Chapter Text
Wilbur Soot watched the city pass by from the backseat.
They passed by one of the old churches and he spotted a homeless person sitting on the steps, he looked away as he felt pity pinch him. He looked towords the front seats and noticed Philza turning left. Technoblade sat in the passenger's seat and was typing on his phone.
Wilbur was invited to go to a food truck event with the two. The two claimed it to be called a food truck expo.
That is how he was here, sitting in the backseat of Philza's old car, wanting to just go back home and smoke a few cigarettes to get rid of the anxiety pressing into his bones. He had smoked one before he was picked up. It wasn't enough to calm him down. Not in the way he needed it to.
Philza had called him a few days beforehand to ask if he wanted to join him and Technoblade to a food truck event that coming weekend. Wilbur had agreed, but he was not prepared once the day had come. He had looked into the mirror this morning and noticed the growing eye bags he had. He ignored it and brushed his teeth. Which had been pointless later on when he had a cigarette.
The car pulled into a plaza. Philza asked if they wanted anything from the coffee shop. Technblade told him a cup of coffee with room for cream and sugar. Philza nodded and turned back to him.
"Anything for you, mate? I'm paying by the way." Philza informed him. Wilbur told him to just get him the same thing as Technoblade. Philza nodded and got out.
He watched as the blonde held a door open for a mother and father and their overly excited child. He noticed the way Philza's shoulder sank a little at the little family, but as soon as they had sank, they went back and he walked in.
There were a lot of people there at seven in the morning. It made Wilbur want to curl up in the backseat and not leave the car. So, he picked up his phone and opened it.
There were notifications from social media and a text from his boss. He looked at the message from his boss. He took a deep breath when he felt the small tremble in his hands. Not noticeable to someone looking at him, but he felt it.
He hated it.
The text was a simple thing, asking if he could take over s shift for her nephew the next evening. He gave a plain answer, telling her he would. He looked at the media notifications. Nothing new, at least, not for Wilbur.
The same old news on hybrid potions and a new group of people found making illegal potions with the features of hybrids. Wilbur thought it was pointless and cruel to do that to a person. Use them to make potions just to make a little extra cash.
He closed the media app and just stared at the wallpaper on his phone. A band he enjoyed listening to. Something that he thought would make him smile when he picked it. Now it just looked back at him and felt like it was taunting him with how he should be making music, and how he did other things with his time.
The car dinged with the door opening. He turned his phone off as Philza handed the drink carrier to Technoblade.
"Fuck, it was packed in there. I'm surprised I got out when I did." Philza commented.
He got back into the car, putting his seatbelt back on. Clicking it into place and the sound echoed quietly in Wilbur's mind.
Technoblade grabbed a cup of coffee and took a sip. Philza took the carrier back. He grabbed one of the cups and handed it back to Wilbur with a soft smile.
Wilbur took it from the blonde and thanked him. Philza hummed and took a sip of his own coffee. Discarding the carrier to the back of his seat on the floor.
Wilbur took a sip of his own coffee. He winced at the hot drink. It burned the tip of his tongue. He took another sip, letting the drink burn his mouth a little more.
A distraction from the presser in his chest as the car started up again.
The car ride was quiet for the most part. Philza had put on the radio and Technoblade just typed away on his phone. Wilbur had put his earbuds in, listening to his music. He didn't mind listening to the radio, but Philza put on a weird station and he simply was not interested in it. No harm done if he listened to his music.
The drive was longer than Wilbur had originally thought. He watched as the city faded away into more farm lands. Small farm stores scattered, random roads leading to houses or runned down looking neighborhoods.
The sky that day was mostly covered in white clouds. Looking like cotton in the sky, looking fuzzy and squashy. The blue was a pretty color too. Wilbur watched as the world passed by.
When they finally got to the event. The first thing Wilbur noticed was all the people .
People scattered like ants. The food trucks were in a big circle. Tables and chairs were set up in the middle for people to have a spot to sit and eat. Even though it was hot as hell that day, there were people already sitting around tables and talking to one another, laughing and enjoying their time there.
Wilbur felt the dread sink into him. It was slow and he was aware of every little part of him it touched. All of those people. So close to him, all those eyes on him. Watching him and tracking him with their cruel gazes.
Wilbur took in a shaky breath as Philza and Technoblade got out of the car. He got out and tried to ignore the urge to get back in the car and stay there. He had come all this way, had used up space in Philza's car and the blonde bought him coffee. He could shove down the anxiety for now. For them at least.
He needed a cigarette first.
