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The stench of smoke wafted from the tiny ravine that Wilbur and Tommy had called "home". Wilbur leaned against one of the rough stone walls, holding a cigarette up to his lips, his eyes blank of anything, lost in thought. Tommy had left a while ago, off to get some fresh air instead of the stale air of the cave. Wilbur took another puff from the lit cigarette, breathing out slowly and watching the smoke twirl in the air. He heard someone up from above, assuming it was Tommy he stayed where he was, motionless.
Tommy came down into the cave, coughing slightly at the smoke and looking up at his older brother. He let out a tired sigh, a leaf drifted down out of his messy blonde hair. "Wilbur.." Tommy said, almost whining, "I've asked for you not to smoke in here.. the smell doesn't ever go away." Tommy crossed his arms. Wilbur turned, looking at his brother coldly. "And what exactly are you going to do about it?" He said tauntingly. Tommy looked down at the stone beneath him, not sure on how to respond.
"You were gone for quite some time..." Wilbur said, looking away from Tommy and taking another drag. "The suns gotta be going down by now." Tommy shifted uncomfortably, wanting to leave his older brother's presence. "Wil... it's night, the stars are out..." Tommy said sheepishly.
"What?!" Wilbur went rigid, his eyes snapping to attention at his brother's words, dropping the cigarette and stomping it out before approaching Tommy.
"Why in god's name were you out so late?! Who were you with?!" Wilbur demanded, reaching out a hand to grasp Tommy violently by the collar of his shirt.
"Wil I was just out for a wal-" Wilbur cut him off.
"with who Tommy?! Were you with Tubbo?! I told you not to go near him, what if he's caught?! Then we're all dead!" Wilbur spat the last words, frothing with anger. Tommy coiled at Wilbur's touch, pulling himself away from him.
"I was alone... I just wanted to get out of this god forsaken ravine.." Tommy mustered. Wilbur closed his eyes and sighed, seeming to calm down at that. "I was worried Tommy..." The older looked down at Tommy, guilt in his eyes that had been empty for the past few days.
"It's okay Wil..." Tommy whispered, followed by a small yawn. Wilbur noticed.
"Get some sleep, I'll talk to you in the morning." Wil said softly, putting a hand on Tommy's shoulder. The shorter flinched at the contact but nodded. "I'll see you in the morning wil." And with that they went their separate ways. Tommy thought about the quick dismissal, shoving it to the back of his mind, other thoughts were more important now, the festival was just a few days away after all.
Later that night Tommy tossed and turned, the thin sheets of his bed weren't enough. The cave was cold, his simple t-shirt and pants weren't very warm. He shivered, trying to go back to sleep,he nestled his face down into the bandana around his neck but to no avail did it make him any warmer.
He sat up and pushed the covers off of himself stiffly, Tommy stood and shivered at the lack of the bit of warmth that the sheets had provided him. He started making his way to Wilbur's chambers. His bare feet padded almost silently through the eerie cavern. It's too quiet Tommys mind screams at him, he then realizes that he was there, standing silently outside of Wilber's room. He noted that the door was open a crack. Tommy peered inside, seeing Wilbur's bed and him laying in it. Tommy gingerly walked inside, he swore he could see his breath in the freezing air.
Wilbur wasn't asleep, he lay on his side lost in thought, he was numb to the cold, he had warmer sheets than Tommy did, he lifted himself when he heard Tommy's footsteps on the stone. "Tommy?" Wilbur asked quietly. "What are you doing awake?" Tommy froze, not expecting Wilbur to be up at this time.
"I couldn't sleep..." he muttered. "It's too bloody cold in here..." he said annoyed. Wilbur let out a cold eerie chuckle. He pointed to a chair in front of a desk where his trench coat was hung up messily. Tommy hesitantly reached for it. "Is this okay?" Tommy asked, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Wilbur nodded, the light from outside the door illuminating Wilburs features, which were sharp with exhaustion and dark bags laid under his eyes. "Good night Tommy." Wil said dismissively, laying back down.
Tommy closed the door of Wilburs room carefully before heading off back to his room. Once there he slipped the trench coat on, it was too big on him and it smelled heavily of smoke, Tommy wrinkled his nose at that before climbing back in bed, the coat was warm. Receiving it for the night was more than Tommy had ever dared to dream of.
It had convinced him that deep down he was still the Wilbur that Tommy knew, the kind brother that had raised him, had built a country with him, and had stuck by his side... that was what Tommy told himself while he finally drifted off to sleep, wondering as well how Tubbo was fairing in Manburg.