it's all futile

2

trigger warnings listed in first part

☆

wilbur never dresses up. he lives in hoodies and joggers and he likes it that way. if the weather is hot he'll branch out and wear a t-shirt or baggy shorts, but that would be a rare anomaly in the chill of a british winter.

putting on tighter clothes just takes so much effort. picking out a nice outfit requires far too much motivation. even tying his shoelaces makes wilbur feel weighed down and uncomfortable, how can he be expected to want to dress up?

still, all of this aside, wilbur made the effort to put on jeans for his little brother's birthday party. he does a lot of things for his brothers that he would never do for himself.

the change made him feel good, and like he'd finally managed something, but he can't act as though it's not incredibly uncomfortable. the denim material scratches at his skin and leaves him feeling so tightly enclosed. he wants to peel the trousers off and return to the comfort of his joggers but he withholds.

the brunette has just been wasting time in his room while people slowly arrive, trying to stay away from socialising for as long as possible. the 'party' is really just an extended family gathering where they will just mingle, snack, and give the blond presents, and any chance to avoid family being around is one wilbur will take.

his phone works as a great income for entertainment as he listens to the distant noises of people entering the house and sharing greetings. the noise from downstairs is only getting louder, and the previously deafening sound of tommy running about and screaming in excitement has become gradually drowned out by the loud chatting.

wilbur already knows what's coming when he hears footsteps trailing up the stairs and he sits up in preparation, kicking his legs over the side of the bed with a sigh. he pockets his phone in the jeans, which is a horrible sensation as the device presses into his skin through the tight confines of his trousers.

wilbur moves to stand right as two knocks are tapped against his door, followed closely by the sound of his room being entered even though he hasn't had a chance to respond to the knocking yet.

"everyone's here," phil says, offering the brunette a smile that he hardly has the energy to reciprocate. he manages though, for the sake of the older man.

"i'm just coming," wilbur says, stepping over to his desk to grab the present he had gotten tommy. his legs still feel weak from where he'd been beaten up on the way to school the day before, but he thinks he manages to hide it well enough for his dad not to notice.

"how was school today?" his dad asks, leaning against the doorframe. wilbur pretends to move a few things on his desk so he doesn't have to look at his dad even though the blond is clearly trying to look at him.

"good," he answers simply. he reminds himself that only lies have detail, so he withholds details so the older man is less likely to realise he is, indeed, lying.

"that's good, you can tell me more about it later," his dad says. wilbur nods, but he knows he'll find a way out of it. "you can eat after everyone has left, if you want," the man then says, leaning away from the door, preparing for them both to leave as wilbur finally turns to face him, "i mean, if everyone being around will make you uncomfortable."