"Hey, Philza. If you and Technoblade wanna go ahead and find a table that is fine with me, I'm gonna have a smoke really quick." Wilbur said.
He felt the way the pack of cigarettes and lighter weighed down in his pocket. Philza held his arms over his head and stretched, arching his back.
"Sure, mate. Whatever you want to do. If you can't find us then just call or text."
"Alright. I'll meet up with you guys in a bit." He said, reaching for the lighter and the pack. Philza nodded at him. Wilbur paid them no mind as they walked into the crowd.
Wilbur took a deep breath as he pulled out the pack and lighter. He opened it, and sighed.
He had only about six left. He would need to go get more tonight. He would have enough for about half the day, so he would spare them the best he could.
He pulled out a cigarette. Tucking the rest of the pack back in his pocket, he pressed down on the lighter and cupped his hand over the flame as he brought it to the cigarette. The tip of it caught the flame and he sucked in the first breath of relief.
He felt the way it went in his mouth, down his throat and into his lungs. He could feel the way the tar settled in. Onto the walls of his lungs, making its welcome known. He looked back at the crowd of people as he exhaled the smoke.
With each inhale and exhale of the smoke, Wilbur could feel himself calming down. Slowly, he was beginning to relax. The presser before was now just a small lightweight for him now. He leaned back into the car as he flicked a bit of ash off the cigarette.
He took a drag of the smoke and let it out, shooting it out. He watched as the smoke curled up and just as soon as it was in the air, it was gone. As soon as it was gone, he was taking another inhale of the only thing keeping him calm at that moment.
He closed his eyes as the familiar feeling wrapped around him.
It was just him, at that moment. No one else. No one to look at him. No one was there to talk to him. To interrupt the only time where he felt calm. It was just him.
That was until he heard laughing behind him, and a familiar voice calling out to him.
"Hey, Wilbur!" His boss, Niki, called from behind him.
He opened his eyes and turned around. He saw that her nephew was with her, and his friend. He exhaled the smoke out of his nose.
"Hey, Niki. How's it going?" He asked.
"Just thought it would be nice to get out of the bakery for today. Brought these two knuckle heads along as well." She giggled as she pointed over her shoulder at the two teens.
Her nephew was tall, taller than Wilbur. He had his hair split down the middle with two different colors, black and white. He had sunglasses on and a plain black mask. How he wasn’t dying from the heat, Wilbur did not know.
The other teen was very much noticeable, shorter than the other, he was around the height of the shoulder of the taller one. He wore blue jeans and some sort of graphic t-shirt about a bee.
"Are you here with anyone?" Niki asked as she came around the car to face Wilbur. He flicked the ash off cigarette.
"I'm here with Philza and Technoblade. They wouldn’t shut up about the food that was he, the last time they came. Had to drag me along as well.” He chuckled
"I might go and find them, because I haven't been to one of these myself." She said, Briefly sweeping her eyes over the ocean of people as she seemed to try and find where the two were.
"I was about to head out and find them," he started, "I was just having a smoke before." He flicked his head into view, the cigarette between his pointer and middle fingers. Her eyes trailed down to the cigarette. Her mouth formed an 'o' as she understood. She gave a little shrug and a smile.
There was more laughing, then before, behind Wilbur. He turned to see the two teens looking down at the shorter one's phone.
"Come one, Ranboo, this is funny!" The shorter one protested.
"Tubbo, I really don't get how this is funny." The taller one, Ranboo just looked down at the phone, he was clearly unimpressed at whatever was on the screen. The shorter one- Tubbo, glared up at his friend.
"Fine, we shall ask him then." That was when the teen made eye contact with him. The intensity that was in the eyes of this child was scary. Wilbur felt himself tense up. There was a giggle from Niki. The two walked over to him and Niki.
"You, big man with a cigarette. Tell me what you think of this. My dear friend over here doesn't think it is funny. He," Tubbo pointed at Ranboo. "thinks isn't funny." Tubbo explained then, without warning, shoved the phone into his face.
It was some sort of video of the president of Manburg being smacked in the face with a cream pie. The president blinked a few times, wiping the pie from his face, then lunging for the person who had thrown it at his face.
Tubbo was watching it again as he showed Wilbur. He chuckled at the scream the camera man made as the video cut off.
"Yeah that was pretty funny." He said, he took another puff of his cigarette. Tubbo cheered and Ranboo just sighed again, the two talking about the video again. They debated over it again, making their way into the circle of food trucks. He let the puff of smoke out, and ignored how Niki seemed to hold her breath.
