mirror in his eyes ︱ sbi royalty / farmer au

chapter 4

"Wil, where the fuck did you go?" 

"Happy to see you too Toms." 

The brunett bent down to grab a potatoe next to the younger's foot. 

"No, I'm serious, where did you go man? I could've used some help with the mess you made here." 

"Sorry about that. I met an old friend, just wanted to catch up." 

Tommy raised an eye brow at him but didn't question his brother further. 

"Let's go over there and get this over with." Wilbur suggested, nodding his head towards a free space between a small bakery and a flower shop. 

Tommy grunted but picked the potatoes back up without any protest. 

A woman with shoulder length blonde hair and round glasses greeted them. 

"Wilbur, Tom it's nice to see you two around again. I haven't seen you in ages, how have you been?" 

"NIKI" Tommy yelled running towards her to be embraced in a loving hug.

Niki and Wil had always been close friends, long before she moved to the towns centre to open her bakery. Wilbur smiled widely at her. She was right, the three of them had lost contact for a few months after the market fee was introduced. Tommy and Wilbur couldn't afford the long travels anymore and Niki was even busier after opening the flower shop next to her bakery. 

"It's good to see a familiar face around here." Wilbur laughed. "We've been alright. It's good to be back here without the fee. Makes up a lot of money we've lost the past few months." 

Niki nodded, watching Tommy build up their small booth and taking the the potatoe sacks out of the barrow. 

"Have you been having trouble with the sellers again?" 

She lowered her voice slightly to make sure Wilbur was the only one parttaking in their conversation. 

The brunett sighed, nodding slightly. 

"They're paying worse and worse, but there's nothing we can do about it. The weather has been cruel, the harvest has never been worse. Niki I don't-"

Wilbur struggled to keep his voice down. 

"I don't know how we're supposed to get through this winter. We're running out of money, we're running out of potatoes and I'm running out of solutions." 

Niki gave him a sad smile. 

"I'm so sorry Wil, is there anything I could do for you?" 

Wilbur wasn't originally planning on sharing this with anyone. He'd always hated feeling like a burden, like he was adding onto peoples problems with his. But in the end talking was always the one thing that helped. 

He knew there was things Niki could've done for the both of them. He knew she had the recourses to help them get out of the endless cicle of despair but she didn't deserve that. She didn't deserve to be dragged into the chaos of their financial situation and the endless arguments with merchants. She needed her money as much as they did and Wilbur would never be able to forgive himself for taking things from her she coulnd't spare.

"I don't think so, no. But thank you Niki. Really, I mean it. You've always been here for me and I really appreciate that." 

"Of course Wil. If there's anything, and I mean anything you need, please for the love of god, just tell me. I'll always help you." 

Wilbur smiled, resting his chin on Nikis head as they met in another comforting hug. Even though the sun was slowly heating up the town square now, the brunett appreciated the warmth of her body against his.