two weeks

An unwelcome visitor

Some of the lines in this chapter were inspired by the song 'Thinking about a potentially awkward conversation with an old friend' By Crywank :)

tw/cw: seizures, violence, mentions of attempted sewerslide

A hiccup. Why was a simple hiccup bothering Wilbur so much? Wilbur shrugged to himself, it was probably nothing.

But he knew it wasn't.

The man stood by the small apartment, conflicted. For them to see him now would just be strange. They hadn't seen him in so long. Would they want to? They were both doing fine without him. He stood there for a while, considering.

Wilbur was stressed out. "Tommy, I'm just going for a walk. Okay? Fundy, you can stay up a bit longer but when Tommy tells you to go to bed, listen to him okay?" Fundy and Tommy both nodded and Wilbur left.

Just as the man decided he was going to knock on the door, Wilbur walked out. Shit. "Hello?" Wilbur called out at the man standing by the apartment block. "Do you need anything mate?" Wilbur pressed on. The person looked familiar. Very familiar. He had a hood covering most of his face. "Do I know you from anywhere?" Wilbur called out again, beginning to walk towards him. They ran off before Wilbur could get a proper glance at them. "Hey! Wait!" Wilbur chased after him. "Why are you running? I won't hurt you man!" Wilbur caught up to the man and grabbed his shoulder. The man turned around quickly and his hood slipped off. Wilbur's face turned from confused and confrontational to pale and shaken.

"D-Dad?" Wilbur whispered weakly.

"Hiya mate." Phil said quietly, expecting the worst. Wilbur didn't know how to feel, happy, sad? The emotion that burned through everything was searing anger. Wilbur punched Phil in the face. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Wilbur screamed. Phil just frowned. "I deserved that." Wilbur just crumpled. Before he even knew what he was doing, he was on the floor, sobbing. Phil's paternal instincts immediately kicked in and he kneeled down next to Wilbur. "Hey, hey. It's alright mate." Wilbur just cried more. "GET AWAY FROM ME." Phil took a step back. "Listen, Wilbur. I have a reason. I know you don't want to hear it right now. But I promise you, I had a reason." Wilbur just froze. Phil may have been gone for 4 years, but he knew what that meant. He immediately placed a hand underneath Wilbur's head as he began to seize. He was gone for so long, but Wilbur was still his son. "It's okay mate, I'm here." Wilbur cried out in pain as head began to bash against Phil's arm. "It's okay. It's okay." Wilbur's seizing began to calm and he cried softly. "I- hate you so... much." He choked out. Phil nodded, "I know mate. It'll be okay." Wilbur sat up. "We should go back." He mumbled. "Am I coming?" Phil asked quietly. Wilbur nodded begrudgingly and walked ahead. "Are you okay after that mate?" Phil asked.

"I haven't been okay in a long time Phil. Not that you would know." Phil sighed. "I'm sorry mate."

"Sorrys aren't going to replace 4 years."

"I can try."

"You'll fail." They walked in silence.

"How's your mental health mate?"

"I tried to kill myself again a few months ago, so not great." Phil flinched at the mention of it.

"Oh mate." Phil pulled Wilbur into a hug. Wilbur didn't hug back, but didn't push it away.

"Do you even know how much you hurt me? Hurt Tommy? I had to raise him alone." Phil just stayed silent. As they approached the apartment, Wilbur stopped Phil. "Wait here. Tommy won't like you coming in uninvited. He won't be as mad as I am. He still had hope in you." Wilbur stared at Phil frostily for a few seconds, and walked in the door.

"Tommy! Is Fundy asleep?"

"Yeh!" Tommy walked down the stairs holding an asleep Fundy in his arms. "Put him to bed, we need to talk." Tommy tilted his head in confusion and nodded. "Okay, one sec." Tommy came back downstairs to see Wilbur standing in the doorway, blocking something. "What is-"

"Nothing. Now, Tommy. Don't... don't freak out."

"About what?"

"Just... wait-!" Tommy pushed Wilbur aside and his face went white. "Dad? No. No. Nononono this is a sick joke. Wilbur, why-? Stop. NO." Tommy ran to his room and slammed the door. Phil just stood there, flustered. "He's so... tall. How is he taller than me?" Wilbur couldn't help but burst out laughing. "You should go talk to him, Wil." Wilbur's laugh turned into a scowl. "Don't call me Wil. You don't deserve it." Wilbur walked up the stairs to Tommy's room and knocked quietly. "Tommy?"

"Just fucking. Come in, whatever." Wilbur let himself in. Fundy was asleep on a small sofa bed next to Tommy's. "Tommy, listen. I didn't take it well either. He just... showed up."

Tommy curled up quietly, brooding.

"How did- Where did he come from?"

"He was just standing outside."

"What did you say to him?"

"Well... I kinda punched him in the face. Then I had a panic attack and a seizure."

"A seizure? Are you okay? Shit."

"I'm fine, as much as I hate to say it, Phil handled it well."

"Did he tell you why he left?"

"I don't think I'm ready to know. He said he had a good reason."

"I believe him."

"I'm too mad to know if I do. Do you want to talk to him?" Tommy thought for a moment.

"Yes."

"Hi, Tommy mate. You look so different." Tommy looked to the side. "Of course I do. I'm not going to stay the same after 4 years. " Tommy spat out the last 2 words. Phil sighed. "I know, I'm sorry." Phil held his arms out for a hug, but Tommy just stared. "Rrright." Phil said. Wilbur just glared. "I'll make something to eat, I guess." Phil got up a little too quickly. "No. Let me make something, please." Wilbur sighed, and gestured towards the kitchen. "Go on then, knock yourself out." Phil bowed his head in thanks and walked out to the kitchen. Tommy and Wilbur just gave each other the look and sat in silence. "Do you two still like sushi?" Phil asked. "Yeah, anything's fine." Wilbur mumbled. "I'm gonna go check on Fundy." Wilbur got up and walked upstairs.

"So, Wilbur got to meet his son eventually huh?" Phil asked.

"Today was the first time." Tommy replied.

"Oh. I picked a bad day to show up, huh?"

"Any day would have been shit." Tommy muttered under his breath.

"I heard that."

"Good." Phil sighed.

When the food was ready, they sat down awkwardly at the table and ate. "You like it?" Phil asked. Wilbur reluctantly took a bite and his eyes lit up for a moment. "Woah. I mean- yeah it's fine." Phil smiled smugly and kept eating. Wilbur's eyes glossed over for a moment, and Tommy sighed. "Wilbur is daydreaming again."

"Right." Phil replied. "I forgot he did that."

"Woah, this is good!" An 18 year old Wilbur exclaimed. Phil smiled happily, "I'll make it more then." Wilbur nodded while shoving the sushi into his mouth. "What about you Tomm-" Phil hiccupped, and let out a small yell straight after. Wilbur burst out laughing, "Did you just get scared by your own hiccup?" Wilbur and Tommy both laughed hysterically. Phil went red and giggled. "Don't judge!" They all laughed. It was a good memory.

Wilbur came back to reality just as Phil hiccupped, and yelled. He smiled lightly. I guess some things don't change.