Wilbur brought the bottom of his shoe up and smashed the tip of the cigarette on it. He flicked it to the ground. He felt Niki's eyes trail his every move.
He felt like bugs were crawling up his arms. Zigging up his arms crawling to his neck. The bugs wanting to bury themselves into his skin and stay their and eat away at his flesh and bones. He shoved his hands into his pockets. He looked back to the crowd and mentally groaned at the thought of even trying to find where Philza and Technoblade were.
"I better start looking for Philza and Technoblade." Wilbur stated as he looked back at Niki, she gave him a nod and a smile. She said nothing about him smoking. How she clearly didn't like seeing him smoke.
"Tell them I said hi."
He watched as she turned around and followed her nephew and his friend.
Wilbur closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh air. It felt strange to have it in his lungs along with the smoke still lingering in his body.
━━▲━━
After about a couple of confusing texts and two phone calls, Wilbur finally found Philza and Technoblade. They sat at a table that was set up under a tree in the shade. Laughing together about something. Some sort of cinnamon roll half eaten sat in front of Technoblade.
Wilbur huffed as he sat down next to Philza.
"Hey, mate. Glad you finally found us." Philza chuckled.
"Yeah no kidding. There are so many people here. Why are there so many people here this morning?" Wilbur glared out at the crowd.
So many people were here, it was too early to be around this many people. People with colorful summer outfits. Hair that was strangely colored and styled. Others looked like Wilbur, tired.
"Tell me about it. I had to wait for about ten minutes just to see what was on the menu. I didn't even get anything." Technoblade added on to the complaining. Wilbur looked at Technoblade.
He was wearing the same old collage shirt he always seemed to wear. His pink shoulder length hair was half-way pulled up. The beginning of a beard forming on his face, a little patchy, but it would even out in time. The tips of his tusks sticking out from his lower lip. A piglin hybrid.
Technoblade wasn't the only hybrid Wilbur knew. He was just one of the few who didn't try to hide his animal-like features.
Hybrids hid their unique features, because they were scared of what people would do to them. It wasn't uncommon for a person, recorded as a hybrid, to go missing.It was discovered, about fifty or so years ago, that using certain features from a hybrid, a person could make potions. It was outlawed the moment it was discovered, but when did the law ever stop anyone from doing something they shouldn’t. That was why hybrids were scared. That was why their parents told their children to hide away the scales on their skin. Why, some people have strange, big hats, in the dead heat of the summer.
All to hide themselves from the world and to escape the greed of people.
Scales from a mer crushed to make beauty potions. The fine tuff hair from an ender or piglin sprinkled to make strength potions or potions to help one be stealthy. A feather from an avian crushed into tiny pieces for potions to make you run faster. The list went on and the more things you added the more dangerous it became.
"Well, if you two hermits are just gonna stay here, I'm gonna head over to that truck with the weird looking bird and avocado on it." Philza announced. "You two are welcome to join me, if you want."
He stood up and started making his way to the truck. It was all the way across the circle from them. All those people between the three of them.
"Uh, no thanks." Wilbur declined.
“I’ll catch up with you later, Phil. I’m gonna head out and see what potato things they have here this year.”
Philza waved as he walked off into the array of people. Leaving Wilbur with Technoblade, who was eating the rest of the cinnamon roll.
Wilbur's eyes just traveled over the heads of strangers. He knew they were all looking at him, when his head was turned, eyes zoning in on him. Targeting him with their unfair thoughts about every little thing about him.
A chill ran up his spin with the thought of his every moved tracked. Technoblade raised an eyebrow at him, but said nothing. Wilbur just looked away and looked at the trucks.
A sunset pink one with outlined palm trees and a pineapple with sunglasses, were selling some sort of tropical drinks. It was parked behind the table the two sat at. Farther out, there was a white one with a large cartoon donut holding a stick with a red bag on it. The donut was walking down a trail whistling. People were lined up far from that one.
Wilbur gazed back out, to where Philza was headed, there was a dark gray truck with fire on the bottom coming up. A flame logo, cartoon like the donut, had a pissed face on the side. Graffiti style words spelled out "Fire Flavors."
However, the truck was closed.
He looked more at the trucks and noticed that, more than just the one. Trucks were still closed. The ones that were opened were things you would have in the morning. The donut truck. An orange truck with some sort of waffle sandwiches. A yellow truck selling bagels with many different things to add. A smaller metal truck with 'Coffee' spelled over it.
‘Looks like we didn't have to stop before to get coffee.’ Wilbur thought to himself as he began to realize that most of the trucks opened were breakfast related. Wilbur would laugh if he saw a cereal truck.
