Work Text:
Wilbur sighed as he got out of the car, thanking the uber driver, and stepped up the steps to get to his porch. Exhaustion swept over him as he shuffled through his keychain looking for the key that opened his front door. The moon shone down on him as a reminder of how late it was, but he paid it no mind. His head felt fuzzy and a small smile still remained on his face.
He had sat in the studio as the finishing touches were done on the EP he and his bandmates made. A few months ago, he decided he wanted to step out of idol life, and started a band with a few of his friends. Lovejoy, they named it. The group released an EP already, called ‘ Are You Alright?’ and all of his friends went insane over it.
The EP officially released two hours ago at 10 PM.
Walking into his home, it was dark and empty. Phil and Techno were probably asleep, and Tommy was on the road. The blond teenager had released a solo and was being pulled around to different locations to showcase his talent and passion. Every night or so, the three older members of Sleepy Boys Inc sit on the couch and watch the broadcast of their boy performing. They sing along sometimes.
He drops his bag on the table and goes towards the fridge, the door flies open and the light just about blinds him. Scrunching his eyes up, he takes a look inside and the first thing that catches his eye is some leftover pizza from two nights ago. The man hums and closes the fridge, not in the mood for food. Just sleep.
So, that’s what he does. He slowly makes his way up the stairs, and down the hallway to his bedroom. Opening the door, he’s met with Fiona rubbing up against his legs and he gives a quiet greeting to the feline. Shutting the door, he contemplates changing clothes into something more comfortable, but he isn't in the mood. So, he flops onto his bed and shuffles under the covers. He falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.
---
When Wilbur wakes up, it’s to his phone buzzing furiously. Groaning, he blinks and turns over, shoving his hand under his pillow to where his phone is charging. Snagging it out, he checks the phone number calling and texting him.
It’s Tommy. A stupid photo of the boy as a trainee, right before the four debuted, stared back at him. Tommy in the photo was sitting in a flower field, a bird resting atop his head. The kid’s face was one of wonder, of awe and adoration. His big blue eyes widened and sparkled with so much love you wonder how a kid could have such a big heart. Tommy’s always had a soft spot for animals, and the photo was evidence.
The man quickly hits ‘accept’ and brings the phone to his ear.
“WILBUR!” Tommy shouts, almost immediately after the line connects.
“Tommy!” Wilbur says back, not as enthusiastically since he’s just woken up. But he has the spirit, that’s for sure.
“WILBUR I JUST LISTENED TO THE EP!”
“Oh yeah? How’d you feel about it?” Wilbur asked, already knowing the answer before the question even left his mouth.
“IT WAS SO GOOD! I- YOU SANG SO NICELY AND IT’S SO COOL. YOU’RE SO COOL?!” Tommy exclaimed, obviously unknowing of what to do with all the energy that was buzzing in his body judging from him tripping over his words so much. Wilbur can imagine Tommy running around, jumping up and down on his heels because he simply cannot sit still.
“That’s very nice, Tommy,” Wilbur responded calmly. Warmth flooded in his chest as Tommy started rambling about how good the EP was and how cool Wilbur was. The man simply listened with a huge smile gracing his lips.
“Aren’t you out, Tommy?” Wilbur knew Tommy really wasn’t supposed to be calling Wilbur right now, a quick look at the clock showed it was 7 AM. The kid should either be sleeping, or getting ready for a show. And Wilbur knew Tommy had a show today because he made Jack give him the teen’s schedule. He even marked it down on his calendar and everything!
“AND- oh,” Tommy paused, obviously realising where he was, “yeah, I guess I am,” he said sadly, bummed out he couldn’t sit on call with Wilbur all day gushing about the older’s creation. It was a fucking masterpiece!
“Yeah, oh,” Wilbur laughed out, “How about this,” he started.
“How about, you go ahead and get ready for your important show, and afterwards, if you have enough energy, you come and tell me everything.”
Tommy thought about it, the line being silent said that enough. Before he sighed out, defeated. “Alright.”
