Work Text:
"How lucky am I to have something
that makes saying goodbye so hard."
-Winnie the Pooh
- Techno poked his head into his brother's room as Wilbur looked up from his phone. “Wil,” He called out, dangling car keys from his hand. “Get your coat and get in the car.”
“It’s 1 am Techno?” Wilbur questioned putting the phone down and getting up. “Nothing is open right now, where are you planning on going?” Techno grinned.
“Surprise,” He answered. Wilbur squinted at him suspiciously.
“How’d you get dad’s keys?” His brother shrugged. “Dad said yes,”
“Are we taking Tommy?”
“Nah, it's just me ‘n you,”
“Why-”
“No more questions Wilbur, hurry up and get changed.” Techno interrupted, turning around and closing the door behind him.
Techno was waiting in the car by the time Wilbur stumbled out the door, still rubbing his eyes sleepily as he jammed his beanie over the unruly brown curls.
“Now can I ask where we’re going?” Wilbur asked again.
“Nope,” he popped the p. Wilbur grumbled something before turning on the radio, some generic pop song coming on the speakers. They drove in silence for a while, Wilbur tapping his fingers to the beat and sending Techno confused glances periodically, as he took increasingly familiar turns.
He finally pulled off the side of the road, hopping out of the car and grabbed two bags out of the trunk, locking the door as the beep echoed in the empty space.
“Can I ask what’s in the bag?” Wilbur tried, and Techno shook his head.
“We’re almost there Wil, be patient.”
“I have literally never been patient with anything.”
Techno hummed, walking into the forest nearby. “Uh- Tech?” Wilbur called out, not quite following his brother. “Think you're going the wrong way…” Techno turned to his brother and shook his head, eyes glinting.
“Jus’ follow me Wil, I swear it’ll be really cool,” He promised, beckoning Wilbur over. With a quick look around Wilbur followed his, turning on his phone camera to illuminate the dark woods.
“You sure we’re not gonna get like- attacked or something?” Wilbur asked after a few minutes of walking, swinging his flashlight around as Techno snorted.
“ No , Wilbur, I promise we aren’t gonna get attacked. We’re here, anyways.”
Wilbur looked away from his twin for a second to look up, sparkling white lights laced in the trees illuminating the frozen lake in front of them casting little white dots on the ice as if the sky's stars were trapped beneath it.
Wilbur looked back at his brother to see Techno watching him, with a hesitant smile.
“Surprise,” Techno said, doing little jazz hands. “Happy birthday Wil,”
Wilbur gaped at the lights reflecting prettily off the ice, snow falling gently in light flurries.
“I-don’t know what to say,” Wilbur murmured, attention still on the magnificent view. Techno chuckled softly.
“C’mon, get your skates on.”
They put their stuff next to a particularly large tree, pulling out the worn skates from the bag and removing the protective edge they had on the blade.
“Is this a bad time to mention I haven’t skated in like- four years?” Techno wondered out loud, staring at Wilbur as he put on his ice skates.
“You- wait what?” Wilbur stuttered.
“I can barely skate,” Techno repeated.
“Techno, aren’t you the one who brought us here-” Wilbur started, Techno cutting him off.
“Yeah cause you used to love skating and I thought you might like it-” he protested. Wilbur stared at him.
“Y’know what? You’ll remember on the way,” he said, tightening the skates and pushing himself off the stump he was sitting on. He stepped on the ice, and Wilbur whooped in delight as he almost fell, catching himself on one of the trees on the shore. “C’mon Techno!” He called out, experimentally sliding his foot against the smooth ice. Techno made a noise of concern.
“Uh-y’know what Wil, I think I’ll pass on this one-” He started. “You have fun, I’ll watch you from here-” Wilbur groaned dramatically.
“Technooooo, I want to skate with you,” he drew out the end of the last word. “You’re breaking my heart here, I woke up and got out of my warm bed Techno, and I have work tomorrow, I’m probably gonna get yelled at for coming in late-”
“Wilbur it's Sunday tomorrow, you don’t work on Sunday-”
“-a waste of sleep and a perfectly good frozen lake, what a tragedy, truly-”
Techno sighed, and Wilbut grinned.
Once a theatre kid, always a theatre kid.
“Fine.”
“Yes! Okay here let me help you-”
Wilbur helped Techno slowly step onto the ice, wobbling slightly as his foot slid in front of him.
“Are you sure I can’t sit out on his one Wil?” He asked, and Wilbut shook his head gleefully.
