keeping him there when he tried to move. Wilbur was too drowsy to fight, allowing himself to flop against the hardwood and flutter his eyes shut.  

‘No, no, no... Soot you need to stay awake for a bit, alright?’ The cat hybrid meowed sleepily at the elytrian, blinking slowly as he willed himself to keep a grip on consciousness. He felt a blanket cascade against his fur, the warmth of it suffocating Wilbur and making him feel even more sluggish.  

‘Phil.’ He heard Techno say, his tone making him subconsciously glance over. ‘It would be easier...’ All 3 of them were knelt beside him, a hesitant look growing in Phil’s eyes. Wilbur couldn’t help but feel uneasy when no one spoke, the silence growing over them all uncomfortably.  

‘Soot...’ Phil began after a while, the cat hybrid’s hazy eyes watching him carefully. ‘Do you think you could shift for us?’ 

Wilbur froze at the question, his brain shutting down instantly. He could see Phil and Techno talking, their nervous expressions growing when they realised he had zoned out again. The cat hybrid couldn’t remember the last time he had shifted; the years of familiar routine shutting out the information whenever it surfaced. He didn’t remember what it felt like to be human; to have easily controlled limbs and an ability to communicate that he found himself desiring. Wilbur didn’t know what he sounded like anymore, whether his accent had faded over time or even if he’d be able to anymore. Anxiousness bubbled in the pit of his stomach as he softly shook his head; the sight of black dots becoming accustomed in his vision.  

The cat hybrid ignored their crestfallen looks, fidgeting until he was sat upright instead of laid out across the floor. The blanket laid discarded by his feet, the soft fabric only concealing his tail as he moved out of its way. He wanted to shuffle into Tommy’s lap, curl into him for company and give into the exhaustion, knowing his warmth would inevitably lull him asleep. Instead, Wilbur glanced up at the teenager's face, sadness and despondence swimming around his eyes as his hand itched towards the cat hybrid.  

Maybe, just maybe he could- 

‘It’d be easier to help you that way.’ Techno commented, clearly sensing a lift in his apprehension. ‘And I think we’re all a bit curious...’ He admitted, ducking his head when a hint of pink started glowing on his cheeks. Wilbur paused again, the previous feeling of anxiousness fading gently, replacing itself with a sensation of softness that nestled inside him.  

He was nodding before he could stop himself, the action so small that he wasn’t sure if they could catch it. The cat hybrid watched as their eyes lit up, meowing gratefully when Phil carefully adjusted the blanket to cover his back when he glanced back at it. It felt heavier on his back, the feeling grounding him as he procrastinated, allowing his thoughts to swarm around his mind; his breathing threatening to pick up as he mindlessly fretted about anything his brain surfaced. 

Wilbur eventually calmed himself enough to shift, frowning uncomfortably when his paws were replaced with legs, his knees scrunched awkwardly against the ground at his position. He felt the blanket creep up his spine when he tried to move, black spots instantly overtaking his vision as he tried to adapt to the situation.  

The cat hybrid felt himself falling before he could stop himself, exhaustion stealing his consciousness instantly as his sight faded completely. His tiredness deluged him, his brain struggling to shift through the haziness in order to understand what had happened.  

Wilbur distantly felt arms catch him and he blacked out to the sound of anguished voices.  

There was a ringing in his head.  

It had been for a while, sounding like a fire alarm and droning for what felt like hours. The sound slowly got quieter and quieter, it’s constant presence never leaving despite how much it shrunk to the back of his mind.  

Everything felt hazy. His paws were heavier than usual, dragging his body further into whatever soft fabric he was laying on. The cat hybrid subconsciously tried to pull his tail closer; his eyebrows scrunching in confusion when he couldn’t feel it move. 

‘Soot?’ He tried to move when he heard a voice, the sensation of his foot moving finally catching in his brain. He had shifted... he was human again.  

‘Phil! I think he’s waking up.’ Techno. He could hear Techno, his voice bouncing off the outside of his brain. Wilbur tried moving again, succeeding in shifting slightly on what he identified to be the sofa as the sound of footsteps consumed the slight buzzing that remained.  

‘Soot... can you hear me?’ The cat hybrid made a sound that he hoped was identifiable as acknowledgement, attempting to force his eyes open by blinking rapidly. To his surprise it worked, his eyes fluttering open and revealing a cloudy image of the ceiling. Blinking a few more times, he tried to sit up, his arms collapsing under the sudden usage and leaving his head to thump against the sofa. 

‘Woah, be careful mate.’ He felt a hand reach under his back, helping him pull himself upright and lean against the arm of the sofa. Wilbur tried to smile gratefully at the elytrain, his eyes slowly adapting to the brightness of the room. The cat hybrid glanced around, noticing Tommy curled into Techno’s side from their position of the floor, his eyes full of unfallen tears.  

He sneezed into his elbow, bringing his hand to rub at the goosebumps that had built up on his arms despite the sluggish feeling. Pulling the blanket further over himself, he looked over at the clock, his brain grasping the position of the hands after a few seconds. It was well past 1am, and he knew he was keeping them up; the guilt floating around inside him.  

‘I-’ Wilbur tried to speak but ending up coughing instead, the silence of the room making it sound cacophonous. Phil passed him a glass of water, holding it for him and guiding the straw to his mouth when his hands started shaking. He sipped at it carefully, the hydration making his throat ache as he got used to the sensation.  

‘I’m sorry,’ Wilbur whispered softly as he avoided eye contact. It felt weird to speak, his throat contracting uncomfortably as he tried to form words.  

‘No.’  