"Say, Technoblade. How long does this event go for?" Wilbur asked as he noticed Technoblade getting up.
"Uhh, well last time it went around, I don't know, maybe seven?" He replied.
Wilbur's stomach dropped.
"Do...do you think it will end at seven again?" Wilbur held a bit of his shirt in his fist.
Just to help ground him, because that meant he would be here all day. All day he would be stuck with people swarming around him like bees. Buzzing in his ear. Tracking him to see if he would get close to them.
It would be too much. He only had enough cigarettes left in his pack for maybe half a day.
"Nah, it should end around four this year." Technoblade said as he got up and walked over to the trash can near the sunset truck. He threw away his trash and opened his phone as he came back.
"I'm gonna see what some of the trucks have to offer with their potatoes, breakfast, stuff." He didn't look away from his phone. "You are welcome to join me if you want."
Wilbur got up and took a step out to the crowd of the eyes, that he already felt the stares lingering on him.
"Yeah, I'll join you." Wilbur said as he pulled out his phone as well.
Not even going to check it. Just to have as a comfort, something to distract himself while he was around people. Technoblade looked up and turned his phone off. He walked up to Wilbur and stood next to him.
Wilbur took a small breath of the clear morning air, the smell of different foods linger in the air as well, making him feel a little sick.
It was gonna be a long day for sure.
━━▲━━
It was around twelve when the lunch trucks started opening up. The breakfast ones closed, some stayed open like the donut truck and the coffee truck. Most of the drink trucks stayed open, which was nice, and would help with the increasing summer heat.
Wilbur and Technoblade had joined backup with Philza half-way in their journey of finding good breakfast foods. Which, as you could probably guess, were mostly just something to do with a potato.
Wilbur mostly shared with Technoblade and he would give the other comments on which ones he liked better. Technoblade would always find something to complain about. Something about it being too cold, or not cooked enough, or just from looking at it he had decided it wasn't good. He still ate it all though.
The two had liked most of what they had found. Some were better than others. A hashbrown bowl mixed in with whatever toppings you chose. Grilled potatoes with eggs and sausage.
After they were reunited with Philza, they sat back down at the table under the tree. The three had been chatting about nothing, mostly Philza talking about his newest project he started.
Niki, Ranboo, and Tubbo had joined the three at one point.
That was where Wilbur was now.
He was sitting between Philza and Niki. Philza on his right and Niki on his left. Technoblade was on the opposite side of the table, Tubbo and Ranboo were talking about a new update on a game they liked. Technoblade was talking with Niki about the newest thing in the bakery. Philza had tried talking with Wilbur, but he got distracted with something on his phone.
That left Wilbur alone with himself.
You're probably thinking something along the lines of, 'Silly Wilbur, just sit on your phone like Philza.' Now dear reader. While it was true that he could sit on his phone and hide away with his problems. He had tried, but there was a tremble cramped into his bones. So subtle that no one would notice.
Wilbur had noticed because it wasn't just his hands trembling. His skin buzzed and he felt a weight on his chest with each small breath he took. His eyes would dart from one thing to another, zigging like the thoughts in his head.
His leg was bouncing under the table. He was chewing a tiny bit on the inside of his lower lip. He picked at his shirt, twisting it, pinching it and rolling it between his fingers.
He wanted to leave. To get out of there and away from all the eyes . He would just sit and wait in the car. Alone without anyone near him. Not bothering anyone with his presence.
He needed to smoke. To get away.
However, he was trapped. Between Philza and Niki. With the stares burning into his every movement. He couldn't leave yet. He would have to wait.
Philza gave him a side look and noticed him fidgeting and bouncing leg.
"Hey, mate. Are you alright there?"
Wilbur jumped a little at hearing that. He looked at Philza, who had put his phone away and had his arms crossed resting them on the table.
"Oh, um, yeah I'm fine. Just kinda thinking...thinking about what to get for lunch." Wilbur gave a tottering smile to the blonde. He smiled back, and it was kind
Philza’s smiles were always kind.
"It is about time we find something to eat for lunch. What'cha in the mood for?" Philza asked him. Wilbur knew what he was doing-
"Uhhh." Wilbur looked over Niki’s head. He noticed the gray truck with the flames was now open. Not many people around it.
"Maybe that place over there? Fire flavors?"
Wilbur felt his shoulders wanting to hunch up like how they used to when he was a teen. Philza leaned forward and looked over to it. He tilted his head to get a better view.
"Fire Flavors? Yeah, why not." Philza smiled and reached down to get his wallet.
