Wilbur had managed to stop himself from eating the whole stock of the train. He felt stuffed full anyways, but the taste still lingered on his tongue, and he was desperate for more, in fear that he may never taste it again.
He stepped forward to the edge of the cart, approaching the red endowed conductor of the train. He had a thousand questions, but before he could ask, the shorter man turned his head to look at him.
"Something wrong?" The little man asked, and Wilbur took note of the accent. British. Like Tommy.
"Nothing's wrong, really. I'm just sort of.. In disbelief of everything right now." He says, finding no reason to lie. "How did you get here, anyhow? Do you have a way to revive people?"
His question sparked a nervous laugh from the blonde, who simply shook his head. "That's for me to know and for you to eventually find out." He smiled.
"What's your name, by the way?"
The question caught Wilbur off guard, though it should have been expected. Much more than anything else, really.
"Wilbur. What's your name?"
"Grian." The man said, facing him completely for a moment to give an over exaggerated bow.
"At your service~"
The smile never left Grian's face. Blonde hair, red clothes, bright smile, he reminded Wilbur so much of Tommy that it burned at his heart, but he kept his words to himself.
The rest of the train ride went by mostly silent, although there were occasional comments from Grian. Something about needing to buy more resources. Whateved it was, Wilbur couldn't be bothered to care too much.
His own thoughts overpowered the sounds of conversation, and he'd respond mostly in nods or hums, his eyes fixated ahead.
Was this real?
Really real?
What if it wasn't?
He shook his head, leaning against the wall only to let out a loud scream and a profanity as he'd accidentally leaned against one of the machine parts of the steam engine, which, due to the running locomotive, was burning hotter than a furnace.
"Oi! Watch your mouth, young man!" Grian scolded pointedly, and Wilbur felt dumbfounded for a brief moment. And for the first time in a long time, he laughed. Genuinely laughed.
Grian looked almost confused, but flashed a smile anyways. "What's got you laughing now???"
"Its nothing--!" Wilbur said, wiping his eye as he grinned. "You just remind me of someone I used to know. And the fact that you called me Young, even though I'm sure I'm older than you."
Grian laughed, crossing his arms. "And how do you know that, hmmm? I could be millions of years old, and you wouldn't know." He said teasingly.
"Yeah yeah, whatever you say, Little Man." Wilbur, in hindsight, probably shouldn't be teasing the man who saved him from endless darkness, but he couldn't help but feel comfortable around him.
The offended look on Grian's face reminded him of Tommy. His eyes widened a little and his mouth hung open in disbelief.
"How DARE you! I'm not short, you're just tall!" Grian whined. "Besides, this isn't even my real form. If you saw my real form, you'd be scared!"
Wilbur laughed again. "Oh yeah, I'd definitely be scared. Why don't you show me then, hmmm?" He asked, tempting fate, and not realizing how true the statement was. Regardless, their brother-like banter continued as the train chugged away through the tunnels.
YOU ARE READING
Watcher's Apprentice
FanfictionA train arrives to Wilbur's station, but in contrast to the modern and sleek design of all the trains that passed, the train was old. It ran on coal with smoke blowing from the top, and carts full of items instead of people. A blonde head poked out...