‘Nope.’ 

‘Nah mate.’ They all spoke over each other, Techno’s deadpanning barely audible over Tommy’s shouts. ‘You have nothing to apologise for.’ Doubt must have crossed his face as Phil said that as he received the look from all three of them. He smiled back sheepishly, fiddling with the hem of the blanket awkwardly. 

They sat in silence after that, and Wilbur zoned out slightly, only aware of Tommy’s subtle shuffling towards him. He silently offered his hand when the raccoon hybrid got close to him, letting the limb droop over the edge of the sofa compliantly. Tommy snatched it eagerly, encasing it with his own and tracing soft patterns into his palm. His actions felt smooth against his hand, and Wilbur couldn’t help but focus in on it, wanting the distraction just as much as the teenager. 

‘You wanna try and eat something?’ He shook his head at the question, his stomach spinning at the thought of food. The elytrain hybrid sighed knowingly, his hand resting gently across his forehead when he subconsciously leaned into the touch.  

‘Alright mate, but in the morning you have to... okay? You’re still worryingly warm though, so try and drink some water.’ Wilbur hummed lightly, stifling a yawn as he shuffled closer towards them. He glanced at Techno carefully, noticing that the piglin hybrids eyes had never left him throughout the conversation. The cat hybrid titled his head to the side, confused when a fond expression appeared on his face.  

A straw appeared in front of him again, and Wilbur took a couple slow sips before pushing it away. He couldn’t help but feel tired again, his brain and limps feeling more and more drowsy as he attempted to stay awake.  

‘You’re bad at stifling yawns,’ Tommy commented, his head poking up from beside the sofa and resting on the edge. He looked like a child peering up at a sibling, affection dancing around in his eyes and reflected in teasing. 

‘He’s needs to sleep anyway; he probably just feels sick and sluggish.’ He tried to scowl at Techno’s comment, watching as the piglin hybrid slowly rose to his feet.  

‘’m not sick.’ The cat hybrid sleepily insisted, allowing Techno to help him lie back down again and ignoring Phil’s raised eyebrows.  

‘Go to sleep Soot...’ The elytrian whispered, grabbing a couple more blankets to cover him with. He curled into them subconsciously, pretending not to hear a certain piglin hybrid cooing at him. 

‘Wilbur.’ He felt them all freeze in their places, confused expressions glancing down at him. 

‘What did you say mate?’ Phil’s voice was gentle as always, his curiosity barely registering in his mind over the sheer softness of his tone. 

‘My name’s Wilbur.’ 

Chapter Text

The mornings were one of the only times the house seemed peaceful.  

Phil flicked on the kettle, watching absently as the water started bubbling viciously and ridding the house of its previous silence. He leaned his head against the kitchen cupboard, rubbing his eyes as he poured some coffee into a mug. It was 8am, and he knew that he wouldn’t be able to function without coffee. Leaving plenty of water in the kettle for when Techno eventually shuffled downstairs, he brought his mug over to the table and practically flopped onto the chair.  

He wondered how long he had until Tommy woke up, bounding down the stairs with his usual energy and heaving Techno along with him when he dragged his feet. It’s then his quietude is usually disrupted with an energetic teenager and a tired piglin hybrid who couldn’t make coffee without clanging every single mug. Phil smiled at the memory of their first morning together, the absolute chaos of it left them all snorting milk back into their cereal.  

The elytrian sipped at his coffee as he tapped at his phone, sending a quick thank you to Niki as he scanned over her advice. He had texted her sometime last night, using his left hand to type and using his right to gently brush the hair from the unconscious cat hybrid’s forehead. Wilbur... Phil hummed into his coffee; the name suited him. The eytrain wasn’t sure what to expect when he’d shifted, but he’d knew that he wasn’t the only one curious. Tommy never stopped fidgeting, having already addressed his desire to see what the cat hybrid looked like, but Techno was more subtle; his eyes simply sparkling with anticipation.  

Phil thought back to when he shifted, him swaying slightly on his knees before passing out, Phil’s arms barely reaching forward enough to catch him. The elytrian tried to ignore Tommy’s worried babbling as he gently hit the side of his cheeks, concern surfacing instantly when he didn’t wake up. He remembered gesturing for Techno to help lift him onto the sofa, allowing him to remain by his side and tasking the teenager to help him find clothes. The elytrian knew Tommy needed something to do, leaving the piglin hybrid to ride out his protective instincts as they prepared for him to wake up. He was called downstairs just over an hour later, the relief of him waking up suffocated his thoughts as he dashed downstairs. 

He was startled out of the memory when he heard a crash from the living room, accompanied by a couple curses from a distinctly hoarse voice. Phil eyebrows rose at his stood up, his wing hitting the edge of the seat as he crossed the corner of the kitchen. Distracted with his wings, he didn’t notice the other figure until it was too late, his hands instantly reaching out to the person.   

Wilbur... wait why was he up? 

Phil reached out when his knees buckled, grabbing onto him carefully and keeping his arm around his waist. He looked tired, the bags under his eyes were still prominent despite how obvious it was that he’d just woken up. ‘Hey... you shouldn’t be up mate. You’re still sick.’ He resisted the urge to coo as the cat hybrid blinked sleep out of his eyes. ‘Come on... let’s get you back.’ Phil tried to coax him towards the sofa again, only stopping when Wilbur didn’t comply. 

‘Spilt some water... need to clean it up.’ The tall hybrid gestured lazily towards the living room, attempting to shuffle back towards the kitchen as his fluffy hair fell over his forehead.  

