Work Text:
“Aren’t you going to dance?”
The quiet night breeze blew amongst the trees, a refreshing feeling while Wilbur sat at his table, trapped in his stuffy suit. He had his elbow propped up while his cheek rested in his palm, his head tilted as he looked up at Ranboo standing.
He shrugged, eyes distant. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Come on, you’re at a wedding. Gotta have some fun.”
Wilbur shook his head. “Nah.”
After a few more tries of convincing Wilbur, Ranboo eventually gave up, leaving to get more food. Meanwhile, Wilbur sat there, watching all the guests screaming and dancing in glee.
He wasn’t trying to be rude or anything. He just felt.. lost. Something was missing. Like the feeling you get when it’s a cloudy day and the sunshine isn’t there.
He sighed, dropping his hand. Taking a deep breath, he stood up and walked across the pavilion. He passed all the dancing crowds on the courtyard and slipped away into the garden. Maybe if he took a break from the crowds he would feel better. His anxiety would often get the better of him if he stayed around too many people for too long.
He walked along the garden path in the dark, listening to the crickets and the faraway music mixed with voices. He admired the well trimmed roses and hedges, picking up a stray one that was lying on the cobblestone underneath his feet. As his eyes studied the garden, he found a gap in the hedges. Coming closer to get a better look, he saw the gap was wide enough for him to squeeze through, despite his outrageous height. He snuck through the hole, and he was finally and truly outside the wedding.
He released a deep breath, finding a random tree and sitting down. He leaned his back against the trunk and closed his eyes. He had never felt so relieved to be away from a huge mass of people.
Then, he heard the crack of branches as someone was walking in the night. At first, he ignored it, because he didn’t want anyone talking to him right now. But the sounds continued. Leaves crushing, grass shifting, and bushes brushing. Eventually, he felt the presence of a person right in front of him. Wilbur had to look, to make sure no one was here to kidnap him, rob him, or anything of the sort.
His eyes flitted open, and there, he saw a blond-haired boy with unmistakable blue eyes.
“Tommy??”
Tommy smiled in the dark, his sky blue eyes glittering like the stars above him.
“Hey Wil.”
“What are you doing here?” Wilbur sputtered.
“I just wanted to see the wedding from the outside,” he murmured.
“Oh,” Wilbur echoed.
“You having fun?” Tommy’s eyes fell, his feet shifting. His voice had a slight tinge of sadness, maybe even hurt. He tugged nervously at his red and white TommyInnit jacket, glancing once in a while to read Wilbur’s face.
Wilbur turned his gaze to the side, towards the unruly forest. “Not really.”
The two brothers looked at each other again, the younger one with a surprised expression.
“Really? But- there’s food! Dancing! You have friends!”
“But you’re not there,” Wilbur whined, now realizing what his problem was.
Tommy stood there, mouth open. He looked like he was shocked about the idea that Wilbur was unhappy just because he wasn’t there. But it was true. Wilbur felt empty without him. He needed Tommy.
“You having a fun birthday, Toms?” he asked his little brother with a quavering voice and wet eyes. Gladness filled him when Tommy came to sit down beside him and laid his head on his shoulder.
Tommy grunted, dissatisfied.
Wilbur buried his face in the child’s soft hair. “Why don’t you go dance, then? Enjoy yourself.”
He felt Tommy shift underneath him. “Dance? But- I’m not invited to the wedding! How would I get in?”
Wilbur chuckled, remembering the gap in the garden. He squeezed Tommy’s hand briefly to tell him he was getting up. “I have a way.”
Holding Tommy’s hand, he guided him to the secret entrance. He smiled fondly at Tommy as he ducked under, gently pulling him through the hole.
The two were now standing in the garden, and the music was audible again. Instead of a fast-paced song like when Wilbur left, it was a slow song.
Ah, a slow dance.
He’d like to slow dance with Tommy.
Without saying a word, he turned so that he was face-to-face with Tommy. With Tommy’s hand still in his left, he held Tommy’s waist with his right hand.
“What the fly are you doing?” he whispered.
Wilbur chuckled softly. “Dance with me, Toms.”
“But- but I don’t know how to dance!” he frantically stuttered. “I’ve never slow danced in my life!”
“Don’t worry,” Wilbur bent his head over to press his forehead against Tommy’s. “You’ll figure it out.”
“Well where do I put my other hand??” he questioned. “This is stupid!”
Wilbur laughed. “Just anywhere, Tommy! No one’s here to judge!”
So instinctively, Tommy curled his arm around Wilbur’s neck, like he always liked to do when Wilbur carried him. His head then slipped down to rest under Wilbur’s chin, Tommy’s favorite spot.
