Chapter Text
The day had started like any other with him and Wilbur having breakfast in their shitty apartment. Both of the brothers sat at a small table eating cereal as Wilbur ideally scrolled on a tablet humming. A floating T.V. hoovered a few feet away spewing a constant stream of doomsday in the background. A news anchor started to cry out hysterically on the screen with a background of people running about in a panic. It sounded like she had been saying something about the tensions reaching its peak with a warning of a possible bomb launch soon. She was abruptly cut off by the screen going blank, the message just barely missed as Wilbur blearily pressed the power.
“Willllbuurrrrr, turn it back on! I was watching that you fucker,” Tommy whined before shoving another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.
Wilbur rolled his eyes before moving to put his own dishes in the sink. “You know I don’t like you watching the news. All that's ever broadcasted is cold war news, and it's always negative. Seeing all of that violence especially this early in the morning, is bad for a little gremlin like you. I don’t want you getting any ideas.”
“Yeah whatever, you’re no fun,” Tommy replied, spitting some cereal out of his still full mouth in the process. “Can I go see Tubbo today?”
“Shut your mouth while you’re eating, Jesus, that's gross,” Wilbur said wrinkling his nose up in distaste. He picked up Tommy’s now empty bowl and put it in the sink next to his. “Not today Tommy. I have to pull another night shift tonight if I want to make overtime and there's a bunch of chores around the house I need help with. It’s the only time I can get them done and I need your help.” Most households had the luxury of a domestic robot to take care of the mindless chores Tommy and Wilbur however, did not.
Tommy let out a groan and dramatically flopped his head onto the table. “But Wilby, I never get to see Tubbo anymore. Please, please let me go. I promise I’ll do my part of the chores this week after class,” he begged, giving Wilbur his biggest pout and puppy dog eyes.
“I’m not falling for that one again, dirty little liar. You never do any of the house work unless I’m here to make you,” Wilbur said sternly before pausing to look at Tommy’s face. “Ugh I hate you, fine. You can hangout with Tubbo as long as you do half now and he comes over here. I’ll even give you some spending money if you can convince him to help out.”
“Pog,” Tommy exclaimed excitedly as he jumped out of his chair. “You won’t regret this Wilbur, I'll be the biggest man ever and get Tubbo to do all the work,” he said as he grabbed his bag off the back of the chair and ran to the door.
“Wait Tommy that's not what I mea-” he called before the sound of a door sliding shut cut him off. “Never change Tommy,” Wilbur muttered fondly to himself with a head shake as he turned his attention back to his tablet.
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An hour or so later Tommy strolled in with a laughing Tubbo following behind. The two had been friends for as long as he could remember to both Tubbo’s dad Schlatt, and Wilbur’s dismay. The two guardians had never gotten along though Wilbur often claimed they had been friends way before he had adopted Tommy. Schlatt was a sleazy businessman that had some fancy position in the infamous Vault-Tec company. Wilbur was the complete opposite, a poor anti-militarization activist who worked multiple jobs just to get by. Both had completely different ideologies and weren’t allowed in a room together because of it. The thought of having to break the two up when an inevitable fight broke out was enough to give Tommy and Tubbo a headache.
“Hey Tubbo,” Wilbur called out idly as scrolled through his tablet. He had a lot of correspondence to maintain as the figurehead of a political coalition. L’manberg was basically his other child as he had built it from the ground up. The group advocated for the end of the standoff and the dismantlement of nuclear weapons. It had surprisingly grown a lot of traction recently which had only resulted in an increase in the usual amount of death threats he received.
“Hey Mr.Soo- I mean Wilbur,” Tubbo replied as Tommy pulled at his arm in an attempt to drag him into the direction of his room.
“I swear you’ll get used to calling me Wilbur one of these days, and don’t let Tommy trick you into doing his chores today. If he hasn’t already told you that's the whole reason he invited you over today,” Wilbur called out to Tubbo as Tommy dragged him into his room. He grinned to himself at the sound of the door closing followed by loud bickering between the two.
The day crawled lazily by with Wilbur slowly working his way through some chores. Unsurprisingly, Tommy did not end up helping but he secretly didn’t mind. He wanted him to actually have a childhood unlike him and if he could give Tommy the world he would. The laughter between him and his friend provided the best kind of background noise anyway. It reminded him of everything he was working for, a better tomorrow for everyone, for Tommy.
Wilbur leaned the broom against the wall and wiped the sweat off his brow the broom at the sound of the phone going off. He grumbled in irritation under his breath about stupid spam calls as he went to answer. “Hello,” he said in a tone laced with annoyance as he picked up the phone.
“Wilbur,” Schlatt said in a deadly serious voice before pausing. “It’s time,” he finished with a deep breath.
The words drove a cold stake through his heart as he gripped the phone tightly. He didn’t think it would ever or could ever happen let alone so soon. It had been just another normal day and suddenly it was the end of all things. “I understand,” he replied in a shaky voice before hanging up the phone.
“Tommy, Tubbo,” Wilbur yelled as he frantically searched for their emergency bag. After quickly finding it under his bed he walked back into the hallway only to be met by the boys. He tossed the backpack to Tommy who fumbled to catch it.