‘No, let me do that.’ The elytrain insisted, pointing towards the living room with a silent gesture. Wilbur shook his head, leaning against him more which Phil had a sneaky suspicion wasn’t a conscious choice. 

‘It’s my mess, I’ll deal with-’ 

‘Nope, stop being stubborn.’  

‘No-’ 

‘Yes.’ 

‘But-’ 

Phil simply nudged his head towards the kitchen, giving him a pointed look when he was about to complain. He got the cat hybrid to lean on him as they walked into the kitchen, pulling out a chair and practically forcing him to sit. The elytrian gave him another look before moving into the living room, using some paper towels he had grabbed to absorb the spilt water. Phil knew that the only reason he’d managed to convince Wilbur was because he looked like he was about to collapse, but he supposed it was better than nothing. He was suddenly glad he gave him a plastic cup; not wanting him to hurt himself if he tried to pick up the glass shards, especially as he was sick and uncoordinated.  

Wilbur was resting his head against his arm when he returned, blinking apologetically at Phil when he walked back in. Giving him yet another look, he carefully filled up another glass and handed it to him, placing a colourful straw in his hand for him to drink from. 

It went silent again and Phil couldn’t help but watch him as he slowly sipped through the straw, his brown hair sticking slightly to his forehead. You could still tell he was sick; the paleness of his skin combined with his obvious sluggish movements and occasional sniffling did nothing to hide that. He seemed well enough to eat, and the elytrian was determined to get him to do so, especially when he realised that Wilbur hadn’t for over a day. 

Phil slowly pulled out a chair beside him, the sound of it scrapping across the floor causing his head to snap towards him. ‘Can you try and eat something for me Wilbur? Even if it’s something small...’ 

‘That’s the first time you’ve said my name.’ He commented quietly, and Phil didn’t think he would hear it if he wasn’t watching his expression.  

‘Where’d Soot come from?’ He prompted lightly, making sure that he kept the thought to ensure he ate something at the front of his mind. The elytrian knew he changed the conversation on purpose, (he had noticed the way he gripped his stomach – clearly in discomfort) but he supposed they were going to have to talk anyway.  

‘It’s my surname...’ He simply hummed in response, already having suspected that was the case.  

‘How’d you get your nametag.’ Phil watched as a small smile appeared on his face, a nostalgic look deep in his eyes.  

‘Tommy was right, some cat hybrid came around and asked for it. I don’t remember why I gave my surname though.’  

The elytrian allowed the taller to zone out; subtly grabbing an apple from the fruit basket and pulling a chopping board towards him. Cutting it up into small chunks, he scrapped it into a bowl and pushed it towards the cat hybrid. Phil tried to be patient as he stared at the bowl, his eyes telling a story of contemplation that he could tell wasn’t going that way he wanted, before eventually deciding that coaxing would be more efficient. He picked up a fork, stabbing a piece of apple with it and holding it in Wilbur’s direction when he made no move to grab it.  

‘I know you might not feel hungry...’ He started, noticing the way his stubbornness deflated at the words. ‘But you need to eat something mate. I’m not gonna stop until-’ Phil cut off when the cat hybrid took the fork from him, chewing slowly on the piece of apple with an obvious flush on his cheeks. ‘Thank you,’ he smiled, beaming with pride as he watched Wilbur reached for another piece. 

Soon he heard a stampede of footsteps bouncing down the stairs, accompanied by complaints and shouts from his two sons, interrupting the comfortable silence that had developed. He noticed that Wilbur had stopped eating when both Tommy and Techno appeared at the entrance, the piglin hybrid bumping into the teen when he stopped suddenly, a mixture of surprise and excitement rushing on the raccoon hybrid’s face.  

‘Tommy, I swear if you prevent me from getting coffee any longer I will-’ Techno’s head poked through the doorway, his sentence cutting off as soon as he noticed Wilbur. ‘You shouldn’t be here.’  

‘Oh, yeah sorry-’ 

‘No, that’s not what I-’ 

Tommy spluttered when Wilbur made a move to stand up, quickly pulling out the chair beside him to chuck his feet over the cat hybrid, practically trapping him in place as Techno stuttered over his words.  

‘I, uh, meant that you’re meant to be resting...’ A blush formed on the piglin hybrid’s cheeks, and Phil knew a fond look was twinkling in his eyes as Techno went to make coffee. The hesitant look in Wilbur’s eyes never faded, and Phil could tell that he didn’t quite believe it. He nodded when Techno held his empty cup in his direction, knowing that coffee would be a necessity if he wanted to get through the morning. 

Phil slowly drank his coffee as he made them all breakfast. It was nothing fancy, just some toast with various spreads to suit what they all liked and some apple slices for them to pick at. Placing a couple on the plates, he passed it to Tommy and Techno, becoming slightly concerned when they waited. The elytrian was used to the raccoon hybrid scoffing down his food, the crumbs flying everywhere and causing Techno to complain when they flung onto his own plate. 

He buttered a bit for Wilbur, deciding that simplicity would be better for his stomach after realising he didn’t know what he liked, and passed the plate to him after cutting it into quarters like he usually would with Tommy. It seemed that the cat hybrid found it easier to eat smaller things, allowing him to take his time and eat slowly – the opposite of Phil’s aims to slow down the teenager, and he had no problem doing that for him.  

He had no problem doing anything for him. 

All three of them watched as Wilbur fiddled with the toast, having made a unanimous decision to wait until he took a bite before they all started eating. The cat hybrid seemed to notice this, slowly chewing on a small piece and holding his arm over his stomach. Tommy babbled on about rocks as they ate, finding ways to include Wilbur in the conversation with ease, especially when he seemed genuinely interested in the topic.  

