Chapter Text
One night, pitch-black as the lost souls of the dead, everyone was scurrying about in the house of the Elrod family. It looked as if they were expecting a new member. That was precisely why two boys were standing outside the doors of the main chamber. One boy who'd excitement is written all over his face, and another with only numbness to show. It was hard to believe they were twins. They looked nothing alike, one with a rosy innocent face and short brown hair, the other with equally long hair in a pastel shade of pink and a face as sharp as a blade. Wearing glasses was the only common trait between them both...
"Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl, Techno?" the brown-haired boy asked in a voice as soft as the breeze on a summer day.
"I do not know, and I do not wish to know."
"But aren't you excited to meet our new sibling?"
"As much as you'd want me to be, Wilbur, I wish it would remain just the two of us."
Those words elicited a small giggle from Wilbur. He knew his brother was as stubborn as... well, there's nothing as stubborn as Techno. Wilbur knew his brother repressed any emotions or thoughts of compassion for their newborn sibling, for as Techno refuses to reveal his feelings to strangers, however, Wilbur was no stranger, if anything he was his brother... his twin even, and he was allowed to break through that wall as often as he pleased. Leaning on his brother's shoulder, Wilbur began to taunt him with words like "oh almighty blade" or "our saviour the general." Even though these phrases sound strange and silly, they impacted Techno and Wilbur enjoyed every part of it. After mere moments the large, heavy spruce chamber doors opened, and a rather fairly handsome man came out. Without hesitation, Wilbur turned away from Techno and asked in excitement:
"Phil! is it a boy or a girl?"
Knowing how his eldest son, Wilbur, would react, Phil pondered. Leaning over to his sons, Phil confirmed Wilbur's suspicions stating that it was indeed a boy. Within moments, Wilbur's ego shot through the roof, and he started bragging about his intelligence. From how boring the conversation turned, Techno interrupted Wilbur in his all-glorious moron speech and asked Phil if they could meet their newborn brother. Phil nodded, letting both his sons into the room and closing the doors behind them. He preferred that such moments remained among family members. Wilbur leapt to his mother, who was sitting on the bed, and climbed his way up while Phil and Techno followed him diligently. She was holding something in her hands... something so small and vulnerable. Wilbur examined the folded blankets as his eyes lit up with amazement. Techno bent down to see what had so amazed Wilbur, and to his surprise, he felt something... something he'd never felt before. As much numbness Techno shows, he has a loving heart, but that wasn't what surprised him, it was rather that the voices fell silent... so quiet he thought they were dead. The only moments Techno felt the voices were silent were when he and Wilbur chanted together, but this time they were silent... as still as the graves of the dead. Wilbur was right, maybe having a new sibling isn't so bad after all, Techno thought.
"So, what do you think boys?" their mother Kristin asked in a voice as gentle as the chirping of birds at dawn.
" He looks like Phil!"
Techno nodded in agreement, for the twins took after their mother. Her hair, eyes, and ambition yet quite nothing like their father.
" So, what should we name him? "
Considering that Wilbur and Techno are her sons, Kristin should have phrased her question differently, but before she could correct her mistake, Wilbur shouted excitedly:
" Tomathy!"
" Tomathy?" repeated Phil in a questioning voice.
" That's Wil's favourite book character"
Techno replied, confirming that their newborn brother should be called Tomathy. This astonished both their parents. Their sons rarely agreed, and now suddenly, they both want to name their newborn brother Tomathy? It was suspicious. However, Wil's and Techno's sole reason behind naming their brother "Tomathy" was the pure coincidence of their brother and the character looking alike. No mischievous plans this time. After a while of convincing, Phil and Kristin finally agreed, not because they trusted the situation, but because they thought the name suited their newborn. A silence crept into the conversation, but it wasn't to last any longer...
"Mother," cried Wilbur, "may I hold him?"
Everyone's eyes were placed on Wilbur. It was an unusual request he was making. Even though in cases like this it's quite irresponsible to let an 8-year-old hold a newborn... Kristin saw a spark in her son's eyes and knew her son would be gentle. With an approving nod, Kristin handed over Wil and Techno, Tomathy, whom they agreed to call Tommy for short. The twins held their brother in their arms and for the second time that night, both with eyes that shone like a star amid the night sky, whispered in the same breath:
"Don't worry, little Tomathy. We will protect you no matter what".