“Alright. When are you supposed to be on?”
“At around noon, but afterwards I haveta’ go to another show that was suddenly shoved into my day,” Tommy complained, already feeling the aches and cracks that would be his bones.
“When are you supposed to be done?”
“Late this afternoon, maybe 7 or 8?” Yikes, an 8 hour day. Wilbur shared his condolences, which Tommy obnoxiously agreed with before begrudgingly saying his goodbyes as Wilbur quite literally pushed him off his phone to go and get ready.
“I love you, Toms.”
“I love you too, Wil.”
“Be safe, and I wish you luck today. You’ll blow everyone away, I know you will.”
“ Thank you.”
---
Throughout the day, Wilbur got several compliments from his friends and from strangers on the internet about his performance on the EP. His bandmates also got tons of compliments, and he was happy they were being appreciated for their skills.
Though, the only compliments he was wanting, or looking forward to in this case, was Tommy’s. Wilbur got a brief feel for how the sixteen-year old felt, and it was overwhelmingly positive. He can’t wait to hear Tommy praise and gush over it, can’t wait to be the center of his attention and pride, can’t wait to be so completely loved.
He always looks forward to Tommy’s praise. The kid has a way of delivering compliments and implementing physical affection into it that just makes Wilbur melt. Phil, Wilbur, and Techno are all convinced that Tommy is just a physical embodiment of the sun. So warm, and so bright. Tommy is so unapologetically loving and sweet it’s out of this fucking world.
It sucks he isn’t home. Wilbur wants nothing more than to be wrapped up in Tommy’s embrace as he squeals and lists off all of the reasons Wilbur is amazing. All the reasons Wilbur is enough. All the reasons Wilbur is wanted. But sadly, he isn’t and all he can do is talk on the phone.
So he squirms in his seat as 8 PM hits, and happily awaits the inevitable call from his baby brother.
Eventually, he turns on youtube and starts watching silly little videos of cats. It’s one of his favorite pastimes. Though, he doesn’t have to wait long, because at 8:29 PM, his phone rings with the name Tommy :D popping up on his screen.
He shoots up from where he was laying down and excitedly clicks accept.
“Wilbur!”
“Tommy!”
“Wilbur, Wilbur! I had so much fun today! But I gotta tell you about this fucking EP,” Tommy excitedly announces, rushing to get started on his praise. Wilbur beams and tells him to go on.
“I FUCKING LOVE IT? I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO IT ALL DAY! DURING MY BREAKS I JUST TOOK OUT MY PHONE AND BLASTED PEBBLE BRAIN IN MY WAITING ROOM. HAD A COUPLE DANCE SESHES, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS, BIG MAN,” Tommy took a deep breath, and that could only mean he is preparing huge big-ups.
“I AM SO FUCKING PROUD OF YOU, WIL! You know I’m gonna hug you so hard when I get back, right?” And Wilbur’s heart clenches at that because he’s so fucking happy.
“DUDE, I CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO IT AND I’M HONESTLY JUST SO HAPPY THAT YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND. YOU, WILBUR SOOT, ARE MY BROTHER. I JUST FIND THAT SO COOL AND-” Tommy goes on and on, barely giving himself time to breathe and Wilbur just sits there. Sits there with this stupid, dumb smile on his face as his entire being is filled with happiness.
“What’s your favorite song, Toms?” Wilbur laughs out, overwhelmed with the love that is being thrown at him.
“The Fall! Or Perfume,” Tommy pauses, “All of them.”
Wilbur laughs hard at that, his face hurts from how much he’s smiling.
Eventually, the compliments calm down, and Wilbur is able to ask the boy about his day, and how he did. And before they even know it, it’s hours later and they’re still on call.
They’re saying their goodnights and goodbyes when Tommy says this:
“Hey Wil?”
“Yes, Toms?”
“I’m happy I met you. I’m happy you’re my big brother,” Tommy mumbles out sleepily and Wilbur just smiles, he’s been doing that a lot today,
“I’m happy I met you too, sweetheart.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”