“Whats going on, why the fuck are you yelli-” Tommy started to ask before cutting himself off as he met Wilburs eyes. It had been years since he had seen that sharpened, empty, and serious look in his brother’s eyes. He didn’t know what it could possibly mean but it filled him with dread.
“Tommy for the love of god just do what I say for once,” Wilbur said as he grabbed Tommy’s wrist with one hand and Tubbo’s with the other. “I don’t have time to explain but Schlatts coming to pick Tubbo up, and you’re going to go with him.”
Tubbo remained quiet as Wilbur dragged the two to the doors as the shock of the implications of what was going on set in. There was only one thing it could be.
A soft sound seemed to start to ring and grow in volume causing the three to pause right before the door. Wilbur shook everyone out of the sudden stupor by yanking the two closer to the door. “Come on, we have to hurry now,”he exclaimed as he let go of Tubbos' wrist and yanked open the door.
The bomb sirens reached a crescendo as they blared in an ominous pattern with a notable lack of the typical system test warning following each siren sound. An unnaturally dark red sky overhung the hectic streets as people frantically ran about causing a haunting refrain of cries, crashes, and screams. It was actually happening.
Tommy merely stood in shock on the doorstep as the scene seemed to unfold around them. He knew what this meant but he couldn’t seem to wrap his head around it. The war had seemed like such a distant possibility up until now but here it was suddenly right outside. He’d think it was almost cool if he was watching on television or if it was just a level from one of his games but it was real. Memories of Wilbur dragging him to protests, nuclear bombing drills at school and bunker installation advertisements flashed through his head. It all suddenly seemed much less ridiculous then he had initially thought.
A sleek blue car emblazoned with the Vault-Tec logo pulled up in front of their home and rolled a window down revealing the troubled face of Jschlatt himself. “Kid,” he called towards the three.
“Dad,” Tubbo exclaimed as tears started to pool in his eyes. He wiped at the tears on his face as he started to run past both Wilbur and Tommy to the car.
Schlatt got out of the vehicle to greet him with open arms as Tubbo slammed into him with a soft sob. He’d usually punish the kid for crying and wrinkling his suit with a hug but given the circumstances he’d let it slide. He knew he needed the hug just as much as Tubbo, anyways. “I know, big guy, it’s okay. Everything will be alright..” He murmured into his son's hair as he placed a kiss on his head.
Tubbo merely sobbed harder as his dad picked him up and placed him gently in the car’s passenger seat.
Schlatt turned towards Wilbur and gave him a look before saying, “hurry up lover boy, we need actual fucking time to make it to the vault.”
Wilbur merely nodded before pulling Tommy over towards the car. As they neared the vehicle he suddenly stopped to grab Tommy’s shoulders to spin him so he’d face him. “I’m gonna need you to be brave, Tommy.I love you and I’m so fucking sorry but I need you to be the biggest man for me. You have to go with them and take care of them for me. You hear me?” Wilbur's eyes examined Tommy’s shocked look before giving his shoulders a squeeze and pulling him into a tight hug. “Please remember that I love you. It’s for your own good, okay,” he finished pleading before pulling back from the hug.
“Wilbur?” Tommy asked, shaken by the sudden affection and change of tone. This wasn’t the plan he had talked about with Wilbur and Tubbo. They had only even had the chance of being in a vault because of Tubbo’s begging and the soft spot Schlatt had for Wilbur, but denied. Mr. Jay had promised he’d ensure them all a spot in the vault, that no one would be left behind. “What's happening, why are you acting like this? Aren’t you coming with us?”
He merely shook his head in reply and pulled back further standing back to his full height. Taking Tommy off guard as he pushed him backwards into a pair of strong arms.
“Let me go you fucking bitch or I swear I’ll fuck you up so bad not even your mother will recognize your ugly mug,” Tommy started to curse as he struggled in Schlatts arms. As Schlatt started to pull him back towards the car further from Wilbur he started yelling “Wilbur, WILBUR.” He abruptly bit into Schlatt’s arm causing the older man to let out a string of curses and drop him. Tommy ran back to Wilbur with silent tears of anger and sadness spilling down his face. “If you’re not going I’m not going you stupid fucking idiot. You promised me you’d never leave me that you wouldn’t be like them,” he exclaimed as he wrapped his arms back around his brother.
“I’m not like your parents Tommy. I won’t leave you either, I’ll be with you,” Wilbur replied with a watery smile as he met his brother's hug. He pulled back to press something thick and worn into his brother's hands. “I promised, I’d always be there and I will,” he continued before his expression dropped. “But I’m sorry.”
Tommy felt a sudden jarring hit to his face causing his vision to darken. “Wilbur,” he questioned in shock, his voice slightly slurring as he felt himself being picked up. His brother had actually hit him. The pressure of a soft kiss was briefly felt on his forehead with the faint sound of sorrow filled whispered I love yous and sorries meeting his ears. As his back met soft seats Tommy reached out at the blurred outline of his brother and caught his sleeve. “Wilbur..” he mumbled as he felt the sleeve being pulled away and his vision started to completely fade. The last thoughts that ran through his head was that he had forgotten to say I love you back and worse of all Wilbur had left him, he had left him.