“Nope! You brought us here, now you’re gonna skate with me~” He sang out, shuffling ahead of Techno.
Techno sighed.
Wilbur looked like a penguin though, so that was a plus.
“Why did I think this was a good idea,” he mumbled but pulled out his phone to record Wilbur, watching with a grin as Wilbur fell, spinning in a circle as he sat on the floor, stunned. Techno laughed, and Techno’s laugh was contagious, it made everyone laugh with him so Wilbur grinned and laughed himself. “So much for being the best at skating,” Techno snorted.
Wilbur pushed himself off the ice. “We do not talk about that.” He said, wiggling his finger in faux seriousness.
Techno chuckled.
“Nope, Tommy’s gonna hear about this-”
Wilbur screeched, launching himself towards Techno, and they both fell as Wilbur toppled onto Techno, trying to grab his brother's phone.
Wilbur closed his door with a slam, rubbing his hands together as he turned on the heater. Techno backed out of the parking spot, getting on the road as the clock read 2:46 in a blinking red light. “Techno my hands are cold,” Wilbur complained, rubbing them together.
“Sit on ‘em,” Techno suggested, turning a corner to the left. Wilbur made a noise of confusion. “Tech, home’s to the right-” Techno hummed in response.
“We’re not goin’ home yet,” he said, stopping at a red light and WIlubr turned the heater higher.
“Where are we going this time?” the brunette questioned and Techno turned on the radio.
“Surprise,” he repeated a glint in his eyes. Wilbur groaned.
“I don’t like you,” he grumbled, sinking into his seat. Techno snorted as the light turns green.
"Mhm, sure Wilbur. whatever you say.” he said, pressing the gas pedal.
Wilbur huffed in frustration, turning his head as he didn’t deny what Techno had said.
Music filled in the background, soft violin music coming from the crackly radio.
“Hi welcome to Tom Hootins what can I get you?” a voice came from the open window. Wilbur turned his head to Techno only to be barraged by the bright screen of the ordering board. He blinked rapidly as his eyes began to water, turning away from the screen.
“Hey there, can I get two medium hot chocolates please?” Techno ordered, and a “That’ll be $4.59, please drive to the next window to pick up your order,” came back from the crackly audio. Techno hummed as he moved forward to the next window.
“How d’you just stare at that screen?” Wilbur asked, his eyes still burning from it as he wiped a stray tear. Techno shrugged.
“You’re weak that’s why-”
“Do not use that as an excuse Technoblade, you are quite literally built different-” he argued as the waiter awkwardly held out the two paper cups on the tray, waiting for the brothers to stop talking. Techno took them with a thankful nod, handing the 5-dollar bill to the person in the window.
“I am not built differently, you’re just weak Wilbur,” Techno hummed, driving into a parking spot before handing one of the cups to his twin. Wilbur took a sip of his hot chocolate and sighed contently, staring at the starless sky- well, it wasn’t really starless, it was just light pollution.
“Thanks, Techno,” Wilbur murmured, looking at his brother with a small smile. Techno looked back at him and his lips quirked up.
“I’m glad you had fun,” Techno exhaled. “Happy womb ejection day Wil,” He said looking straight ahead and Wilbur spat out the drink, spraying the brown liquid everywhere.
“Ew Wilbur! That’s disgusting!”
2. "Technoooo," Wilbur called out from the hallway, getting his twin's attention. Techno looked up from the book, mildly interested in why Wilbur was calling him. "C'mere! I need you for somethin'!" Techno sighed, bookmarking his page with a napkin- listen, it was bad, by at least he didn't dog-ear it- before pushing himself off the chair and heading towards Wilbur.
“What’s up-why are you standin’ like that,” Techno deadpanned suspiciously. Wilbur was standing in front of his bedroom with his hands behind his back. His door was decorated with little musical note stickers and his name was written in yellow. Wilbur grinned softly.
“I have a surprise for you.”
Techno backed away cautiously. Nope. No surprises for him.
“Nope. No surprises for me,” he repeated out loud. Wilbur huffed. He sounded not far off from a frustrated toddler.
“Pleaseee-“
“Nope! I still remember what happened last time Wilbur!”
“It was an accident-“
“How do you accidentally dump a bucket of sand in someone’s hair?”
Wilbur pouted.
“No.”
Wilbur pouted a bit harder, crossing his arms and huffing a bit more.