"Here, go get what you want," He handed Wilbur his card. "If you see something on the menu that you think I would like, then just go ahead and get it."
"O-okay." Wilbur took the card. He ignored the shake his body held. He nodded and got up.
He stared at the wave of people.
Limbs feeling heavy and breaths let up. Restlessness embedded in his skin, making his eyelid twitch. A headache began to press on his skull. His shoulders twitched. However ,he walked into the mob. He eyed the trampled grass as he watched his steps.
It felt like forever to get to the truck. He would glance up to see it getting closer. It got closer and he weaved between people. Everybody was too close to him, too many people bumping into his shoulder. Children screaming and running around without a care in the world. People laughing together.
He passed by a table filled with girls giggling. He caught a side-eye thrown towards him. He walked past the table and they all began to giggle. He knew that they were laughing at him.
His breath was beginning to get caught but he fought it to breath,
In one moment he was at the table with his little group. In the next he was standing in line to the truck.
There were a few people in line ahead of him. His breath wanted to slip away, but he took a shaky breath.
He saw the menu to see what they had. There were little drawings of the most popular meals. A spicy chicken sandwich. Fries with some sort of special hot sauce. Hot wings. The name was beginning to make even more sense now.
Workers rushing around in the truck. Shouts echoing about a new order. Clicking metal and the tiny sizzle of a grill, the boiling of a friar. The sounds of a kitchen, a cramp and narrow one. But there were also laughs and chit-chat going on. A sign that the workers were at least kind of wanting to be there.
The line got shorter, as the few people there got their orders taken. The guy before him left and Wilbur walked up to the window. Just as soon as he walked up, the person taking orders left. Wilbur huffed but waited. He looked at the menu.
He figured he would just get some fries and the sandwiches. He hoped Philza wouldn’t mind because he was not going to change his mind now.
Wilbur was tempted to rest his arms on the little metal seal in front of the window. It was a tiny space, only enough room for a cup of plastic forks and a tip jar. The tip jar had the little logo on it and said. "tip if you aren't a loser." Wilbur raised a brow at that.
There was a shout and Wilbur jumped at it. Someone was yelling out to one of the workers. Someone yelled something back. Wilbur figured it was the owner of the truck talking to one of his employees.
Wilbur tried to suppress the sign wanting to come out. He just wanted to get the food and leave. The sooner this was over meant that the day would be over soon. He could have a smoke and then sleep.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm going ." The snarky reply came. It sounded like an annoyed teenager talking to their parents or relatives. The person, who was taking orders from before, came back to the window.
Wilbur didn't get a good view before, but now, he could clearly see that this was a teenager. An annoyed one too, but to Wilbur's surprise, the teen schooled his face into a smile when he saw Wilbur.
The teen had blonde hair that was longer, it waved around his face. Blue eyes stared at him, waiting for him to speak out. Blue eyes that reminded him of the sky after a rain storm. The teen also reminded Wilbur of Philza.
The teen’s smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Ya gonna keep looking at me or order something?" The teen remarked, his smile faltering a little. The teen's eyes darted to the tip jar and then over Wilbur's shoulder. A silent question in his eyes. Asking and wondering if Wilbur was gonna leave a small tip.
This kid did not act like Philza. At least the older blonde knew how to keep eye contact and would laugh when saying something snippy to Wilbur.
Wilbur’s eyes wandered to the menu, unsure of himself.
"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry-" Wilbur didn't get to finish apologizing, because the teen was quick to interrupt him.
"Oh no worries, big man. I'm very handsome, I know. Anyway, enough about me, what do you want to order?" The teen continued as if he didn't just complement himself.
Wilbur cleared his throat. He held Philza's card in his hand and pinched his shirt. He glanced at the menu just to double check what he wanted to get. It was a small task but it felt like he was being forced to make a life or death choice.
"Come on, man. I don’t have all day." The teen said and Wilbur noticed how the blonde flicked the pen he was holding onto his many bracelets. Bracelets covered his wrists. Beaded ones, braided thread ones, and a thick black leather one on his right wrist. Along with a watch on his left.
"Right. Could I get two of your spiced chicken sandwiches and one of your large fries." Wilbur's voice was flat as he answered. The teen nodded and started writing on the little notepad he had.
"Uh huh, with or without the sauce on the fries?" He practically glared up at Wilbur. The look made his inside twist with anxiety. His palms felt sweaty, even though he was just asked about sauce.
"With the sauce."
The kid nodded with a hummed.
There was no warning for what happened next. The teen turned around cupping his hand around his mouth.