‘Wilbur.’ He said once they had all finished, fishing out a plastic box from one of their cupboards. ‘Here, now that you’ve eaten something we can give you some medicine. It’s just paracetamol.’ He added the last part when he hesitated, turning the white pills over in his hand before taking it with some water.  

‘I want some paracetamol.’ Tommy stated, reaching for the packet that rested on the table. 

‘No.’ Techno pushed the packet away, securing it back inside the cupboard out of reach.  

‘I don’t trust you with pills Tommy, we have Calpol if you’re sick.’ Added Phil, the memory of him almost choking on a pill and dropping several on the floor returning.  

‘But whyyyy.’ The raccoon hybrid whined, leaning his head against Wilbur’s shoulder. Phil was about to reply when the cat hybrid spoke, his voice quiet but easily audible in the room. 

‘Cause you’re a kid?’ Techno almost spat out his drink, joining Phil in laughing at Tommy’s face. 

‘I’m not a kid!’ 

‘You know what, you’re right.’ Wilbur stated, confidence growing with a mischievous that Tommy mustn't have caught. ‘You’re a gremlin child.’ Tommy spluttered, and the room went silent when he couldn’t think of an answer, his head remaining on Wilbur’s shoulder throughout the banter.  

‘Are you gonna stay as a human?’ The teen whispered, slowly looking up at with scared eyes that made his heart throb when Wilbur said nothing. 

‘Niki said that it’s best if you don’t shift for a while, especially as you’re still sick.’ Wilbur nodded in reply, an emotion flashing across his face that Phil couldn’t quite pinpoint. 

‘So, you’ll stay as a human?’ Techno asked, and Phil could easily see past his nonchalant act. Both his and Tommy’s eyes were practically dancing with hope, mimicking the way his own heart swelled with it. 

‘If that’s what you want then sure. I’ll shift back into a cat whenever you want that back.’ Wilbur shrugged, looking befuddled at their stunned looks as Tommy curled in closer. ‘Did I say something wrong-’ 

‘I think there’s been some confusion here...’ Phil eventually settled on, his heart snapping at the genuine frown that crossed Wilbur’s face. ‘We don’t mind which form you stay as...’ 

‘Yes,’ Phil couldn’t help but feel even more confused when it seemed like it wasn’t new information to him. ‘But you’d prefer if I was in cat form.’  

‘Where the actual fuck did you get that from.’  

‘Techno-’ Phil tried to interrupt, not wanting the piglin hybrid to go full on protective mode when Wilbur was still sprouting confusion. 

‘No. I want to know what gave him that fucking impression.’ His eyes radiated anger as he spoke, and Phil couldn’t help but notice Wilbur’s badly concealed flinch at his tone. 

‘I-’ The cat hybrid paused, blinking in tiredness and apprehension. ‘I’m here... because you wanted a cat?’  

It went silent again, and Phil honestly couldn’t fault his logic despite his desire to. Judging by the way Techno visibly slouched in his seat, it seemed he wasn’t the only one. ‘Mate, I think I speak for everyone when I say-’ 

‘I like you as a human.’ Tommy spoke over him softly, his doe eyes sparkling with tears as he looked up from where his head was buried in his shoulder.  

‘We all do...’ Phil added, noticing Techno’s shy yet enthusiastic nod from the corner of his eye. ‘It’s completely your choice... but it would be nice to be able to talk to you.’  

The cat hybrid didn’t reply for a while, instead bringing his hand up to Tommy’s hair and gently playing with it. The elytrian couldn’t help but let a small ‘aww’ slip out, his smile only growing when Wilbur avoided eye contact as a small blush painted his cheeks. 

‘Stay as human?’ The raccoon hybrid whispered; his eyes closed from the affection. 

‘Okay...’ Phil smiled at his whisper, a similar relieved expression growing on his and Techno’s face. 

‘We’ll get you into the habit of shifting at least once every couple of days. Especially as you passed out after your last shift.’ A look was sent in Wilbur’s direction when he instantly looked guilty. ‘Niki said to slowly build it up to a healthier rate over time.’ Phil said, absently drinking what was left of his coffee. 

‘Isn’t that quite a lot though?’ Wilbur commented, continuing to thread through Tommy’s hair when the latter whined when he stopped, a smile clear on his face. 

‘That’s less than average... Tommy shifts at least once in the evening.’ Techno added, his hand protectively reaching for Wilbur’s spare one when he seemed surprised at that. ‘When did you last shift...?’ 

‘Uh, about a year ago I reckon.’  

‘What?’ They all shouted at the same time, and Phil knew his eyes were wide with shock. He assumed that Wilbur was shifting when no one was around, pretending nothing happened when he wandered around the house. The elytrian sincerely hoped he was joking as he scanned his eyes for any hint of amusement.  

He only found honestly, and Phil almost had a heart attack when he realised it was the truth.  

Techno glared at the digital clock on his desk.  

It seemed to be particularly taunting that night, its red digits scarring his vision whenever he looked away. It was nearing 2am in the morning, and he wanted nothing more than to sleep, ignore the part of him that screams to do something, anything. He sighed for what felt like the hundredth time, fiddling with the parts of his hair that had fallen out of his plat. Techno had forgotten to ask Phil to re-do it earlier, and he was certainly regretting it now.  

He heard a door trinkle open, a squeaking sound echoing throughout the house despite the obvious attempts to be quiet. The piglin hybrid shot up from his position lying on the bed, his eyes darting to his shut door at the sound of footsteps getting closer. Techno knew who it was, of course he knew who it was, so why was he so damn nervous? 

