━━ IT WAS DARK

It was so very dark and cold.

And he knew why.

To Wilbur, you were the fire, and he was the water. You were bright, you burned so bright and captured everyone's attention, but you could also be destructive. Yet, you were warm, and Wilbur liked standing next to you because it made him feel all warm inside. You weren't a force to be melded with, you could be ruthless, burning everything, and that's what Wilbur was there for. He was the water that would embrace you and put out the fire.

But now, now he felt so empty and void.

It hadn't even been that long since Wilbur had been exiled, but it truly felt like an eternity. He had been cleared off the chessboard, a useless pawn swept into Schlatt's clutch and thrown away because he was of no use.

Now here he was, living in a cave with nothing but himself... and Tommy.

But Tommy was so optimistic. He was determined and hyperactive and all the things that gave Wilbur a headache. He tried so hard to be nice to him, to try and calmly deal with his inner demons, but the longer he spends with Tommy the more agitated he becomes. He hates that side of him became he knows Tommy doesn't deserve it.

He's taken care of Tommy since he was a baby.

Phil wasn't always around, and Wilbur seemed to understand that. His dad had work to do, he had to support them, but that didn't mean Wilbur wasn't allowed to despise him just the slightest. All those nights he'd been alone, no sign of his father anywhere.

All his life he'd been the role model, the one taking care of everyone else, so when did he get a break? When did Wilbur finally get to put himself first? When did he get to be in control of his own life?

It felt like all he did was dictate others, and just when he had control, Schlatt took it from him.

So now what? Does he just have to deal with Schlatt controlling? No, no that wasn't Wilbur, he should fight back.

But he had nothing.

Not even you.

It was just him and Tommy.

And Tommy wasn't oblivious to Wilbur, in an attempt to fix his mood, to remove the loneliness from his life (though Tommy believes he's great company), he made a spur of the moment decision and made a call.

The knocking at the door startles Wilbur. "Tommy?" He asked, pickaxe in hand. "Who's at the door?"

Tommy scratches the back of his head, hoping he made the right call, "Technoblade."

Wilbur's face hardens, and he drops his pickaxe to the floor, it clatters against the stone making Tommy wince.

"Techno?"

Tommy knows Techno and Wilbur aren't exactly in the best place.

For a pair of twins, they weren't very close at all. In fact, the last time all three of them had been together as a family, it ended with Wilbur screaming at Techno and Phil.

It had been ugly, and the next day Phil and Techno had left for another excursion so Wilbur did the same, Tommy coming along.

Except Wilbur didn't go back.

"Yes," Tommy said. "I just thought he would be a useful ally, he said he wants to help and maybe you two can make up."

The last part came out as a hushed whisper, Tommy afraid that Wilbur might lash out at him, but he doesn't.

"Okay, fine, speak to him."

Wilbur's tone is bordering on being polite and being snarky.

"Do you not thi—" Tommy began to ask before Wilbur harshly cuts him off.

"Open the door."

"You don't—?"

Wilbur cuts Tommy off again with a loud huff, grabbing his pickaxe off the floor. "I will listen, but I'm not speaking to him. You're talking, you're doing all the talking."

Inside, Tommy does a little victory dance, but outside he just nods, "Alright."

Wilbur stands at the back of the room, brooding as per usual as Tommy opens the door, "Hey Techno."

His older brother stands in front of him, cape and all. His crown is slightly tilted on top of his flowing pink hair. His pig-like face features sticking out to Tommy who hadn't seen him in forever.

Techno gives a small wave, "Hello."

"So... I heard you wanted to join us," Tommy starts hesitantly, glancing briefly at Wilbur in the back, who still looks unimpressed with Tommy.

It was no secret that during the time Wilbur and Tommy had left, Techno had created quite the name for himself. He was one of the few people to ever have beaten Dream in a battle, which makes him incredibly valuable to them. He was the key to getting L'manberg back, so why couldn't Wilbur see that? Was he that blinded by his resentment?

"Well, I saw there was a possibility of like thwarting democratically elected governments and I was like 'oh man, I'm up for that.'"

Tommy grins, feeling like he's finally done something good while he's been here. He grabs Techno's arm, bringing him outside and closing the door.

"Techno..." Tommy said, lowering his voice to a whisper, "Wilbur's a bit sensitive right now. His little girlfriend or whatever just betrayed him, and he's taken it personally and he may or may not still be mad at you for... you know."