"Sapnap! I need two number threes and one large fry!" The teen screamed . Wilbur jumped and there was an angry shout in response.
The teen turned back around and told Wilbur the total for the order. Acting as if he just didn't scream in the middle of the day.
Wilbur handed the blonde the card and he just looked at it for a moment, noticing the heart on the card. Then he swiped it on the keypad.
"It's gonna be about ten minutes. You can stand over here or go back to where ever the fuck you come from." The teen rested his arm on the window seal and pointed to Wilbur's right. There were the few people from before, waiting for their order to be called.
Wilbur didn't know what to do with himself. He felt mildly offended that this kid would act like that, he should know better.
He rolled his eyes and gave a half-hearted thanks to the teen. He turned to walk away and wait for the food.
The little “Rude Prick.” was heard right away. Wilbur whirled his head around and glared at the teen.
Normally he would have laughed at the teen acting like this. But he really needed a smoke and he was not gonna get one anytime soon.
"What the fuck did you just call me?" Wilbur asked the teen.
The teen realized he was heard. He tensed up and he clenched his jaw. He looked behind him and called out.
"Um what was that? You need help with the fryer? Okay, I'm coming!”
Wilbur gaped as the teen just walked back into the truck. He blinked a few times, he couldn't believe what just happened. It was so rude and yet nothing even happened. Wilbur’s mouth hung open a little but he went to wait for his food.
He couldn't wait for a smoke.
He opened his phone while he waited for his order to be called.
He saw the news about some sort of new potion bust that happened downtown. It was closer to his apartment building than he felt comfortable with. The article said that someone had bought potions and was caught before they could get away with the illegal substance. The dealer, or the maker of the potion, had gotten away.
It was normal for the maker of potions to sell them on the streets, but if the maker was smart, they would have middle men to sell the potion.
Potions were like drugs. Drugs were far less expensive, but potions tended to be more addictive for people. The raw power and reaction was something that people claimed to be a 'heavenly feeling'. With also being like drugs, the potions were used for medical purposes. Such as healing, and there were some hybrids who wanted to help and gave themselves to be used to be a change in the world.
It changed the world, but still it wasn't enough to help the hybrids who wanted to be left alone.
Wilbur closed the article and went to a social media app. He felt bad for the hybrids who had gotten caught and were abused-
"Order of two number threes and a large fry!" Someone called out.
Wilbur put his phone back in his pocket, noticing he was the only one standing now. He walked back to the window, and thanked the woman who gave him the food.
Wilbur didn't see the teen again as he left.
He balanced the sandwiches, which were wrapped in foil, in one hand and the fries in another. They were hot and close to burning his hand. It helped his focus on trying to get back to the table as he walked back through the crowd of people.
He weaved between tables and people. He almost tripped over a toddler that ran away when her mother wasn't looking. When he made it back to the table, Philza was the only one there.
"Oh that looks good. What did you get?" He said as he put his phone back in his pocket. Wilbur sat the food down and sat across from the blonde.
"Just some spicy chicken sandwiches and then fries with some sort of sauce as well." Wilbur replied as he opened his sandwich. Philza hummed as he picked up a fry.
"Say, this ain't that bad. You picked a good place." He complimented Wilbur and went for a few more of the fries.
Wilbur felt his cheeks warm up a little but he ignored the warmth and the flutter in his chest. In Favor to biting into his lunch, he was surprised to find it tasted good.
"Food wise maybe, but the server who took my order was a little bitch." Wilbur commented about the teen as he took another bite of the sandwich.
The sandwich wasn't spicy at first, it had a sweet tang to it, then the spice came as a sort of after taste and it mixed well with each flavor. The chicken was thick and juicy, even the crunch from the breading was good.
One of the best sandwiches Wilbur has ever had. He grabbed a few fries as well.
"How were they a bitch?" Philza asked as he took a bite of his sandwich. Grabbing a few more fries as well.
"He called himself handsome, gave me no warning before he screamed my order, then called me, and I quote, "Rude prick" as I'm walking away." Wilbur side-eyed to where the truck was. He could probably see the teen if he looked hard enough.
Philza just laughed at the dramatics. He threw his head back as he laughed. He won a few looks at them as well. Wilbur fought the shiver wanting to run up his spine. The knowledge of all those eyes looking at him-
"It's not that funny." Wilbur grumbled as ate some fries.
"Come on, yes it is. A kid called you a rude prick. That is funny." Philza wheezed as he wiped a tear from his eye.
Wilbur mumbled under his breath and ate his food.