The door slid open, and Techno could see the figure cringe at the sound it made. Wilbur’s head poked through the door, his eyes blinking rapidly before settling with a soft look in Techno’s direction. He said nothing as the cat hybrid closed the door once again, carefully putting his weight against it as they basked in the silence.  

‘You look like you’re about to fall over.’ He eventually said, cutting off the silence when he noticed how Wilbur seemed to lean more and more against the door.  

‘I’m fine...’ Techno simply patted the spot next to him, ushering him over with a simple eyeroll.  

He didn’t notice that his piglin instincts seemed to retreat to the back of his mind until it went quiet again, his thoughts empty with Wilbur’s presence. The cat hybrid was sat on the end of his bed, watching Techno in a way that didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, his gaze knowing and not pitying.  

‘Shouldn’t you be asleep?’ Techno asked quietly, adjusting his position so he was leaning against the wall with a cushion softening its rigidity.  

‘Knew someone wasn’t asleep... wanted to check.’  

‘Is that why you went to see Tommy?’ Wilbur nodded in reply, slightly shifting so that he was facing Techno. He opened his mouth to tell him to go back downstairs, argue that he needed to at least try to sleep instead of keeping him company, but he stopped himself. Techno didn’t want him to go, and he knew deep down that he wouldn’t win over his stubbornness.  

The piglin hybrid fiddled with his hair again, the question dying on the tip of his tongue whenever he thought he had the guts to say it. He made eye contact with Wilbur when he felt eyes on his hair, his head coking to the side with a soft smile. Techno nodded rather enthusiastically, shuffling closer together so he could reach easier, the concern that he didn’t know how to plat falling apart quickly. Wilbur’s hands gently plated his hair, braiding it was so much domestic care that seemed to hover around the room even after it was finished, engulfing them comfortably. They often shared these moments when Wilbur was in cat form, the intimacy of it not lost on him as he used to stroke his fur until he fell asleep, his mind lulled away by the calming repetitive action. 

They continued to sit in silence, and Techno knew that Wilbur wanted to break it. A question lingered in his eyes, hesitation looming over it. 

‘Ask your question,’ he eventually sighed, knowing that if he didn’t nothing then they wouldn’t get anywhere.  

‘How do I human?’ The cat hybrid’s eyes widened in the dark, his pupils expanding with nervousness at his question. 

‘Well, that’s the first time I’ve been asked that.’ He commented idly, unsure of which approach to take. 

‘Sorry, you don’t have to-’ 

‘You apologise too much.’ Techno interrupted, giving him a look that seemed suspiciously like Phil’s. ‘Other than that, there’s nothing you need to do.’ He sighed when he was the doubt creep on his face, his head turning away from Techno’s quickly. ‘It’s true Wilbur. You were always good at knowing how we felt when you were in cat form, we just need to do the same for you now.’ The cat hybrid was always there for him, somehow knowing that his company was helping him. It almost felt like he could read his mind, knowing things that Techno didn’t know himself. He thought he would find it creepy, surprise shifting into him when it felt oddly comforting.  

‘Do you want me to shift? I know Phil said I shouldn’t but if it would help-’ 

‘No, I like your presence either way...’ He whispered, ignoring the fact that he knew a blush was forming on his cheeks that Wilbur probably could see. ‘Piglin instincts retreat when you’re here, I don’t know why.’ The cat hybrid simply hummed, shuffling closer to him so that their legs were inches apart.  

‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ Techno asked after a couple of minutes, his voice heavy with sleepiness as the night progressed. 

‘About what?’ Wilbur whispered back, turning his head to make eye contact. 

‘That you were a hybrid.’ He didn’t remember when he had closed his eyes, a feeling of surprise briefly appearing when he realised that they were heavy. Techno looked at him when he didn’t reply, his hand reaching out before his sedated mind could comprehend it. ‘Was it because of what you said earlier?’  

Techno didn’t know why he was suddenly so curious. Maybe it was because of the intimacy of the moment, the sleepiness in his mind that clouded his sense of regard for anything. His piglin instincts were far gone now, buzzing softly in the back of his mind as the desire to sleep started overcoming him.  

Wilbur simply hummed, and the piglin hybrid wasn’t sure if that was a yes or a no, his mind too sedated to pick a side.  

‘Go to sleep Techno.’ The cat hybrid whispered, slowly tracing patterns on their joint hands as he hummed a simple tune. He shook his head softly, wanting to stay awake for the first time in a while for the sole reason of his company.  

‘I’ll still be here when you wake up, if that’s what you want...’ Wilbur said gently, and Techno muttered words that he hoped were recognisable as affirmations. He complied with that knowledge, allowing himself to be lulled to sleep by the simple melody that filled the silence.  

He felt the weight of a blanket fall over his shoulders before he was out; his mind satisfied with more than just the prospect of sleep.  

Chapter Text

(A couple days later...)  

(Please read the summary for a trigger warning)

Wilbur couldn’t remember when he last felt this wanted. 

He had finally been deemed as ‘not sick’ by Phil and he was honestly excited, instantly darting off the sofa and wandering aimlessly around the room. The cat hybrid had been confined to that one bit of furniture the whole time, accompanied by at least one other person constantly despite his insistence that it wasn’t necessary. The elytrian had even taken a few days off work, explaining that he worked from home and had a flexible schedule as he passed homemade soup around. Wilbur didn’t think it was necessary, constantly claiming that he wasn’t actually sick and scowling whenever they gave a disbelieving look.  