“Do you realize how hard it was to get that sand out? It took me 2 hours, Wilbur.”
Silence.
“I swear if I get sand in my hair again-”
“I won’t! Just close your eyes Techno.” Techno groaned but obliged, covering his eyes with his hands. Wilbur let out a little noise of joy. He grabbed his twin by the shoulder and opened the door, dragging him through it.
“M’kay, you can open them now.”
Techno opened his eyes hesitantly, slightly scared of whatever Wilbur created, and was thoroughly surprised to be met with the sight of multiple blankets and pillows piled on top of each other.
“Wilbur, what is that?” Techno asked, slightly confused at the mess that stood in WIlbur’s room.
“It’s a nest, Tech-no-blade,” he said, pronouncing Techno’s name weirdly. Techno wrinkled up his nose at the pronunciation. But the nest thing made sense- both of them had avian blood, Wilbur apparently getting most of it, considering how clingy he was, creating nests and dragging Techno into them at least twice a week.
It’d be a lie to say Techno didn’t enjoy them though.
He sighed fondly and allowed his twin to grab him by the wrist, pulling him into the room and shutting the door behind him with his foot before jumping into the pile and getting comfortable, grabbing the guitar that sat next to the pile. He patted the spot next to him, realizing that Techno hadn’t sat down set, and Tecnho smiled, sinking into the pile.
“I wanna show you somethin’,” Wilbur murmured, removing the guitar from the case and tuning it slightly, letting the notes vibrate through the air.
Techno listened quietly as Wilbur took a deep breath before the first string rang out, echoing in the room.
“ Home is,” he began.
“ Home is where I am with you,” he murmured, fingers drifting across the strings. “ Stargazing at our futures, wondering whether it’ll be alright,” the door opened a crack to reveal Tommy skirting into the room on all fours, golden hair just visible on top of the mountain of blankets. “ At the end, home is,” there was a weight behind them and a small “oof” as Tommy launched himself onto the pile, readjusting himself. “Home is where I’m with you,” Wilbur held the last note for a second more. Techno waited expectantly for the next line, and Wilbur”s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure where to go from there, it’s still a work in progress,” he said, and Techno hummed contently.
“It’s really good Wil,” he murmured as Tommy popped up, grabbing Wilbur's hair and playing with the curls.
“I like it too!” the blonde chirped in, and Wilbur smiled.
“Am I done bein’ held hostage now?” Techno asked lightheartedly and Wilbur shook his head, promptly putting the guitar away and pulling out the tv remote from underneath him.
“Movie.” he said simply, and Techno sighed fondly, settling deeper into the pile as tiny little hands grabbed onto his braid.
“You didn’t brush your hair Techno,” Tommy announced, pulling through the pink tangles absentmindedly, glancing at the TV as Wilbur turned it on. He flicked through the movies, putting on a familiar one they’d watched a million times. The pile rustles again this time as Tommy reached behind them, precariously opening a drawer and grabbing multiple bags of chips and candies before closing it and chucking it at the brothers. Techno caught his and Wilbur let out a noise as it hit the back of his head with a thump. Tommy snickered.
In total, they watched eight hours worth of movies and finished their snacks in 2 before becoming restless, fidgeting with various objects within reach.
“Let’s go outside,” Techno offered after listening to Wilbur shift around for the 7th time that minute.
Wilbur nodded agreeably, sparing a glance back at Tommy, who had fallen asleep around the 5-hour mark.
The two snuck out quietly, trying not to wake up Tommy as they closed the door with a click.
“Now what?” Wilbur asked, breaking the silence of the stilled house and Techno shrugged.
“Dunno. Didn’t really think this far ahead,” Wilbur stared at him.
Techno stared back.
“You think dad’s asleep?” Wilbur asked, and Techno shrugged again.
“Probably.”
“You wanna go to the park?”
“Sure. Gonna be cold though, so grab a hoodie,” Techno suggested and Wilbur went into Techno’s room. “Not mine-” he started, but Wilbur had already disappeared inside. A few seconds later he reappeared with a bright pink hoodie shoved over his head, brown curls messed up. Tehno sighed, and Wilbur smirked smugly.
Oh, the pleasure of having siblings.
They quietly- Techno was quiet, Wilbur bumped into at least eight things on the way to the door- left the house, locking the door with a click.
“Technooooo,” Wilbur whined as they began to walk down the road. “I’m hungry.”
“It’s 2 am, Wilbur,” Techno deadpanned, stopping to stare at his brother for a moment.
