two weeks

Missing

tw/cw: mentions of dissociation, being sewerslidal, mentions of trying to commit, trying to commit, major cliffhanger.

When Tommy went to bed, Phil hesitantly looked over to Wilbur. "Tell me what I've missed."

Wilbur sighed, "We'll be here awhile, and I'd have to relive some trauma, so I'll just tell you the important - non traumatising - things." Phil felt guilty. "I missed a lot."

"Yep. Right. So. My epilepsy has gotten worse, my anxiety is worse, depression is worse. Nothing is really going well for ol' Wilbur. Tommy has hypoglycaemia, which means he has low blood sugar, but not diabetes. So he just has to drink a lot of sugary drinks. It's certainly an excuse to be unhealthy." Wilbur's hypochondria shining through in that last sentence, Phil smiled softly. "Okay, sugary drinks, right. And sorry about your mental health mate."

Wilbur just huffed quietly and continued. "I disassociate and daydream quite a lot. Tommy has nightmares and still breaks down sometimes. I'm not allowed near Tommy's meds or sharp knives. Fundy, who I met for the first time today, I only get to see on weekends. He likes foxes and is mostly non verbal. Tommy has someone looking after him sometimes, his name is Techno. Niki is still around, we're still friends. I don't know what's happening with Sally." Phil took a moment to process everything he had been told. "You're still suicidal? Mate.." Wilbur just looked down. "Don't tell Tommy." Phil nodded. "What happened a few months ago? You said you tried to.." Wilbur sighed shakily. "I was so shit. I did a bad thing Phil." Phil flinched when Wilbur called him Phil, and not Dad. "What happened mate?"

"I tried to jump off the top of the apartment building. With Tommy watching." Wilbur broke and started crying. "I fucking traumatised him Dad! I was too fucking selfish to even consider Tommy. He would be better without me, but he shouldn't have to watch me do it." Phil bit his lip at Wilbur's flawed logic. "Mate, Tommy loves you. I can tell, he wants you here." Wilbur shook his head as he cried. Phil put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't panic mate, we don't want another seizure." Phil tapped a rhythm on Wilbur's leg and Wilbur tried to breathe in the same pattern. He calmed down. "I'm sorry Dad."

"Mate, don't say sorry. Ever."

"Do you know what happened to us after you left, Dad?"

"I don't know if I want to."

"Let's just say - homeless shelters are not where I expected to spend most of my time at age 20."

"Fuck. I'm so sorry.

"Just drop it. Sorrys won't help, prove to us you're really sorry."

"I will, I promise."

"I became an author in the end."

"Oh, nice! How is that going mate?"

"Pretty fucking shit. I'll probably get fired. I have 8 days to finish a book."

"That's alright mate. I have money."

"I don't want your pity money." Wilbur spat, and walked away. Phil sighed again and sat on the couch, exhausted.

Wilbur walked up to his room and sank down slowly against the door as he closed it. He was completely drained. He decided to call Niki.

"Wil?"

"Oh my fuck. Niki, I'm so tired."

"What's up?"

"So, I got the custody of Fundy, and-"

"YAAAAAAY! Congrats!" Wilbur smiled weakly.

"Thank you Nikinator. But the thing is-" Wilbur bit his lip.

"What happened?"

"Someone showed up."

"Who?"

"..." Wilbur was hit with a wave of anxiety.

"Who? Wilbur?"

"...Phil." He flinched, waiting for Niki to shout.

"WHAT?"

"Yeah."

"I'M COMING OVER. I'M COMING AND I'M GONNA BEAT THAT COWARDLY MAN'S A-" Niki hung up. Wilbur sighed, waiting for the carnage. Wilbur walked quietly downstairs, "Dad?" Phil looked up at his son. "What is it mate?"

"So, I... uh. I called Niki, and she wasn't happy with you. So she's coming to quote 'beat your ass.'"

"Ah."

"So just be ready for that."

"Did you tell her not to?"

"No. You deserve it." Wilbur smiled maniacally as the doorbell rang.

"Oh you little shit." Phil grimaced as Wilbur giggled and answered the door. Niki walked in slowly, eyes on Phil. "You absolute garbage human being." Niki said calmly. Phil just stared. "How fucking dare you show your face here. You destroyed Wilbur's young adulthood. You robbed Tommy of a paternal figure. Do you have any idea how many nights I stayed up, talking Wilbur down from killing himself? Do you have any fucking idea?" Phil just stammered for a moment. Niki walked up to him, until they were eye level and slapped him as hard as she could. "Niki-" Wilbur began, but she glared at him, eyes burning with fury and he fell silent. Phil just stood there and took it. "I know. And I'm sorry." Niki looked at him, just as angry as before. "Go fuck yourself." She walked out the door. Wilbur clicked his tongue, "Well." Phil looked over to Wilbur, concerned.

"How many times have you considered... ending it?"

"Couldn't count them Phil." Wilbur frowned. I've failed as a father, Phil thought to himself. Silent tears began to spill down his face. "I'm so sorry.." Phil choked out.

"I'm so, so sorry." Phil hugged his son close.

And Wilbur hugged back. "I'll miss you, Phil."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing." Wilbur smiled warmly.

Phil woke up in the morning, and made a cup of coffee for everyone in the house - except Fundy. Phil knocked on Tommy's door and woke the two of them up. He then walked over to Wilbur's room to wake him. But the door was already open, and the room empty. "Wil? Wilbur?" Phil glanced into every room in the house. Wilbur wasn't anywhere. "Where's Wilbur?" Phil asked Tommy, panicked. Tommy's eyes widened. "Wilburs gone?" Phil nodded and continued to search frantically for his son. Tommy felt a wave of panic rush through him. "The top floor." He whispered, and ran. Phil followed. "Fuck. Fuckfuckfuck." They both ran up the steps as fast as they could.

Once they reached the roof. They saw Wilbur sitting on top, his legs dangling above the streets. Phil and Tommy both yelled and ran over. "Wilbur. I'm going to need you to get away from the edge, okay?" Wilbur smiled, "It's nice up here. I'm not ready to get down yet." Phil spoke slowly. "You have so many reasons to keep going." Wilbur spoke shakily, erratically. "What's the point? There's no point." Tommy stepped forward. "What about Fundy?" Tears streamed down Wilbur's face. "He's better off without me." Wilbur turned around, so his back was facing the edge, he laughed quietly, still crying. "There's no point, hell awaits me. Dad, I forgive you. Tommy, I'll miss you. You'll grow up to be a better man than I ever would. Than I ever will. Fundy deserves better, you all do. I'll see you on the other side, I guess."

Wilbur smiled warmly at his brother, waved silently, and leaned back.