Despite what Wilbur would say, the medication did wonders for him; the cough drink that they got him to have soothing his throat whenever he drank it. With his coughs getting more and more infrequent and his energy levels rising significantly, he’d managed to convince Phil to resume work and was trusted to not hide another coughing fit from them again. The cat hybrid knew that was the real reason they’d hung around him, preventing him from doing anything straining with Phil scolding him whenever he would try to hide any symptoms.  

It wasn’t anywhere near as bad as Wilbur made it out to be, secretly enjoying their company whenever someone would join him. He learnt more about Tommy than he knew about himself, content with listening to whatever he talked about and making the younger laugh with his comments. The cat hybrid soon knew all his friends by name, smiling at the fond tone Tommy had whenever he talked about them. Techno was the one to join him the most, reading or watching something with him quietly as their shoulders touched. He still joined the piglin hybrid at night, staying with him despite his light-hearted argument that he should be resting and doing whatever he could to help him sleep. Phil was an absolute angel to him, keeping him company and suggesting a series for them to watch together. The cat hybrid liked his company, no longer feeling so hesitant to tease the elytrian about his age or mention sand mafias and geography.  

It felt domestic, and Wilbur felt his cat instincts purring in his mind far more often.  

It was what Wilbur thought was a normal Wednesday morning, his eyes barely focused on whatever tv show Techno had put on. Tommy was at school, and the pair were sat in the rare quietness of the house. The piglin hybrid seemed more closed off than usual, and Wilbur could tell that he was hiding something. The cat hybrid allowed it to slip from his mind, his ability to tell that it wasn’t anything important alleviating his anxiousness.  

‘Wilbur, Techno!’ He turned his head at Phil’s voice, confused when he saw the elytrian locking his office door and balancing a few coats on his arm. Techno’s hand suddenly closed over his, pulling them both to their feet and dragging him to where Phil was standing.  

‘Did you tell him Tech?’ The elytrian asked, passing a coat to the piglin hybrid when he shook his head. ‘Will, mate. We’re going to take you shopping, hopefully it won’t be too busy on a weekday.’ He simply nodded, watching as Phil slipped on his coat and grabbing a sweater from Techno. Wilbur was ushered outside, suffocated in their warmth as they held him close to break some of the cold wind. 

He spent most of the car journey staring out the window, watching as the colours blurred together and cars zoned around. Wilbur couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in a car, fiddling with his seatbelt absently as he tried to commit the experience to memory. The cat hybrid ignored how his hands started shaking as the shopping centre came into view, reassuring Techno when he’d been asked if he was okay and plastering on a smile that he hoped looked genuine.  

It was a wonder that people didn’t stare. He must have looked pathetic, his hands flickering to fiddle with anything he could get his hands on as he stepped on the escalator. Wilbur allowed himself to be pulled into Phil’s side, brushing away the thought that he would look even weirder since he was taller than the elytrian before it could spiral further. 

He barely comprehended that he was pulled into a shop before they were talking to him, Techno’s hands clasping around his breaking his trance. ‘Wilbur, could you hold this against you?’ Phil asked carefully, waiting for him to reach for the item patiently. Wilbur complied, holding it against him without any acknowledgment of why. It was a grey sweater, long sleeved and soft feeling against his hands as he held it up. The sweater didn’t reach very far, barely stretching to hang by his stomach with sleeves dangling above it. He was handed a different one, doing the same thing with it and zoning out as they talked.  

The shop was very bright, the sheer amount of lighting making him even more uncomfortable as music blared in his ears. It didn’t seem all that busy, a couple groups of people shuffling around and barely glancing in their direction. He was glad, he wasn’t sure what he would do if any more attention was on him.  

‘Wilbur? Ya there mate?’ He snapped his head in their direction, noticing the worry in their eyes instantly.  

‘Yeah, sorry...’ The cat hybrid smiled sheepishly, placing the sweater back on the rack carefully. 

‘Pick a colour mate, they have your size in all but purple.’ Wilbur paused, staring at the elytrian carefully as the cogs in his brain turned. Wait- 

‘Yes, we’re getting it for you.’ Techno cut in, not even looking at Wilbur as he looked through some of the racks.  

‘I-’ 

‘You need clothes, do not argue.’ Phil interrupted sternly, pointing towards the different coloured sweaters. ‘Pick a colour, and then we’ll find you more.’ Wilbur grabbed a yellow one, trying to subtly take deeper breathes as Techno took it from him, presumably before he could put it back like his fingers itched to do so. The cat hybrid didn’t want them buying clothes for him, he couldn’t do anything to return it. He knew it wasn’t deserved, why were they so set that it was- 

The music suddenly got louder, the change from a calm song to an upbeat one making him jump. A group of teenagers shuffled past them, brushing up against him briefly and making the hair on his arm stand up. He felt his façade slipping as Phil and Techno conversed, the desire to leave clouding his mind; overwhelming any fragments of common sense that remained. 

‘Is-’ He coughed slightly, trying to sound relatively normal. ‘Is there a bathroom near here?’ Wilbur forced his head up from the ground, barely looking into their eyes.  

‘There’s one outside the store... But Will-’ He walked away before Techno could finish, barely hearing his name being shouted as he strolled outside.  

Wilbur could feel eyes on him, of course he could! Who wouldn’t stare at him when his hands were shaking as he opened the bathroom door, his hair unkept from when he couldn’t keep his fingers from pulling at the ends? He sighed in relief when he found the bathroom empty, quickly locking himself in a stool and lowering himself to the ground to lean against the cubical.  

