Chapter Text
The sound of the way stone drifted into the house from the courtyard as Wilbur was strumming his guitar for Tallulah. The young girl jumped to her feet in excitement, pointing towards the door. Wilbur smiled as he set his guitar down.
“It’s probably Abuelito and Chayanne, go on out. I have to grab the photos I want to show them.”
Tallulah clapped loudly as she ran for the door, unaware of what was waiting for her outside the door.
Wilbur grabbed the photos and sauntered his way out the door only to be stopped dead in his tracks. In front of Tallulah was a man who looked identical to himself, tall, lanky, wearing a dirty trench coat over his shoulders and scowl on his face. The only difference between them was the numerous scars that littered the man opposite himself and the stark white strand of hair that fell just above his right eye. Beside him was a scrawny blond boy, littered with bandages and smothered in a large red sweater. For some reason his heart lurched at the sight of the child, an unusual need for Wilbur to have this boy at his side despite him being a complete stranger.
Tallulah turned her head between Wilbur and his doppelganger, confusion across her face. Wilbur motioned for her to return to his side which she eagerly did, hiding behind his pant leg.
“What the fuck” The young blond boy exclaimed, running a hand through matted hair
--
Tommy walked through the garden, pushing at the petals with his spare hand as he passed. His other hand was held tight by the small brunette beside him as they strolled. He couldn’t name the feeling he was currently experiencing. Seeing Wilbur- well it was Wilbur but also not Wilbur at all. This Wilbur looked as if he had never seen war a day in his life and was gentle as he spoke to the young girl, a softness he hadn’t heard in a decade. Seeing Not-His-Wilbur with the small girl, holding her hands gently and giving her kind smiles had struck a nerve Tommy thought didn’t exist anymore. Tommy remembered being small and standing beside Wilbur, believing that nothing bad could ever happen if he had Wilbur beside him. It was foolish for him to think that way, as it is for this girl- Tallulah to believe it. No matter what Wilbur was tainted, regardless of dimension or world shifting. Wilbur would always crumble.
She points to a bench and drags him along before planting herself on the pink wooden slabs. Tommy sits on the bench and begins to pick at a splinter with his far too bitten finger tips. She pulls out her notepad and after a minute of scribbling she pushes it towards him
"You look like Abuelito and Chayanne."
Tommy furrows his brow and shrugs "Don't know them kid."
She nods flipping to a new page and scribbling again
"You know my dad?"
At this Tommy lets out a scoff and rolls his eyes "Wilbur is your dad, really?"
Tallulah smiles and nods before writing "He is the best dad, he sings to me, and we fish!"
Flashes of being in a dark cave, barely dug out big enough for Tommy and Wil to sit upright in and the L’Manburg Anthem sung repeatedly like a manic chant, echoing in the small space push forth into Tommy's mind. His hands grip the edge of the bench as he reads the newest note in front of him.
"He says he is a Rockstar and he has to leave a lot but he takes care of me and makes sure I'm always safe."
She set her notepad down and kicked her legs as she gazed at the grass below them. Tommy knew that life, well okay partially that life. Wilbur constantly disappeared throughout the 19 years of Tommy's life, but he certainly did not make sure Tommy was safe. There was a small wave of envy the began but washed away as he recalled what life was like during that time and the loneliness he had experienced. With a deep sigh Tommy extended his long legs, having finally hit 6 '2 with his latest growth spurt he was still getting used to the way his knees ached.
"My… My Wilbur leaves a lot too." Tommy began, swallowing the knot in his throat, clearing it slightly "Not that I care anymore. But he used to leave when I was little too." Tommy squinted as he looked to the blue sky "I would always wait by the window. It was so stupid, I'd wait by the window with some stupid drawing I did for him. I'd wait so long that I would fall asleep at the window. Technoblade and Philza used to get so mad, they wouldn't see me on the floor and trip on me." Tommy shook his head and shrugged "But I grew up. It gets easier when you get used to the fact Wilbur will never stick around."
Tallulah looked at him, frowning, grabbing her notepad and writing furiously
"Papa always comes back. He never leaves for long."
Tommy raised an eyebrow and sighed "Whatever you say kid."
---
“Can I help you?” Wilbur spoke, hands politely behind his back staring at his counterpart
“Where am I?”
“Uh, Quesadilla Island.”