Together they swayed to the music, Wilbur twirling Tommy, Tommy laughing with each catch. They danced in circles throughout the garden, the faint music quiet enough for them to hear each other breathing and whispering fake insults towards each other. At some point, Tommy stepped on Wilbur’s toe on purpose, Wilbur squawking and Tommy sticking out a tongue. Wilbur muttered a swear word at him before continuing to dance.
“Hey, I told you I’m terrible at dancing,” Tommy excused.
“Oh shut up,” Wilbur teased. He then followed-up with a compliment, because he knew his gushing always made Tommy flustered. “Your feet are as light as feathers. Such a graceful dancer.”
“Stop!” Tommy hissed, kicking Wilbur’s ankle, who let out an “oomph!”
Wilbur silenced the agitated child with a kiss on the forehead. Tommy tried to move away, but he eventually stayed there. His grip on Wilbur’s hand softened, and Wilbur knew he won.
The music stopped, and Wilbur let go of his kiss.
Tommy blinked, startled that all of it was already over. His facial expression told Wilbur he wanted more, but knew he couldn’t stay here forever. He released Wilbur’s hand, Wilbur’s heart saddening at the sudden end.
“Thank you, Wilbur.” Tommy’s eyes were filled with the spark of life again. They told Wilbur, Now this birthday was worth living eighteen years for.
Tears of pride and joy filled Wilbur’s eyes. He wanted to give Tommy one last gift.
“Wait here, Tommy,” he urged before running off, leaving the boy behind.
Wilbur ran through the garden and back into the party, the loud voices shocking him as he returned. There was no music playing at the moment. Perfect, he thought to himself.
He quickly rushed to the DJ, making a hasty song request, and ran away back to the garden, hoping the DJ would follow his demand.
Wilbur brushed past the bushes and the flowers, back to where he left Tommy.
But Tommy was gone.
Panicked, Wilbur scrambled to the secret gap, his dress shoes clicking against the stone. He peeked through the hole, and saw Tommy walking away, shoulders slumped.
“Tommy!”
He jumped through the hole, thickets catching in his suit. He didn’t care, for all it mattered. What mattered most was Tommy.
He stumbled towards Tommy, grabbing his hand and nearly pulling the child to the ground.
“Wil! What are you doing?” Tommy pulled his hand back.
“Please!” he gasped. “One more dance!”
Tommy shook his head. “No, Wilbur. I’m not a part of this wedding. I’m not supposed to be here. You need to go enjoy yourself. I’m going home.”
“Tommy! Really! I have something for you!”
He caught Tommy’s hand again and pulled him back towards the garden. The garden that represented happiness and love for them. The garden where they were reunited and complete.
“No, Wil, really I-”
The music grew suddenly loud at the wedding, reaching far enough for them to hear. It was possibly because the DJ either forgot to turn the volume lower, or wasn’t familiar with the song.
Tommy’s eyes widened like pools of water, filled with childlike wonder.
“Is that,” he exclaimed excitedly. “Los Campesinos!?”
Wilbur laughed wildly. “Yes! I requested it just for you!”
Before he knew it, Tommy was running, dragging Wilbur along with him. He squealed in full delight, running as fast as he could to their garden.
Tommy jumped through the gap, Wilbur falling on his face after him. He quickly pulled Wilbur back up, and the two continued running. Through the garden and into the courtyard.
Tommy screamed and hopped with Wilbur. The two kicked their feet in the air and danced around each other in circles. They clapped, grabbed each other’s hands, and spun and spun. Wilbur had no idea how they didn’t get dizzy from the pure joy and fast movement, but they all kept it up to stay in rhythm with the upbeat song. The song grew quiet for a second, and (after anticipating the part from a familiarity with the song) Wilbur caught Tommy and held him close, heads knocking slightly. He closed his eyes as he smiled at the next verses.
“If there’s one thing I could never confess,
It’s that I could never dance a single step”
Tommy giggled, his laugh high pitched and bubbly, making Wilbur want to fly away and soar.
“You picked this song for me, didn’t you, Wilby?”
“Well you said you couldn’t dance,” Wilbur spoke directly to his ear. “But I find that you are a wonderful dancer, TommyInnit. Plus, I know it’s your favorite.”
“I hate you,” Tommy spat playfully.
And the two continued dancing, stepping to the once-again fast rhythm. They clapped and stomped as if they were dancing to an English country dance, although Indie is nothing like it. Tommy shouted a “whoo!!” as he threw his head back, marigold curls flapping with the breeze.
While they were in the middle of another spin, Tommy grabbed his brother and pulled him close again, so he could hear his words.
“Wilby, promise me one more thing after this.”
“What?”
“Make a Lovejoy cover of this.”
Wilbur’s heart fluttered. He grinned widely and kissed his brother’s cheek.
“Of course, my darling. Anything, anything for you.”