The cat hybrid covered his ears, willing for the sound to go away. Why wasn’t it going away? He knew he didn’t have much time, knew that they would figure out something was off and come looking. Could he handle that, could he handle pretending nothing was wrong again? His breathing picked up, a stinging sensation pricking at his eyes that he tried to ignore.  

He could hear his own breathing loud and clear, the instability of it making him inwardly cringe. His hands were full on shaking, barely managing conceal the sounds like he so desperately wanted. The cat hybrid couldn’t hear his own thoughts anymore, unable to pick up anything over his panicked mind. He didn’t hear the door open, too caught up in his head to listen to the sound of footsteps entering.  

The stool door shook, his eyes snapping to it, and he tried to relax his breathing. Maybe they’d think he wasn’t there, thinking the cubical was jammed shut instead. His hands lowered from his ears, moving to cover his mouth when he realised he was getting louder. Sound overwhelmed him, flying through his brain rapidly without giving him a chance to adapt.  

‘bur- Will, can you hear me?’ Phil. Phil was here, listening to whatever ugly sounds he couldn’t stifle. Tears fell down his face, landing on his hands as he tried to stop the shaking from racking through his whole body. It didn’t work, he could feel the way his back repeatably hit the cubical wall.  

‘Mate, can you unlock the door?’ He couldn’t- He can’t let him see him like this, he didn’t want them to. They shouldn’t have to deal with this, he can’t let them. The cat hybrid muttered various things, focusing on the growing pain in his back instead.  

‘Okay, that’s okay. Can you follow my breathing instead Wilbur?’ The cat hybrid nodded even though he couldn’t see, reigning his attention into the exaggerated sound of Phil’s breathing. He brought his hands up from his mouth, tangling them in his hair and pulling at it as he slowly calmed down. There was no point anyway, they’d already heard- 

‘Will, try and focus on me, okay?’ Wilbur wasn’t sure when his focus had dropped, his thoughts becoming clearer and clearer the more he breathed. He was sure that minutes passed until his breathing felt normal again, letting his hands drop to the floor with a thump. The cat hybrid sighed loudly, relishing in the ability to breath normally for a few seconds.  

‘Thank you,’ he muttered shyly, his hands reaching to cover the blush that formed on his cheeks even though they couldn’t see. He could feel his pupils slowly shrink to an acceptable size, unsure of when they had dilated. 

‘Don’t thank me mate.’ He stayed still for a few more minutes, trying to make sense of what had happened. Wilbur knew they were waiting, and he didn’t have the energy to try to convince them that they could leave. The cat hybrid let his head fall on his knees, breathing softly as he tried to figure out what to do. 

‘Wilbur?’ His head shot up at Techno’s voice, banging harshly against the wall as the realisation that they had both heard him settled in. ‘Could you open the door for us?’ 

‘Whenever you’re ready mate.’ Phil added, and Wilbur knew he was trying to keep the concern from his voice. 

He allowed himself a few extra minutes to prepare himself, before carefully placing his hands on the wall to stand up. Wilbur brushed the fallen tears from his cheeks, finding himself straightening up the Techno’s clothes that he was wearing. He knew he was stalling; he knew that it was an excuse to delay everything, but he couldn’t help it. The cat hybrid hesitated as his hands fell over the lock, deciding to get it over and done with instead of drawing out the tension.  

The lock made a clicking sound, signalling that he’d opened it loudly in the silent room. Pushing the door open sheepishly, he found himself engulfed in a hug before it could hit the cubical wall. Grey wings folded around his back, pulling him closer and covering him in warmth that seemed to melt his brain. He glanced at Techno, noticing the way the piglin hybrid tried not to come close as to overwhelm him.  

‘Sorry...’ He muttered into Phil’s shoulder, feeling the elytrian stiffen around him. 

‘Please don’t apologise mate.’ The older replied, loosening his grip to make eye contact with him. ‘Don’t ever be sorry for that.’ Wilbur hummed, too tired to argue with him and folding himself back into the hug silently. He could tell Phil felt better at that, gripping him tighter for a few more minutes.  

They gradually moved outside when Wilbur said he was fine to, not paying attention to anything other than Techno’s hand squeezing his gently. He didn’t realise they had stopped until he was ushered to sit down, a bottle of water resting on a table in front of him. Wilbur stared at it as they talked, eventually giving in and sipping at it carefully. If he had the energy, he would have blushed at the satisfied looks they gave him. 

Techno and him stayed there for another hour, Wilbur leaning on his shoulder as they waited. It was a quiet café, no one seen from the corner of the place they were sat in. The sound of coffee grinding softly kept them company, and Wilbur found himself too tired to protest whenever Techno showed him his phone. Phil had gone back to the shop, sending pictures of various items of clothing for Techno to show him before typing back to him. He had protested at first, before deciding to save his energy when it fell on deaf ears.  

The elytrian eventually returned to the small café, lightly swatting Wilbur’s hands away when he tried to help carry some of the bags. A coat was slipped around his shoulders before they left, the tag dangling by his arm briefly before Phil snapped it off. It was enough time for him to stare at the price of it, and he knew that Techno suddenly distracting him with water was to prevent his guilt. 

Phil kept the radio off as they drove back, and Wilbur appreciated it greatly. Techno made a comment jokingly that the cat hybrid was easier to shop for when tired, and Wilbur chuckled breathlessly from his position against his shoulder. He fell asleep shortly after that, the light movement of the car lulling away his already tired mind easily. 

