Wicked 101

The longest day

5/03/2126, Central Glasgow

Willoughby found himself awoken in the morning by Aaron of all people, bustling around his flat and making much more noise than a single person should be able, especially when not in their own home.

'Up, up,' he ordered, gripping Willoughby's arm and pulling him to his feet.

'What the hell do you want, Aaron?' He murmured in reply, rubbing at his eyes with a groan.

'Saviour says that she left her phone here last night.' Aaron said, snatching up pillows from the sofa and throwing them backwards over his shoulder, 'well, did she?'

'I don't know, maybe. Look in the kitchen.'

'I did.'

'Then look- wait, how did you get into my flat?'

'What? Oh, right, it isn't important.'

'I mean, it kind of is.'

'I still have a key from high school,' Aaron gave in, standing up straight and sighing, 'is she sure that she left it here? I've looked all over.'

'How long have you been here?'

'Can you get over the fact that I never gave you your house key back despite you explicitly asking me to multiple times and then breaking in while you slept, and help me find your sisters stupid phone?'

Willoughby stared at him for a minute, opening his mouth to ask for the key back before finding that something was stopping him and walking over to the kettle, peering behind it on the off chance that Saviour's phone might be there before flicking the switch and leaning back against the counter, except completely missing the counter and falling onto the hard floor with a wince.

Aaron laughed at him, mouth turning up in a small smile. 'Got it!' he cried, victorious, 'why the hell was her phone in your underwear drawer?'

'Can you stop looking in my underwear drawer?'

'Yeah, whatever. You should probably address that angry mob outside at some point.'

'What?' Willoughby ran to the window and peered down at the street, where a crowd was slowly gathering at the door to the skyscraper. 'Wait, what?'

'They were yelling stuff about the President,' Aaron popped a piece of gum into his mouth, 'calling you a fraud. Apparently, they found the heir to the throne. I think it might be you. Don't know why I'm acting like I'm not sure. That's exactly what's going on.'

'What? Wait, what?'

'Are you broken?'

Willoughby brushed past Aaron, darting into the elevator and hitting the close button with his fist, but Aaron managed to get in anyway, sliding between the already shutting doors. 'That was rude,' he commented, and then pointed to his bag, 'don't let me forget Saviour's phone is in there.'

'Okay, I'll remind you that Saviour's phone is in your handbag.'

'It is not a handbag, it's a satchel!'

'Nothing wrong with having a handbag, they're handy.'

Willoughby rolled his eyes just as they arrived at the ground floor and the doors opened again. He was immediately bombarded by reporters, clutching their tablets ready to record or copy whatever he said. Whatever he said would be broadcast onto national news. The entire country was watching, they would see it- every move he said, word he spoke. He fought the urge to take Aaron's hand, who leaned over to him, pressing Saviour's phone into his hand and saying, 'actually, if you're heading to work, just take this with you.'