The other Wilbur scoffed and gazed around at the surroundings before clicking his tongue “Well, this has been lovely but how do I leave this shit hole? I have things to do.”
“Unfortunately, there is no way to leave the island currently. Although there are people trying to work on a way off. Progress has stopped recently, there have been some other things to tend to.” Wilbur rolled his hand as he spoke, giving a soft shrug as he tried to angle himself to see into the garden
“No way off? Every island has a way off. It’s called a boat.”
“We tried that. The ocean fought us and well, more than one person was injured. And now we have the kids to care for so most of us don’t want to leave.”
Other Wilbur shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. Wilbur took a moment to observe the long scars that littered the exposed flesh of the man, the way his jaw seemed permanently clenched and teeth bared as if trying to fend off some perceived danger. The man looked tired behind his circular glasses that were cracked in one frame.
“I can ask my dad if he might understand your situation. He was a traveler for the majority of his life.” After receiving a nod, Wilbur raised his hands and curved them around his mouth “Tallulah! Come here please.”
The little girl came bounding out of the garden, the taller boy being dragged behind her by a tight gripped hand. Her brown waves bounced as she landed in front of her father, a bright smile on her face. The boy, Tommy, stared at Wilbur with a look he couldn’t even describe. There was such a mix of emotions, but the most detailed was the boundless grief that lived in the ocean blue eyes.
“Can you run to Abuelito and ask him to come? Tell him there is an emergency, okay?”
The girl nodded once and turned to Tommy, glaring at him and then pointing to the ground. His eyebrows pinched together in moderate confusion.
“She wants you to stay put.” Wilbur smiled as he watched her run to the way stone and disappear. “She is non-verbal, using mainly hand signals and her notepad. It’s usually simple, just show her patience is all I ask. You two are more than welcome to stay for a bit until we find out how to get you home. While we wait, how about we sit?” Wilbur pointed off to the small beach area beside their house.
Tommy clung to Other Wilbur but never touching the man, watching and moving in time as they sat at the small picnic space.
“So, you two are friends? Travel partners?”
“Wil is my older brother.” Tommy smiled softly with pride as he shared the information, only to receive a sharp look from Other Wilbur
Wilbur nodded. In another world, perhaps another life he had a younger brother. A brother who looked far too skinny, far too dirty, and most importantly far too frightened. His heart broke at even the idea of Tallulah scraping her knee, let alone in a position to scar her young body to the extent Tommy clearly was. As if he could feel Wilbur’s noticing, Tommy shifted in his seat.
“Tallulah is your daughter?”
“Adopted but yes.” Wil nodded “She is the light of my life.”
“Our dad, Ph-” Tommy’s voice was cut off by the sound of the waystone activating.
Out of the purple haze came 3 bodies, one noticeably Tallulah with another child beside her. A young blonde boy with a skull mask and massive axe in one hand while the other was grasped by Tallulah. Beside them was a sight that made both Tommy and Other Wilbur freeze. A wingless Philza stood before them, a large glowing and enchanted axe aimed in their direction.
“Wilbur!” Phil screamed before rushing over and pulling his son away from the strangers “It could be a trick! The code monster. I told you.” He scolded
“Dad-” Wilbur pulled his arm from the tight grasp “They clearly are not the code monster.”
“We are right here you know.” Other Wilbur quipped from where he was seated, legs crossed in front of him “You could just ask us. And no we are not a code monster. Whatever that is.”
“Who are you?” Phil asked, his axe still raised, prepared to strike them down at any wrong move
“We’re your son's.” Tommy said with a certain venom that made Wilbur flinch and Phil drop his weapon down to his side
---
The wind wrapped around Tommy, noisily moving the fabric of his tent behind him. He reached out a stick to poke at the fire, bringing more embers back to life. He was offered a bed in either Wilbur or Phil’s homes but his Wilbur had insisted that they didn’t need handouts and could fend for themselves. Tommy didn’t have the confidence in the moment to remind Wilbur of how poorly his back had been feeling since he had been resurrected. So he helped put up the tent, and by helped he means he alone put the tent up while Wilbur wandered around and stared at their surroundings. Not-His-Wilbur had offered to help put the tent up, Tallulah standing behind him nodding. Tommy politely declined, working silently on his own.