Techno nods, "That's understandable, but uh... girlfriend?"

"Oh yeah, you know it's quite complicated between the two of them. He's properly in love with her though, lovely lady she is."

"Doesn't sound like it if she betrayed him."

"Funny thing, she didn't, I mean she's Schlatt's daughter or some shit, I wouldn't say she had much of a choice."

Techno hums, "Well, who knows she may be willing to help."

"I reckon her and Tubbo would make good spies."

Before Techno can ask who Tubbo is, the door to the sad dirt shack that was now Tommy and Wilbur's home swings open.

"Techno, if I were to let you on our side would you train us... to fight back?" Wilbur asked, hesitating on the last three words.

Techno blinks, "I would."

"Tommy, we need to construct a barracks and we need to make it hidden," Wilbur instructed, "we need to keep it underground any training facilities Techno needs, I want built, and then I want us to practice."

Tommy nods, giving Wilbur a salute, happy to see his brother out of his funk.

"Tommyinnit, we need to take back L'manberg."

Techno smirks, leaning on his sword, "Did someone say rebellion?"

...

"Dream wants to meet with you."

You grab the handle to the door, pushing it open as the masked man turns around to face you.

"Hello," He greeted, the two points on his mask that are supposed to represent his eyes boring into yours.

"Hello, Dream," You replied, your voice echoing off the stone walls of Eret's castle.

He gestures toward a table in the center of the room, pulling out a chair for you as you tentatively sit down. He sits across from you, leaning back in his chair as he tilts his head ever so slightly at you. His posture screams power, and even then the way he's looking at you makes you feel like he's belittling you.

"So," He starts, "how's Manberg?"

You narrow your eyes at him, he wasn't exactly one for small talk, but you humor him with a reply. "It's fine, thank you for asking."

Dream pushes up his mask ever so slightly, leaning forward and clasping his hands together. "I'm going to get straight to the point."

"Please do."

"I don't like Schlatt, and I'm going to take a wild guess and say you don't either."

You raise an eyebrow in question. Where exactly could he be going with this? What could Dream possibly want that he doesn't already have? It seemed to you that Dream and Schlatt would make the perfect pair, both of them ruthless leaders with a need for power. Schlatt had exiled the very people that started L'manberg, that started the war that Dream could've lost. They should be best friends, making deals in secret about how they can take back what is rightfully theirs, but maybe that's it. Maybe it's that Schlatt is more powerful than Dream and he feels threatened.

That would be a sight to see.

"What makes you say that?" You asked.

"Well," Dream said in that condescending tone of his. "Call it a hunch, but if you did you wouldn't still be sitting here, would you?"

You lean back in your chair, lips pursed, "What do you want?"

Dream smirks behind his mask, "Schlatt wants land, land that rightfully belongs to the SMP."

"And?"

"And he's a tyrant, but he's a democratically elected leader, so I can't overthrow him."

"So, what do you want me to do?"

Dream reaches behind him, grabbing his beloved crossbow and a notebook. He drops them on the table in front of you, a loud clattering sound echoing through the room.

"Help me," He shrugged.

"Why would I—"

Dream cuts you off, "You and I both know Schlatt is only in it for himself. So you can either sit back and watch him tear your country apart. Or you help me."

The way he says it sounds more like a threat, but you know Dream's right. Schlatt was already making changes to Manberg, changes that no one in his cabinet had approved. He was reckless and a tyrant, greedy for power.

Dream extends his hand over the table, "Do we have a deal?"

You firmly grasp his hand, feeling the soft fabric of his gloves against your palm, "Where do I start?"

...

"Do you think they'll want to see us?" Tubbo asked, staring at the sign above the door that read Pogtopia.

You bite your lip, "I don't know, but it's not like we have much of a choice."

Dream's instructions were clear, give the crossbow and note to Wilbur. You were going to protest, but then you decided against it. For two reasons, the first being you weren't about to disagree with Dream, and the second being you could see Wilbur.

Wilbur who had been exiled, Wilbur who probably wanted nothing to do with you, Wilbur who you cared for.

Wilbur, who deserved an apology.

Tubbo makes the first move, knocking on the door and waiting for a response. When he doesn't get one he starts shouting, but there's still nothing. Eventually, he just grabs the handle and pushes it open.

