'Cause I'm so high (my brain can't even look at the fall)

Only chapter

Wilbur walked down the old burnt prime path, his shoes kicking up ash that stuck between the boards. He stopped himself right outside the dirt mound that his little brother called home. The door had a gravel path that led down to a small farm barren of its usual carrots.

Wil raised his hand and hesitated before knocking. Tommy swung the door open and the smile on his face dropped immediately. “What do you want? Here to blow up my house?” Wilbur smiled down at the blonde. “Wanted to see if you’d go on a walk with me. It’s a nice day out and I left Ranboo in charge of the burger van” Tommy scowled at the man. “Why would I go anywhere with you? You blew up L’manburg, you sent me into war as a child, You make Dream out as a hero, you’re traumatizing Ranboo, I don’t want to be anywhere near you!” The door to the dirt mound was slammed shut and the blonde disappeared.

Wilbur sighed and pulled a coin out of his pocket and tossed it up and down a few times before placing it in front of the door. “Alright Tommy, I’ll see you later then” he whispered. He started back down the path, dragging his feet more than ever. He arrived at the large crater that was once a great nation. His great nation. His mom had always told him stories of a general that abused his power and had his whole world taken from him. Wilbur was more like that general every day. He fought for his dream, his family, his title, and it all crumbled around him when he became too confident. Tommy didn’t want to look at him, Phil and Techno didn’t come for him until he was too far gone, Niki wanted him dead. He assumed his nation was his and that cockiness ruined him.

He pulled a cigarette from his sleeve and stuck it between his lips without lighting it. Ranboo had mentioned the smell bothered him so Wilbur was trying to cut back. He had reflected a lot lately and realized he was wrong. Everything was wrong. He sat down and swung his legs over the crater, humming to himself lightly.

“Come to see the remains of your failure?” A voice snarled behind him. The person plopped beside him and ruffled something around. Wil looked over to find Tommy crocheting. His fingers pulling the blue yarn around the red hook. “What are you making? Looks complicated” Tommy unraveled it slightly and huffed. “A blanket. Figured you might be getting cold in that van. I remember the camarvan got really cold at night” The brunette’s eyes went wide. Tommy was making this…for him? Why? After all he put him through? Wilbur laid his head on Tommy’s shoulder and smiled. “Thanks. Where’d you get the yarn?” “Friend needed to be sheared and I like turning wool into yarn. I have to switch to black, yellow, and red soon” Wilbur knew those colors. Tommy was making him a L’manburg themed blanket. “Let me know if you need any wool. I’ve had a decent amount of free time” Tommy stopped suddenly and laid his head on Wilbur’s. “Well if you need somewhere warmer to sleep I put in a heater downstairs at my place. Plus I could use the company while I work”

After a few hours of the two sitting there talking about whatever they felt like, shoes clicked behind them. Wilbur turned his head and looked as Philza walked up. Tommy stopped his work and tensed up as The winged man spoke. “There you are Tommy. I’ve been looking for you, mate” Tommy shrunk in on himself. “What did you need?” The smile on his face seemed fake and Wilbur fought the need to reach for his brother. “Techno wants all of the family to get together soon for a dinner. Bring a friend with you” Tommy resumed his crocheting, a bit more frantically. “Thank you for the invite but I’m very busy and won’t be able to go” Phil seemed to deflate slightly. “Mate, I promise this isn’t a trap or anything” “I said I can’t go, Phil. I’m really busy with my farm and my sheep” Wilbur pulled the cigarette from his mouth and tossed it into the crater. He leaned back and rested on his hands, looking at the sky as he counted the clouds as they passed. One. two. Three. Four. It was clear that Phil wanted Tommy at this dinner but it did hurt that the invitation wasn’t extended to him.  Phil sighed. “Just think about it alright?” And with that he left.

Tommy sighed and stared forward for a minute. “Why are things like this? Why couldn’t we all be family? Why did you have to bring me to the smp?” Wilbur didn’t answer. He didn’t have one. He just stared into the crater and leaned forward. “Do you remember mom’s stories?” He waited for a second and kept talking when Tommy didn’t respond. “She told us a story about this general, he had everything. Power, family, love, home. He took it for granted and it was taken from him. He had a partner, a lieutenant. The lieutenant followed his every command and would have followed him to the ends of the earth. In the end he did” Tommy looked over at him. “Wilbur?” Wilbur leaned forward more. “I’m so sorry Lieutenant. I’m sorry for ruining your life. You trusted me and I took advantage of that” Tommy moved his yarn to the side. “Wilbur, I chose to follow you. I followed you to the van, I followed you during the election and Pogtopia. I didn’t have to but I did” Wilbur was teetering on the edge of just falling into the hole below and it was panicking Tommy. “I’m supposed to be your big brother and I hurt you”

Wilbur continued leaning forward and Tommy grabbed onto the back of his coat. “Wil stop! You’re scaring me!” Wlibur allowed Tommy to pull him back onto his back. “Would it have been better if I wasn’t revived? I’m sure everyone would have been happier” “I wouldn’t be happier. I hated ghostbur for the longest time because all I wanted was you. I wanted my brother to tell me I was going to be ok. I was alone in exile with the ghost of the person I wanted more than anything. It would have been nice for Tubbo to come visit but I really just needed you” Wilbur rolled his head over to look at Tommy. The blonde was crying on his hands and knees and was staring at him with the eyes of a lost child.

Wilbur reached over and put his hand on Tommy’s head. “I’m sorry. I was stupid. I shouldn’t have had Phil kill me. I shouldn’t have left you” Tommy nodded and moved to lay down next to Wilbur. “It’s ok. You’re here now” Wilbur ran his fingers through the younger’s hair. “I’m here now. No one will hurt you now. Let’s get moving” He raised himself off the ground and pulled Tommy with him. Tommy gathered up his yarn and deposited it in his house before following Wilbur down the prime path.

The two arrived at the burger van and saw Ranboo locking the back door. Tommy was rushing forward before Wilbur could even think of grabbing him. “Ranboo!!” Tommy rushed forward and wrapped his arms tightly around the enderman hybrid’s middle. He hoisted Ranboo up slightly and spun him around. Ranboo laughed and wrapped his arms over Tommy’s shoulders. “Hey Tommy! How are you?”

Wilbur watched the two boys interact as they headed towards Snowchester and in some strange way he knew that he and Tommy would be ok. They would always have each other, revival or not.