He wanted the day to be over with, already. He wanted to smoke and get away . Away from the crowd and the eyes that he knew were on him. He wanted to be back in his apartment and smoke.
"Where are the others?" Wilbur asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.
"Techno took the boys to get some sort of food they heard about. He didn't seem thrilled but he went anyway. Niki went to go and talk to one of the owners of a truck. I think the bakery one." Philza said as he crumpled the foil from his sandwich. He had finished, while Wilbur was barely even done with his own.
Wilbur hummed and wrapped up his sandwich. He didn't want to finish eating, his appetite slipping away from him the more he thought about the eyes on him. He noticed the way Philza raised a brow at him wrapping up what was left of his food, but the blonde said nothing
Philza was always like that to him. Even when Wilbur was a real bitch. Philza was always calm with him, always understanding or trying to understand when he didn't. Wilbur was always a problem for the blonde, and yet he never turned the other cheek to him. He always smiled or laughed. Even when Wilbur still called him 'Philza' and never simply 'Phil' . Wilbur didn't want to let himself be comfortable like that. He couldn't be, even after these past few years. He wouldn't do that to Philza. If Wilbur had to be gone from his or Technoblade lives, he would. He could slip away like he was never there.
Even when they had given him everything and more.
"Man, the heat is hitting me now. Say why don't we go get those drinks from that tropical looking truck. Saw the line pretty long while you were gone." Philza offered as he stood up.
"Sure." He mumbled.
Philza had been right about the heat hitting him now. It was a little uncomfortable, but it helped to distract him-
Wilbur wondered what it would be like if he had never met Philza. Maybe he would have ended up in a horrible place. He might even be on the streets if he had never met Philza. If he had never met the blonde then he would have given up a long time again. He would have not see any other validation to keep going. To keep fighting this day to day battle with himself. Now he had a reason. Not a good one it was still a reason.
He just had to keep going to repay the kindness he was shown.
"You coming?" Philza asked as he had that same, damning, kind smile.
Wilbur took a deep breath and tried to control the way his body wanted to just shake and flee. He wanted to be gone from this place. To be alone and away from all these people. The eyes poking into his skin like needles. He wanted it to be gone.. He wanted it to stop and be calm.
He was only going to be able to do that if he could smoke.
"oh, um, yeah. I'm coming." Wilbur just blinked and shoved his hands in his pockets. The wrapped sandwich was in the same pocket as his phone. The lighter and cigarette in the other. He took a breath of the summer air and followed Philza as they went to the drink truck.
It had been a long day, and it wasn't even over with, and Wilbur wanted it all to end.
━━▲━━
The day had been exhausting. The hot sun beating down on Wilbur. He tried to hide the small tremble in his hands all day. No one noticed and he was thankful. The swarm of people and the eyes were never helpful. The guilt of taking from Philza and Technoblade, even if he was invited to go, was holding onto him and not ever letting go.
Because he was not giving enough he was only taking.
And that stupid teenager from the food truck calling him a rude prick.
The teen didn't know what was going on with him. He didn't know that Wilbur was feeling like shit all day. He didn't know Wilbur needed a break and wasn't given one. If anything he was being the prick. What was his problem and why did he even treat someone like that when he didn’t know what was going on with a person.
Wilbur just hoped he never had the honor of seeing the shithead ever again.
Wilbur had been dropped off back at the apartment building at six. The event had only gone till four. Philza had to buy a few things from the store, claiming it would only be a second. It had taken over forty five minutes, and Wilbur was close to walking back to his place.
But then when Philza had come back, he had exactly what he needed. Stuff for his huge ass garden, some food and something for Technoblade.
He also had gotten Wilbur some things. It wasn't anything Wilbur really needed, but he had still gotten it.
It was a small pack of some energy drinks, and a few microwave meals.
When Philza told him that. The guilt hit him tenfold. He shouldn't have been inpatient with Philza, he was only doing something kind for Wilbur, but he had been kind to him all day and he didn't need anyone buying his food anymore.
He could scrap by a few days, or skip a few meals, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
But that was just how Philza worked. Always giving and taking only when he needed or wanted too. Unlike Wilbur, always taking and never giving enough.
Wilbur closed his eyes and exhaled the smoke from his lungs. He was finally beginning to feel calm after today.
He was sitting on the window sill, leg hanging out and sitting on the fire escape, his other leg up as he rested his elbow on it.
It was night and the summer air was no longer warm. That was one of the weird but nice things about Manburg. Even when the summer days were hot as hell, the night was always cool and crisp. Never enough to chill, but it was just nice. A perfect night for a smoke that was for sure.