Now he didn’t even know where his Wilbur was. The sun was setting, Phil had left for the day saying he had things to attend to. Other Wilbur had excused himself to put Tallulah to bed. Through the open windows of the house beside him came the gentle strumming of a guitar. Tommy shook his head and pulled his arms around himself. It made sense that Wilbur here would also play guitar, showing that being a musician truly is in his blood. Closing his eyes Tommy focused on the sound the wind carried directly towards him. The cords were similar, a tune he had heard before, when Wilbur sang to a still young Fundy in L’Manburg. Words filled with care, love, and total devotion. Tommy pretended for a moment that he was the receiver of those words and gentle lifts of Not-His-Wilbur’s voice.
Unable to stop himself the tears peppered his face slowly as he took a shaky breath. His mind was scattered and lost in a sea of confusion. His eyes closed as the tears flowed. This world’s Wilbur was still the kind person that Tommy had grown up with. He was gentle and patient with Tallulah who was quick to get into trouble. It had been so long since his Wilbur showed him patience. The seat across from him was now occupied with Not-His-Wilbur looking at him with a small smile.
“It can get pretty cold out here, even with a fire. I brought you a blanket.” The long arms stretched towards him while holding what looked to be an expensive wool throw blanket, Tommy looked down at his filthy clothes before shaking his head
“I don’t want to ruin it. I’ll be okay.” He forced a smile “I’ve slept in colder conditions I promise you.” Tommy remembered how cold the basement of Techno’s base had been but after the frigid water of Exile he would never complain about the cold again
“That's unfortunate to hear.” Not-His-Wilbur commented softly “How old are you?”
“19.”
“Still a child.”
“I’m not a child.” Tommy snapped with his typical anger at the statement, he would never outrun the way everyone seemed to think he was still an incapable child despite the fact that his childhood ended when he first killed a man at 13 when the war began. “I haven’t been for a long time.”
Not-His-Wilbur nodded patiently, gazing into the fire. “That sounds difficult. You must be strong, it sounds as if you’ve endured a lot.”
Tommy scrunched up his face. There was no typical apology for the loss of a childhood that no one was around for. This Wilbur had complimented his strength and validated his experience. “I-I have.” Tommy was in uncharted waters and felt as if he was drowning
“While you’re here I assure you we will try to keep you as safe as possible.” The man smiled, standing “That being said, the monsters of the night will be awakening soon. Any idea where your brother may be? I don’t want to leave you out here alone.”
“Wilbur he-” Tommy paused, trying to find the words to describe the mental state of his brother to a man who had never experienced psychosis “He prefers to wander during the night. Says he belongs to it after his resurrection.”
Not-His-Wilbur pinched his brows together “Resurrection? As in coming back from death?”
Tommy nodded, face being half illuminated by the fire and the other half shrouded under the cover of darkness. “In our world, Dream SMP, we only have 3 lives before we are permanently dead. Well, we used to be. Only two people have ever been resurrected.” He pointed to himself before continuing “Myself, and Wilbur. Only Wilbur spent more time in limbo. It… changed him.”
“I can only imagine.” He hummed lowly “And you? Do you feel the same since?”
Tommy didn’t know the answer. That was a question that weighed on his shoulders. Sure, he looked nearly identical besides the permanent black eye he sported and white contrast to his golden hair. But feeling? That was another subject. Physically his body still felt as if it was dying slowly after being beaten. His head still felt as though it was filled with cotton and unable to process quickly. His back and bones cracked and nearly had him doubling over with pain as if they were shattered. When he woke up he could taste the iron of the blood that had filled his mouth after his rib punctured his lung. So with all of the physical reminders of the experience his emotional feelings were constantly haywire. The only time he felt relief was when he was in Church Prime where he spent the majority of his time. Due to its nature of being a no conflict zone that somehow was still respected even during times of war, it was the only place he felt safe in. As if Prime herself was beside him, taking care of his wounds, both mental and physical.
“You don’t have to answer. It was an invasive question for me to ask, we only met this morning.” Not-His-Wilbur smiled before looking to the moon above them “I really should head inside. Tallulah doesn’t like to sleep alone for very long.” He looked back at him “She is rather clingy, but I’m sure you noticed that.”
Tommy swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. “Goodnight Wilbur.” He whispered while still looking towards the fire.
He removed his gaze once he heard the front door close. The plush blanket sat on the seat across from him. As he stood, dousing the fire to ensure there was no damage to the small camp site, he grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders. It would be the only warmth he found in the tent as Wilbur never returned to him that night.