Wilbur stared back, a similar expression on his face. The two of them stood there for a minute, neither wanting to look away. Realistically, if someone were to drive down the road at this moment, they would’ve seen two grown men, one with long pink hair and the other abnormally tall, staring at each other intensely like toddlers in a staring contest.
Truly a sight to see.
Then Wilbur broke eye contact by blinking, and Techno looked at him with a teasing grin.
“Skill issue.” Techno announced, turning heels towards the 24-hour convenience store that stood at the end of the block. Wilbur followed him, silently glaring at the back of his head.
As they entered the store Wilbur made a beeline to the slushie machines that stood in the back, walking past the cashier who was on his phone.
Oh, the joy of being a high-school student short on cash, forced to make money because your parents no longer give you allowances. Techno pitied the kid- he looked exhausted and utterly bored.
“Wilbur you are not getting a slushie at 2 am.”
A few minutes later and a very judgemental look from the cashier, Wilbur walked outside the store with a slushie in hand.
The moment they make eye contact outside the store, both of them sprint toward the park.
“Got it!” Techno yelled, barely touching the swing pole before Wilbur.
“You cheater!” Wilbur wheezed out, hunched over trying to catch his breath. “You started before me!” Techno was also slightly hunched over, breathing heavily from the sudden exercise.
“We literally didn’t even say start Wil,” he breathed out. Wilbur groaned dramatically, laying down on the wood chips of the park. It was definitely uncomfortable- Techno would know first hand- but Wilbur clearly didn’t mind, taking deep breaths of air. Techno lay down beside his brother, staring at the streetlight that illuminated the park.
“What's the score now?” Techno asked, watching Wilbur blow the hair out of his face.
“72 to 4 with you in the lead,” he grumbled, and Techno grinned.
3. “TECHNO DON’T YOU DARE.” Wilbur screeched on the verge of his seat as Techno slowly pulled out the card. DON’T YOU DARE PUT DOWN THE 4+.” Techno slammed his last card- coincidentally, a blue four- onto the table, and Wilbur made a slightly concerning noise as he melted into the couch. “Why are you doing this to me Technooo,” Wilbur whined, sliding down the couch. “This is discrimination, the discrimination I tell you-” Techno snickered, handing Wilbur the four cards to add to his already massive pile of cards.
“This is cheating,” Wilbur announced, straightening up. “This is cheating, you are cheating, Technoblade,”
“Wilbur you shuffled the cards,” Techno rolled his eyes.
“Cheating.”
“Rematch?”
“Yes.”
Wilbur took the cards, splaying them out on the table and shuffling them around.
Techno sighed, before grabbing half the cards and arranging them in a neat pile. Then he grabbed the pile and started shuffling like a sane person and not a child on caffeine. Wilbur watched in amazement as Techno executed a dovetail shuffle followed by a bridge finish.
“How’d you do that?” Wilbur asked, leaning slightly forward.
Techno looked around in confusion.
“Do…what?”
Wilbur jutted his head towards the neatly piled and shuffled cards.
“That semi-circle shuffle thing.”
“It’s called a bridge Wilbur.”
“Same difference.” Wilbur waved his hand.
“Literally not-“ techno protested and Wilbur sighed.
“You nerd-“
“You literally don’t know how to shuffle cards Wilbur, you shuffle them like Tommy and Tommy is nine -“
“Lalalalala-“
Techno sighed and handed out seven uno cards each. Wilbur grabbed them eagerly, bouncing on the couch, settling at the edge of it. He turned over the first card- a red number 7- and put down three number 7’s, turning the colour to blue. Techno put down a blue plus two, and Wilbur picked up the cards. Not having any other cards he could play, Techno went again.
A blue number 5.
Wilbur put a red 5.
Then Techno put two reverse order cards, then a skipped turn, then switched colours with a wild card.
“Uno and green.” Wilbur made a noise. He drew a card. Techno placed a green two and watched with a grin as Wilbur sank into the ground. The entire game was over in less than two minutes.
“This is a scam.” Wilbur announced, and Techno hummed.
“Okay, Wilbur. Rematch?” Wilbur mumbled something.
“Can you say that again? Can’ hear you over the fact you haven’ won a game of uno against me since we were twelve-“ Wilbur sighed loudly looking at the ceiling and Techno grinned.
“You’re never gonna let me live that down will you.” It wasn’t a question, and Techno didn’t answer, humming as he shuffled the cards, a small smile on his face. Wilbur flipped him off.