Well, almost perfect. The people who lived under Wilbur were back at the yelling.
Almost every night. There was some sort of yelling, or breaking of things. It was always just loud and chaotic. Wilbur felt bad for whoever lived down there. Because there was only ever one person yelling. A man's voice. Wilbur figured it was some sort of abusive relationship that was going on down there.
He couldn't do anything about it. So he never did. He told himself if he did find anything out he would call the police. But he never had. And he wasn't going to go snoopy.
There was a thud from downstairs and Wilbur only signed.
He went back into his apartment. He walked into the small, messy, kitchen and looked for his earbuds.
Dirty dishes piled in the sink. Old fast food bags on the counter from the day before. Random stains from food spilling over was on the stove. The microwave needed cleaning soon. The tile was old and Wilbur was pretty sure it was once white.
He ignored it, in favor of trying to find where he put his earbuds. The last place he had them was in the kitchen. He looked over at the counter again. They weren't there. He went back to the living room, if one could call it that. There was an old couch across from the tv he found at a thrift store.
He went behind the couch to the round table that was behind it. A crowded ash tray sat there. One of his sweaters draped over a chair. A couple dirty cups sat there as well, along with his earbuds.
He really should clean his place soon.
Wilbur grabbed them, putting them in and he felt himself almost sigh. The earbuds blocked out the shouts enough for them to be a muffled sound.
Wilbur stood there and scrolled for a bit. Trying to find something good to listen to. He had made many playlists. Some were just simple random ones he thought fit together. Others were for work or taking a drive somewhere. Even though Wilbur didn't have a car, he was saving up. He just went to all the songs he had liked and put them on shuffle. The music played and it blocked out all the sounds of the shouting downstairs.
Wilbur went back to the window and sat back down.
He inhaled the smoke and let the toxic drip down, and the smoke curled into his airway. Cutting the oxygen that his lungs cried for and wanted to deny the smoke.
But Wilbur needed the smoke.
His body could reject it all it wanted but he knew what was best. Even though his body didn't want him to inhale the toxic air. It still wanted it, to calm down, to help him not linger on things he didn't need to. He exhaled it out into the night air.
A song that came on that was more sad then something he would have picked that night.
It fit though. The soft beats and the gentle sounds of a piano. The soft yet broken voice of the singer. It fit in with the way the stars never shined in the city. How it reflected onto Wilbur, because he didn't shine at all. Maybe he did once before he was aware of himself. Before he was aware of how painful this world really was.
He took another puff of his cigarette and noticed how small it had gotten.
He let the smoke leave his body and he decided it was time for bed. He had to work and he was not thrilled about the shift he had to fill in for Ranboo. But he needed the money, and he planned on getting a car soon. Gods knew he couldn't keep walking everywhere for the rest of his life.
He signed and put the little piece of cigarette in his mouth. He got off the window seal and closed it. He went behind his couch to the table grabbing his sweater and putting it over his arm. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and smashed it into the ashtray.
He turned and went to his room.
There was a tiny hallway. If someone could even call it that. When you got out of the window and turned to the right, you would face a door that led to the bathroom. Then right before going into the bathroom, there would be a door to the left and that was the only bedroom in the whole apartment.
Wilbur opened the door to his room and he threw his sweater onto the desk chair. The twin bed was pushed into the corner. A small end table next to it. The desk pushed against the wall. Then the closet on the left right when you walked in.
It was smaller than what Wilbur would have liked to have. But it was damn better than what he had before he met Philza. But something about this place made his chest swell with pride because it was his place. He didn't need anyone to give it to him, he bought it, and it was almost all his. He just had to pay rent every month and he could keep living in his place.
Not like he had anywhere to really go, if he wanted to leave, which he had no reason too.
So, he will stay here. With the shitty people living all around him in different apartments. The AC that would break only on the hottest days of the summer. The loud people downstairs. It was those things he had so he could deal with it and he could prove that he was happy.
Because he was happy.
He changed into more comfortable clothes to sleep in. He turned on the little light he had on the end table and climbed into his lumpy, yet squishy, mattress. He pulled the covers over him, a gray duvet, and a softer blue blanket he got for Christmas one year while staying with Philza.
He set an alarm on his phone to make sure he got up at a decent time. He opened a video app and planned to watch just a couple of videos. Just until his eyes hurt and he could sleep without problems. Hopefully he could sleep tonight.
He wished he could be able to sleep tonight. He sighed again and watched the video.
He waited till sleep pulled at him.