All is Fair in War || SBI || Mafia AU

࿏ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 32 ࿏

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Ethan's Advice

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TW// Mentions of self-harm/suicide attempt

Ethan chose to ignore Wilbur's antics about 90% of the time but today, he was just a loose screw— well, even looser than he already was. Quig was feeling the full force of the drug dealer's anger which wasn't even directed at the poor boy. The ravenette sighed into his hands, pushing his glasses up his nose slightly as he blocked out the grunts of pain coming from the other man. Moral of the story: Don't agree to a mock fight with Wilbur because it will only become real.

They watched their best friend beat up the other boy. Granted, Quig wasn't actually dead or beaten to the point he would need medical attention from Harvey but either way, it was just brutal to watch. The blonde looked to have a broken nose... you know what? Scratch that, he would have to see Harvey.

The blonde groaned on the floor as Wilbur offered him a hand and an apologetic smile. Quig's bare hand met Wil's half-gloved ones, only the fingertips being exposed, as he was pulled up. Ethan dashed to grab some tissues for the young boy, passing them to him so he could catch the blood that was rapidly falling from his nose. The hitman thanked the ravenette before making a quick dash for Harvey's office.

As Wilbur peeled the gloves off his hands, Ethan turned to his best friend and crossed his arms over their chest and tilted their head, a hint of disappointment on his face. The brunette turned to his friend and looked down at him, the taller one rolling his eyes as he turned his back. Ethan groaned silently as they followed their friend. Wilbur scooped down to the floor and swiped his black beanie, which fell off during the fight, up off of the mat and placed it back onto his head smoothly.

The ravenette quietly followed the drug dealer. Wil's boot tapped against the tiles of the hallway, the shorter boy trailing behind. Ethan debated his options; He could either stay silent and let someone else get hurt by their best friend's anger or they could ask Wil if he wanted to talk about it. The ravenette sighed and placed a hand onto Wil's bicep, stopping the man in his tracks. The taller male turned around and raised his eyebrow expectantly.

"Can we talk?"

"About?"

"You"

"Why?"

"Can we just talk?"

"Fine" Wil groaned as he continued to walk but changed his path from the elevator to a pair of white doors that opened into a bare room.

Ethan hated when their friend was angry. He was pretty dangerous to be around. Wilbur turned around to face the ravenette after the door closed, leaning against a bare white wall with his arms folded over his chest. He motioned his hand slightly as if telling the shorter boy he could speak. Not that he needed permission. The ravenette took in a breath before finding his words.

"Talk to me, please? What's going through that sadistic mind of yours?"

Wilbur frowned and tilted his head slightly, uncrossing his arms and beginning to fiddle with the strap on his leather gloves. He wore them because they were a gift from Tommy for his eighteen birthday, the blonde claimed it made him more 'angsty', whatever that meant. The brunette fought the temptation to light a cigarette.

He knew Ethan wouldn't take bullshit from the older man so he may as well just spill his guts to them because at least they would know what to do.

"I'm worried about Tommy"

"What else is new?"

"You don't get it, Ethan. He- he's relapsed and he's angry and I'm scared" His voice wavering as he spoke his last sentence. The younger boy nodded, placing a hand on top of Wil's to stop him from picking at the threads, knowing soon enough he would scratch at his skin and make himself bleed.

"Take your time, dude" They spoke softly with a soft expression. The last thing they wanted or needed was for their best friend to have a panic attack. Wil nodded slowly and took in a breath and looked down at his friend.

"A few days ago he just- it was my fault, I pushed him and he was defending himself. Okay. Basically-" He took a breath. "-Tommy was in the bathroom for a long time- like a long time, right? And I was worried because of the past and all that stuff, not to mention something Techno had said to me a few nights before that just- scared me shitless. I was scared he'd relapsed so I asked to see his arm and he got all defensive and started to yell at dad and wouldn't let us see his arms which is just- suspicious as fuck already."

"I lost it because of my fear and I grabbed him, pulled up his sleeves and basically revealed a bunch of small scratches that just- littered his arms, Ethan!-" The words fell from his mouth at a rapid pace, his words jumbling together slightly "-He got all defensive and started to yell and I just yelled back. Dad spoke to him and explained the situation and how it must've been for me but I haven't said anything to him... I'm too scared. You know how much Tommy means to me... I can't lose him, E"

Ethan sighed with a soft smile and pulled Wilbur down into a hug, the boy accepting it by wrapping his arms around his best friend. The brunette was right, Ethan did know how much Tommy meant to Wil and it always killed the older when his baby brother was in pain.

"You just have to talk to him, dude"

"I know- and I will. I'm just... giving him some space"

"Maybe he doesn't want space. What if he wants his brother?" Ethan spoke, their voice staying soft. For a usually loud and energetic person, he was acting awfully like how he is when they first meet people. That's how Wilbur knew that his best friend really did care and wanted to help.

The brunette thought for a moment, maybe the ravenette was right. Tommy always came to Wilbur whenever he needed to be comforted, he never realized it until now. The blonde found comfort with his brother because he knew he wouldn't judge him and would listen, god, he was so stupid!

The drug dealer nodded, his fluffy hair bouncing with his movement. Ethan smiled softly and nudged his head to the side, gesturing for their friend to go and find Tommy. As Wilbur left, he muttered a quick thank you. Ethan felt a sense of pride swell inside of him. He was already stupid enough to have let his brother die without apologizing for his mistakes, they'd be damned if they let Wilbur do the same.

As Ethan was left to his thoughts, he pushed his glasses up his nose further and walked over to the window and watched the world move underneath him. The hitman had grown up with Wilbur, meeting in year three and not parting ways since. They were inseparable. The brunette was there when his friend's brother passed due to an illness he was fighting the majority of his life, which also led Wilbur to know how much guilt lay within the younger boy. The two were always fighting and it haunted him to this day.

As the energetic boy observed the tiny ants, he watched a boy with orange hair walk through the big doors, Oli, the security guard, allowing him passage without question. The people lining up to get inside complaining. Ethan chuckled to themself and they turned their back to the window and headed for the door.

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Words: 1,299

Ethan: springtrappe

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-Ever