Work Text:
Phil can't find Wilbur when he wakes up. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue. Wilbur often does supply runs if he wakes up early or if he can't sleep. The panic only sets in when Technoblade, Wilbur's twin, asks Phil if he has heard from Wilbur since yesterday morning.
Phil has a horrible realisation that he hasn't. He hasn't seen Wilbur at all since yesterday morning. Wilbur had a habit of disappearing for days on end to his room occasionally, he had thought it was one of those days but now? He's second guessing himself.
He needs to find his son.
His mind runs wild with what could've happened to Wilbur. The infected could've gotten to him, he could be infected. He couldn't lose Wilbur, he couldn't lose anyone else.
"Tech? Any luck?" He asked, managing to pull himself out from the dark void that his thoughts had become, thanks to the panic of his son being missing.
Techno is out of breath, panting quietly in an attempt to regain his breath and composure. He looked shaken up and red in the face but Phil doesn't question it, taking his slightly dishevelled appearance as a result of panic over his brother being missing.
"No, 'm sorry, dad," Techno answered, regret evident in his tone.
Phil feels his heart sink. There's one last place he can think to look. Wilbur's old apartment. It's a bit of a walk but it's his last shot.
Once the apocalypse had kicked off, Wilbur and Techno had both hurriedly moved back in with Phil, both deeming their old homes too risky to live in, seeing as they both lived in crowded apartment complexes.
Phil can't really think of a reason why Wilbur would go back there. Perhaps he realised he forgot something? But surely, he would leave a note. It wasn't like Wilbur to completely vanish without leaving a note or anything like that.
"Let's go check his apartment."
Techno gave him a questioning look but nodded, not seeming up to questioning his father further than a look. He made his way out once again, this time, Phil follows.
The walk is about twenty minutes, they practically run it though.
The apartment complex isn't in complete disarray like they'd assumed it'd be. In fact, it's eerily quiet, empty of any infected or humans. Phil is on guard. He doesn't really want to be here but he'll stay if it means he can bring Wilbur home and scold him for worrying them.
Techno goes ahead and is met with an unlocked door when he reaches Wilbur's apartment. He pushes it open and motions for Phil to follow him inside. The inside is disarray, blood is spilt around and seemingly random items are tossed around.
Phil suddenly feels sick at the sight of blood. Something about it tells him it's Wilbur's. His son is hurt and has been here. He might even still be here. Phil prays he's still here because if he's not, he doesn't know where to look next.
Techno continues to search the house, looking in most rooms. Phil makes his way to Wilbur's bedroom, almost hoping for an empty room but that's not the case because in the room, he finds his son.
Wilbur's lying around the bed, shivers wracking his pale body. He's unusually pale and sweating as though he's running a fever. The left arm on his sweater is completely soaked through with blood.
He doesn't even notice Phil, not even when he yells out for Techno to come into the bedroom.
Phil makes his way over to the bed, not being too cautious. His son is hurt and sick, by the looks of it. He needs help and Phil isn't sure what he can do. He's not a doctor. There's no doctors nearby that he can take Wilbur to.
He moves to join Wilbur on the bed, rolling up the bloodstained sweater arm carefully, pausing and staring in horror when he realises what's causing all the blood.
It's a fucking bite.
Why?
He's suddenly aware of Techno by his side, who stares at the infected looking bite before walking out again. Phil doesn't bother calling out to him to come back. He moves to sit up on the bed and pull Wilbur into his arms, holding him like he's a small child who scraped his knee, not a grown man who's been bit by an infected.
Wilbur stirs and groans at being moved, leaning into Phil anyways though. "Da—dad?" He chokes out, opening bleary eyes to stare up at Phil.
Phil pushes back a sob — this can't be real. He can't be about to lose his son because of some infected. Judging by the bite and how ill Wilbur looks, it's only a matter of hours before he dies or joins the infected.
For Wilbur's sake, Phil hopes he dies. Quick and painless. But he already knows that's not going to happen. Something tells him it's not the case. Wilbur is already in pain by the looks of it.
"I-I'm here, Wil, it's okay. I'm here now," Phil responds, trying not to let it slip in his tone that he's near tears. Wilbur doesn't need to worry about that, not in what will be his final hours before.. He doesn't want to think about it.
Wilbur only hums in response, resting his head against Phil's shoulder, half conscious and barely aware of what's going on. Phil's glad for that part.
Techno returns, first aid kit in hand. "We can help him," he says quietly but confidently. Phil shakes his head.
"Tech, you know there's no cure."
Techno doesn't respond, he only shoots Phil a glare as he starts to disinfect and bandage the infected bite on Wilbur's arm, earning a loud cry of pain from Wilbur who still sounds fairly out of it.
"Techno, we can't save him," he continues, earning another glare from Technoblade. He sighs quietly and runs a hand through Wilbur's hair, trying to calm the man down.
"Don't say that," Techno mutters, biting his lip — his tone wobbles slightly as he speaks. "We can save him. We.. We just need time, dad."
"Time that we don't have, Techno," Phil feels his heart break at the look on Techno's face. He understands, he doesn't want to lose Wilbur either but he's accepted it for the most part. Getting bit is a death sentence. He understands that.
Techno sniffles a bit, shaking his head. "We— We can't just let him.. We can't, dad, please," he tries, a few tears slipping out, though he quickly wipes them away.
"I know, Tech, I don't want to either but we don't have enough time. There's no cure. Come on," he pats the space beside him as he speaks. Techno slowly joins him on the bed, leaning against his side.
He wraps one arm around Techno and holds both of his sons close, like they're some kind of treasure and to him, they are. In his mind, they're still only kids — little kids that need protection from the world and all its threat.
Phil's failed to protect one of them. He won't fail Technoblade, though. He knows that much.
He keep that boy alive even if it kills him to do so. He won't let Wilbur's death be for nothing.
(Maybe if they'd stayed longer, they'd have realised Wilbur was immune. They'd have also realised he was far from dead, only just ill thanks to the bite.)
(Maybe it's a good thing too. If they had stayed, a little blonde zombie wouldn't have a family.)