The room is small, too small for two boys to fit in it. There's a furnace, a bed, and an Enderchest, all dimly lit with a torch.

But most importantly, there was a spiral staircase leading downstairs.

"Ladies first," Tubbo said, gesturing to the staircase.

You shake your head, taking a step back, "No, I think I'll pass."

Tubbo stares at you, and you stare back with the same look, your eyes speaking for you.

"I don't wanna!" He whines as you roll your eyes.

"Well, I don't either!"

"But you're my big sister, you're supposed to protect me."

"And you're my little brother, the sacrifice."

Tubbo huffs, glaring at you as you smile innocently at him.

"You owe me."

"I love you."

"Screw you," He said, beginning the descent into the unknown. You follow close behind, drawing your sword in case any mobs try and attack you. The staircase leads down into what you assume is a cave, the stone walls cold and rough against your arm as you squeeze down the tight staircase.

There's barely any light and you're careful not to trip and fall. When you reach the end of the stairs, Tubbo gasps staring down into the depths of what wasn't a cave, but a ravine. Torches line the walls, cobblestone and wood bridges guiding you down the rest of the way.

"Hello?" Tubbo called.

This had to be where they were.

"Tubbo?" Came an excited voice.

"Who the hell is Tubbo?" Came another.

A head peeks around the corner, his blonde hair falling into his eyes that light up when he sees his best friend.

"Tubbo!" He shouts, running forward and hugging him, "You came!"

Tubbo hugs his best friend tightly, relief flooding him knowing he's alive.

"Of course I did."

"You're never going to believe this," Tommy said excitedly. "Guess who came to help?"

"Who?"

"Tommy, where's Wilbur?" You interrupt, still looking around the ravine for him.

Tommy points toward the corner of the room, "probably in his room there."

You give him a nod of thanks and head towards there, passing a man with pink hair on your way, you would have to talk to him later.

You knock on the door, praying Wilbur will open the door and he does. He looks different from the last time you saw him. He had shredded his revolutionary uniform and instead replaced it with a brown coat and black cape over his shoulders. He has dark bags under his eyes, and his hair is ruffled, he doesn't look like he's slept in days.

"Wilbur..." You said, at a loss of words. He looked so different from yesterday, from the day you first met.

His gaze is hard, eyes narrowed but he makes no effort to close the door or push you away so you take the opportunity to push past him and shut the door yourself.

"Can we talk?"

Wilbur shrugs, making a gesture with his arm to continue talking.

You shuffle on your feet as the tension in the room weighs on your shoulders.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," You start. "I know I should've, but I was hoping to move here, and I don't know, forget everything."

The last part comes out more like a question than a statement because it was. You knew you could never forget your past, after all, it defined who you were, so why were you here?

"I didn't know this would happen, and if I did I would've stayed far away. I didn't even tell Schlatt—"

"Stop," Wilbur demanded, "Stop it, don't just don't say his name."

"Sorry," You said quickly, knowing very well that you were treading on thin ice with him.

"I don't know what you're thinking, if you're mad at me."

If you hadn't left, Wilbur and Tommy could have lived their lives out in peace here, they wouldn't have to be exiled and fighting for their lives in a cold, dark ravine. How could you think you could escape your past? It just doesn't disappear, and running away won't change what has already happened. Running away never solves anything.

You knew that now.

"And I'm not going to tell you how to feel, but trust me, please? I'm on your side, I always am. It's going to take more than him coming back to change that. We can fight this war together, Wilbur."

You stick your hand out, hoping he'll shake it. Hoping he'll accept your apology.

But Wilbur stares blankly at it, silence filling the space between you. He knows you're right, this wasn't your fault. He just wanted someone to blame. The real issue was Schlatt, and if he wanted to overthrow him he needed you on his side.

Wilbur grabs your hand, but instead of shaking it he pulls you to his chest, hugging you tightly. Your friendship, or whatever this was, runs deeper than his ties to L'manberg.

In the midst of the darkness and the cold of the cave, with you in his arms, Wilbur finally feels a bit more alive and at home.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
wc; 2.5K
song inspo: who by lauv (ft. BTS)
Originally published: February 14th, 2021 5:26pm

happy valentines day!! sorry for the last update, writers block hit hard. I promise the next few chapters are going to get good.

as always, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this and what's to come because believe me, you aren't ready >:)