Wilbur shifted slightly as he gently woke up, feeling unidentifiable weight on his legs. He could feel that he was no longer in the car, instead leant against something with familiar softness. The cat hybrid blinked his eyes open, slowly getting used to the lightening as he identified his surroundings. Looking down, he noticed a ball of blonde hair resting in his lap; soft snoring filling the silence. 

Tommy had apparently changed out of his uniform, wearing some trousers and his signature t-shirt instead. He looked peaceful, and the cat hybrid couldn’t resist threading through his hair, smiling at the contented sound he made in his sleep. Glancing out the window, he watched as the sun set, painting the sky an orange and pink colour that stroked neatly. Wilbur wondered how he’d managed to sleep so long, a twinge of culpability hitting him when he realised someone must have carried him inside. 

The raccoon hybrid stirred when he stopped moving his hand, and soon tired eyes were blinking back at him. ‘Oh,’ Tommy whispered, slowly lifting his head to rest on his shoulder instead. ‘You’re awake.’ He just resisted cooing at the teenager, his soft expression making him look even cuter as he blinked sleep out the way. 

‘Phil told me what happened.’ Tommy muttered; his voice heavy with sleep as he started the conversation. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about them Wilby?’ He ignored the way his heart swelled at the nickname, focusing on figuring out a way to deflect the inevitable conversation.  

‘It never came up.’ The teenager sighed, his head shifting slightly on Wilbur’s shoulder. 

‘You’d tell me about anything like that now, wouldn’t you?’ 

‘Of course, Toms.’ Wilbur ruffled his hair again, smiling at the raccoon hybrid. ‘Only if you do the same.’  

‘I already do.’ Tommy admitted softly, causing a twitch of guilt to rush through him.  

‘Ah, you’re both awake.’ Phil’s head popped in front of them, his hands full with two steaming mugs. ‘Drink.’ He demanded, passing the pair a mug each. ‘Techno made it. I still don’t understand how his is so much better than mine when we use the same kettle.’  

‘I just have skill.’ Techno passed Phil his mug, taking a seat beside Wilbur and hissing when he tried to drink. ‘No one can overtake me with hot chocolate making. I am easily the most experienced-’ 

‘Did you just burn your tongue?’ Tommy asked smugly, placing his mug down on the table when the piglin hybrid didn’t reply. 

The room went silent for a few minutes and Wilbur thought he’d gotten away scott-free, that hope crushing when he heard Phil speak. ‘Will,’ he started, placing his now empty mug on the table. ‘You up for talking?’ The cat hybrid glanced at Techno, noticing how the piglin hybrid looked ready to dart upwards if he moved, before slowly nodding.  

‘Have you had panic attacks before.’ Wilbur shrugged, all his words rolling into felt and sticking to the sides of his mouth uncomfortably. The elytrian sighed, coaxing Wilbur to lean on his shoulder. ‘Okay... Can you tell me the last time?’ 

‘It’s been a while...’ He admitted, pushing away the embarrassment of the conversation. ‘Just got overwhelmed by shit.’ The cat hybrid muttered when no-one said anything, clearly waiting for him to elaborate.  

‘Anything specific?’ Techno asked casually, his bored façade cracking with the conversation.  

‘Loud. Couldn’t distract myself quick enough.’ God, he just wanted it to be over already.  

‘Is there anything we can do to help with that?’ He simply shrugged, ignoring the way he just knew he could see through it. Wilbur fidgeted with his fingers, picking at the ends of his nails until Tommy pulled them apart. ‘Wilbur, please tell us. We wanna help you.’  

‘Used to have some fidget toys. Dunno what happened to them.’ He admitted, watching with a pleading expression as Techno instantly pulled out his phone. They’d done so much for him; he didn’t want them to do more.  

Phil didn’t say anything after that, a lingering question remaining in his eyes that Wilbur instinctually wished he hadn’t seen. Tell me next time, so I can help? He nodded, giving into the temptation of not dealing with it alone; not having to hide away in disgusting public bathrooms and let his panicked thoughts consume him. The cat hybrid said nothing as Phil pulled him closer, a satisfied smile growing on his face as they watched Tommy and Techno fight over a film. The raccoon hybrid won, and soon the UP-title screen was flashing over their faces. 

‘Wilby?’ He turned his head towards Tommy, his head curled up on his knees again.  

‘Yeah Toms?’ Wilbur whispered, noticing the sleeping elytrian and piglin hybrid as he turned down the movies volume. 

‘I’m glad we found you.’ The raccoon hybrid muttered into Wilbur’s thighs sleepily, and he knew that the teenager would be embarrassed if he brought it up later. ‘And that you’re a hybrid.’  

‘I’m happy too.’ He admitted, not an inch of a lie in his voice. It sometimes scared him, not used to feeling affection and content swelling in his heart every day. Wilbur didn’t want it to end, and he had a feeling they didn’t want that either.  

‘You’ll stay as a human, right? You won’t leave me?’ The teen’s voice sounded so quiet, scared of rejection. Wilbur couldn’t break his heart, he wouldn’t. 

‘Of course, Tommy, can’t get rid of me that quickly.’ He smiled at the raccoon hybrid, his hands snaking to his hair without much of a thought. 

Wilbur was still smiling when Tommy eventually fell asleep, joining Phil and Techno as they credits rolled on the screen. Just as he was smiling gratefully when a bunch of fidget toys arrived, constantly keeping one in his pockets whenever they went outside and helping to ride off some panic attacks that he could feel creeping up his spine. He kept his promise to Phil, relishing in the comfort he was offered whenever it got too much.   

Soon, he found himself smiling more than anything else. Not only that but he’d found a home, and one that enjoyed the comfort of a cat hybrid.