Will Them Into Existence

Finders Keepers

A chilling tingle overtaking their body, Wilbur ducked as a paper airplane went flying overhead, bouncing off a locker and landing on the floor to be trampled by hundreds of scrambling shoes. They sighed, pulling their headphones tighter over their head in a futile attempt to block out the bustle of the hallway. To his right, Thomas shook hands with a kid from the robotics team, smiling at a joke he only pretended to understand.

Rounding the corner, they shivered again, and Wilbur pushed a hand out just in time to stop their brother from ramming into the back of someone exiting the band closet, pulling him back as an instrument case crashed to the floor. Tom smiled gratefully, moving forward to help the person pick up the case.

Wilbur looked up, smiling as a familiar brunette exited the band room laughing.

"Sam, you dumbass, I told you not to set your fucking case there." The brunette exclaimed, walking towards the instrument dropper and Tom. "Dude, you are so lucky no one stepped on it."

The dropper, Sam, shook his head, cheeks red as he crossed his arms. "Colby, seriously, I told you! I didn't think it would fall." He took the case from Tom slowly, cradling it like a baby. "And Tom wouldn't step on it."

Thomas snorted, making eye contact with Colby and bursting into laughter. "On purpose, maybe."

Sam frowned, stroking the side of the case. "Don't listen to them, baby. They're just jealous of how stable you are."

Wilbur smiled, walking closer to the group and ruffling Tom's hair. "Of how dependable, maybe."

The short blonde's eyes shot up to theirs, eyebrows knit for second before relaxing back into his brother. Sam and Colby greeted them, and the four set off to gather their things before the first class of the day. Tom walked beside Wilbur, slowing down and pulling him towards their lockers. He gently reached up and tapped the side of his headphones, turning and opening his locker. The taller hummed, opening their own locker and getting his supplies for Chemistry out, it being their first class of the day.

Feeling an unsettling chill once again, Wilbur turned around with a frown, locker slamming shut behind them, causing a wince. "Well, well, well! If it isn't the Olivers." A grey-haired woman exclaimed, Tom spinning around beside them and shutting his own locker gently.

The blonde glanced to his brother before smiling brightly and adjusting his hold on his binder. "Hi, Ms. Slohcin! What can we do for you today?" He rocked slightly on his heels, red jacket catching on his notebook.

"I have some news for you boys. We can discuss it in my office." She said, leading them through the halls and towards the front lobby. They passed Sam and Colby, on the way to their first block History class, with shrugs and a mouthed 'We'll tell you later'. "Of course, I've been in contact with your teachers and notified them as to your whereabouts." As they reached the door labeled 'Principal', she turned and faced them. "Now, keep in mind that this is completely confidential. That means you can't tell anyone. Not even your friends."

After receiving a nod from each of them, she nodded herself and turned back around to unlock her office door. Wilbur and Thomas glanced at each other, Tom biting back a laugh, and followed her through the door, letting it fall shut behind them.

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"Wait, wait, wait- so you're saying that the Stark Industries extended you two a scholarship opportunity?" Sam prodded, throwing his hands up in emphasis. A few scattered people around the room looked up in annoyance.

"Sh, sh! Keep your voice down, Sam, Jesus!" Tom chastised, looking around wildly.

Colby rolled his eyes, leaning across the table and in closer to the twins. "Seriously, though, that's crazy. Are you gonna do it?"

"Am I-?" Tom cut himself off, looking up at his brother. "Can you believe this guy, Wil? 'Are you gonna do it' Of fucking course I'm gonna do it! It's fucking Stark Industries, Colby."

Colby nodded, turning to the green haired twin and shoving a fry into his mouth. "What about you, Wil? Are you gonna do it?"

Wilbur hummed, headphones still set firmly on their ears. They'd snagged some sunglasses from the brunette earlier to try and fight off an impending headache, which had only been semi-successful. "Uh. Yeah. Sure."

Tom looked over from where he had been starting a conversation with Sam, raising an eyebrow. They nodded in response, clearing their throat and standing. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom."

Colby frowned slightly but nodded anyway, turning to Sam and Tom. They walked out of the over-crowded cafeteria, dropping their untouched tray in the trash. Their brother walked out of the lunchroom, taking one look at him and then leading him to an alcove near the library on the other side of the school, just big enough for maybe four people max.

Tom sat down on the floor, a long since stolen and hidden pillow tucked between his knees, and patted the empty space beside him. Wilbur nodded, sitting down with their back to the wall for support. They closed their eyes, gratefully sighing when the blonde took the stolen pillow and placed it gently beneath their head.

The shorter hummed softly to himself, fidgeting with his fingers. "You don't have to say anything. We can just sit here until you're ready. Or we can leave. Whatever you want to do."

Wilbur smiled slightly, humming his own agreement. As they thought about what to say, their smile dropped. They turned their head slightly to look at his brother, tugging at the collar of their shirt.

"It's not that I'm not excited, Tom. I am. I really, truly am. This is an amazing opportunity that I wouldn't pass up for the world." They began, cutting himself off and sighing.

"But?" Tom asked teasingly, poking his side.

"But I don't know what's happening to me. Whatever it is, it isn't fucking normal. I can't- I can't work with Tony Stark when I'm breaking alarm clocks and ripping doors off of doorframes!"

"Wilbur, it's not-"

"That's another thing. This morning you told me that you'd tell me if you were right."

"Yeah, I guess I did say that."

"So."

"So?"

"Were you right?"

Thomas sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair. "It's more conflicted than that. It's not cut and dry. There are lots of things I could be wrong about."

"Okay, so it's not exact. But what were you thinking it was?" Wilbur prodded, hitting his brothers shoulder.

"I..." The blonde started shaking his head. "I'll tell you. Don't freak out. But, based on...well, based on everything, I think-"

"Come on, Tom, please, just say i-"

"I think the spider that bit you changed your DNA."

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two chaps in one night!