Work Text:
Three weeks, it took his family three weeks to start forgetting about him.
First it was the college applications that he understood. He's heard the horrors of asking for letters of recommendation and writing your essay, so by extension he understands why his brothers have been locked in their rooms.
Its a drastic change though, Tommy spent his first week at the watsons in bliss . His family was always around and never once denied a cuddle pile. Yet, by the second week his brothers started to leave the house again, to go out with friends, to go to movies late, and stay out until tommys bedtime.
He gets it, he really does. Some days Tommy wont see his brothers because he was playing with purpled, his snow leopard shifter friend. But it's when these outings start becoming constant does Tommy realize they're ignoring him.
“Wilbur?” Its right after dinner, their family- or well what used to be their family time. “It's me, tommy” he knocks on the door then waits a minute to press his ear to the wood,he can hear the faint sound of music. “I was wondering if you wanna go play in the flower bed? I haven't shifted in a while and it's starting to hurt.”
Hopeful that it would be an excuse enough to lure Wilbur away from his work. Tommy brought up the watsons very first lesson, “never suppress a shift toms, it'll hurt really bad and we never, ever, want you to experience that pain.” But the music stayed playing and the sound of pencil scratching continued going.
Tommy cant even ask phil or techno to join him because they're both out on an overnight trip anyways.
As The tears fall down his face Tommy hastily grabs his own pencil and paper and writes a note.
“I'm running away. When youre ready to hang out with me ill return. :(. Ps- i am bery sad and have been feeling very left out.
Pps- won't run very far.
Ppps- i hope you still love me, i still love you.”
Tommy packs baby carrots for his travels and shoves the note under wilburs door.
Then he shifts. He runs to the backyard and buries himself within the lilies and marigolds.
Its warm, the bugs around make excellent conversationalists and the gentle breeze is nice. The issue is the weather gets colder as the sun sets, the bugs hide away and the once gentle breeze is now a chilling bite.
Hes almost tempted to run back inside, cuddle with his brother and clean each other's quills. But the light in his brothers room hasn't dimmed and wilbur has not ran to find him yet.
So he stays waiting, letting the chill settle in his bones.
It's the kinda cold that gets you sleepy Tommy determined after his eyes start slowly drooping. A quick power nap won't do much harm.
He's fine like that, until the back door slides open and out storms a very panicked, very scared looking Wilbur, “TOMMY?” At this point the sun has set and there are only wild looking crows around. The chill Tommy previously faced is no match for the frigid temperature of the night.
“TOMMY PLEASE.” Wilbur continues to shout, running around. “WE LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY. WERE SUPER BUSY COME BACK PLEASE. PLease. please. Its my fault isn't it, I promised you to always come to me when you were alone.” He lets the words settle in the wind,
“FUCK.”
Tommy wants too, so badly, let wilbur fester in his fear but with the chill his own body betrays him as he lets out a short sneeze. Wilbur's eyes immediately narrow on his hiding spot.
When the petals are swatted away gentle hands come and pick him up, “i'm so sorry tommy, i'm so sorry.” Is all wilbur can repeat
The warmth radiating out of his hands lulla tommy to sleep again, his quills relaxing the in hold of his captor.
When he wakes again he is no longer a spike but a boy. Wilbur is in front of him, hair tousled about.
“Toms I'm sorry, I should have known something was wrong when tech said you haven't gone to him in a while, or maybe when you said you didn't want ice cream. I should have played with you more, run outside maybe. Tommy i am so sorry for what i've done to make you think i don't love you, and i'm so sorry i haven-“
Tommy cuts him off before shifting back“Apologies later, cuddles now.” And with a poof Wilbur joins Tommy on the couch and hugs him closer than ever before.