Escape - Wilbur angst

Chapter two - Meeting Techno

A/N not found

TWs

PTSD, physical and mental abuse, panic attack. Let me know if I've missed anything.

Wilbur woke up, it was dark in the room, the clock showed 00.23. Slowly he realised what had woken him up, footsteps. 

"'ey, I asked you a question! Where the fuck is my beer, boy?" his father yelled from downstairs. Wilbur quickly hid under his covers, his 7-year-old mind telling him that he would be safe there. Footsteps pounded in the corridor, nearing his door. The door opened and in stepped the drunk man.

"This ain't no fairy-tale, boy, no blanket o' yours will protect you from me." he slurred. Wilbur whimpered in fear, this only seemed to anger his father more. Harsh hands pulled at the blanket, also getting hold of the child's hair, showing no mercy as the boy fell to the ground. 

Wilbur got kicked in the ribs, shouting in pain as a glass bottle was smashed across his head. Turns out his father did find his beer after all. "You're lucky I found it. Fuckin' worthless. Tha's all you are, worthless." Wilbur nodded his head while tears continued to pour.

"Yes, dad. I'm nothing but worthless." he hickuped. His father smiled. "Atta boy"

Wilbur's breath quickened as the memory kept playing. Soon his ears were ringing, vision tunnelled and body shaking. 

Techno, who had just been grabbing a glass of water, heard troubled breathing from the door to where he assumed the other kid was in. He quickly recognized it as a panic attack, his theory being proven when he opened the door.

Wilbur sat pressed against the corner of the wall, hugging himself while rocking back and forth. His eyes were glazed over, breathing heavy and rapid. "Hey uh- can I help you somehow?" Techno asked. He didn't know what helped Wilbur and wouldn't want to cross boundaries. 

Still trapped in his mind Wilbur didn't react to Techno's voice. He brought his hands up and tangled them in his hair, the shaking got more violent. Techno turned around and ran to Phil's bedroom, waking him to life.

"Techno, wha- Is everything okay?" he groaned. Techno took a deep breath to calm his anxiety. "There's something wrong with Wilbur. Or well he's having a panic attack. Something must've triggered him. Maybe my walking, I don't know, may-" the boy speculated. Phil hushed him and was up in a matter of seconds.

When Phil entered the room and switched on the light his tired face immediately switched to one of distress. He gripped Wilbur's shoulders in an attempt to calm him. Wilbur's panicked eyes shot up and stared at the adult. There was a second of thick silence before Wilbur let out panicked screams, no words, just screams. He then pressed himself harder against the wall and started flailing with his arms to get whoever was touching him away.

Phil backed off; touch was obviously not an option. "Wilbur, hey, can you hear me? It's just me and Techno here, no one can hurt you." Wilbur's eyes turned normal, panicked, but no longer glazed over. He was back in the new bed with Phil, behind him stood Techno. "Mate, are you with us? Could you maybe nod for us?" Wilbur nodded shakily.

"Good job mate, I'm so proud of you!" Phil whisper yelled. Wilbur's breath hitched at the words. He looked away again, still shaking and Phil tried to get eye contact. "Wilbur, would you be comfortable with a hug?"

Wilbur froze and slowly looked up, finally making eye contact. "A-am I allowed? I mean, I haven't done anything good..?" his weak voice uttered. Phil's gaze softened as he let out a sigh. He got down on his knee. "You don't have to earn physical touch, mate." he said with a sad smile. Wilbur hesitated but slowly leaned forward, Phil opened his arms, and the kid was embraced. He tensed up at first, and lightly flinched but eventually relaxed fully.

Phil scooped him closer and tightened the hug. Wilbur pressed himself into the warmth and let out a heart-breaking sob. The boy was extremely touch starved and after years of mental and physical abuse he was completely broken. Years of pent-up pain, suffering and pressure finally flowed out.

Wilbur clung onto Phil's shirt and wailed out; his voice hoarse. Phil hugged him even more as tears were prickling his eyes as well. He didn't know what the poor kid had been through, or how to help. He knew instantly that he wanted to adopt, but it would be hard. He somehow had to get his guardians to resign, but that meant getting Wilbur's consent and he would be terrified. Maybe if Phil went with him to speak to them.

As Wilbur's cries slowly turned into soft sobs and the grip on Phil's shirt loosened, Phil started to play with the younger's hair. Wilbur flinched once again, his roots being sore from being pulled by his father, but melted into the touch as the slow massages were soft.

Phil held Wilbur as close as possible. "Mate? Will you be okay on your own? You have a few things to choose from, sleep in here alone, in here with me, in my bed alone, in my bed with me or we could just go downstairs and watch some movies?" Wilbur didn't answer, he didn't want to leave Phil. But it was obvious he wanted to go back to sleep, so he had no right to keep Phil up.

"I- uh, I'll be okay in here by myself" no I won't "Thank you though, for everything" please stay.

Phil looked deep in thought for a second before sighing in defeat. "Alright, but don't hesitate to come wake me if you need to. My room is at the end of the corridor." he whispered softly. Wilbur nodded but made no effort to move. He liked this kind of touch, and didn't want to let go of it. Phil understood, an extremely touch starved kid is bound to hold on to each grain of touch. 

"Kiddo, I know you want to continue hugging, but I also know that you're extremely tired. Your brain also needs time to cool down. How about we sleep for a bit and talk tomorrow?" Wilbur nodded once again, but this time stood up and laid on the bed.

Phil turned the lights off and left the room with a comforting smile. And after checking up on Techno, he went to sleep.

A/N still not found

- Bread