“No more uno,” he declared, reaching behind the couch and pulling out another cylinder box.
Techno stared at him as wilbur held out the box like it was his pride and joy.
“Jenga?”
“Jenga.”
“Wilbur I knew you were bad, but I didn’t think you’d descend to Jenga- “
“I will not take Jenga slander in my household-“
“It’s literally not your house-“ Wilbur chucked one of the couch pillows at Techno's head.
“Shush, we’re playing Jenga.”
Techno sighed, putting away the uno cards.
Twenty minutes later, Techno gently poked a single Jenga brick, lodged tightly into the tower. It was now twenty-six levels compared to starting with the original eighteen levels.
“Nope! You have to take it out, you touched it Techno,” Wilbur announced gleefully.
“Bruh. You’re making up rules in the middle of the game-“ Techno protested. Wilbur shook his head.
“Nope. Take the piece Tech,” Techno sighed loudly, cracking his knuckles. The air was thick with tension and anticipation as Techno began to slowly wiggle out the piece.
“ Wilbur, get your hands off the table, you’re shaking it,” Techno whispered, and the soft tremble that rocked the table lightly disappeared.
“Sorry,” he whispered back. Fully concentrated, Techno slowly wiggles out the piece. Half of it was out, the tower itself teetering haphazardously.
“Techno it’s gonna fall,” Wilbur whispered, cutting through the silence. “ It’s gonna fall, watch-“
“Shush Wil,” Techno whispered. Fully concentrated, he’d pulled out most of it before Wilbur interrupted the silence again.
“ Why are we whispering?”
“Wilbur if you say another word I am going to throw you out of the window.” Wilbur put his hands up, as if proving his innocence, before continuing to watch intently as Techno almost pulled out the piece. The air was thick as Wilbur watched with bated breath, the edge of the piece almost out of the tower. Techno took a deep breath and pulled it, the entire tower coming down with it.
Wilbur whooped, standing on the couch. Techno stared at the pile of wooden blocks as if it had personally offended him.
“I won~” Wilbur sang, dropping back onto the couch.
“We’re playing again,” Techno said, still staring at the blocks. Wilbur grinned and remade the tower.
Ten minutes later it toppled again, Techno tossing the brick he’d been holding into the pile with a frustrated grunt.
“Why are you so good at a luck-based game Wilbur,” Techno said, more of a statement than a question. “It’s a game for children, why are you so good at it-”
Wilbur smirked, opening his mouth to say something a receiving a pillow to the head, courtesy of his brother. He made an offended noise, grabbing onto his chest dramatically.
“I am offended Techno,” he announced, grabbing the pillow and throwing it back at his twin. Techno snatched it out of the air, getting ready to launch it back, but pausing as Tommy crept behind Wilbur, holding a pillow over his head. He counted down from three silently. Wilbur looked at Techno confused, wondering why he hesitated and immediately got assaulted with pillows as Tommy put down his last finger.
Tommy cackled like the little maniacal raccoon he was, and immediately running off.
“Sore loser,” Wilbur muttered as he fixed his glasses, and Techno smirked.
“You didn’t answer my question though Wil,” Techno leaned forward slightly. “Why are you so good at Jenga?” Wilbur shrugged.
“Oh yeah there used to be a Jenga club at school and we would play competitively-”
“You played Jenga competitively?!”
4. “Wilby.” Tommy slammed open Wilbur's door, standing in the middle of the doorway. Wilbur looked up from his laptop.
“Yeah? What’s up Tom’s?” He asked, and Tommy marched over, crawling onto the bed Wilbur was working on and sitting in front of his brother, so that the laptop was between them.
“Cookies,” he said simply.
“I- cookies?” Wilbur asked, and Tommy nodded. “We don’t have cookies Tommy, you gotta ask dad-” Tommy shook his head, interrupting Wilbur.
“No, I want you to make cookies. With me!” he announced, jumping slightly on the bed. Wilbur hesitated for a second- he really needed to finish the essay. He sent one more look at the essay- something about greek mythology, he should really ask Techno about it- before relenting and closing it with a sigh.
“Alright Tom’s,” Tommy whooped, hopping off the bed and pulling at Wilbur’s sleeve, leading him into the corridor. He chuckled, knocking on Techno’s door on the way. “Tommy wants to make cookies!” he shouted out before being dragged off to the stairs. Techno appeared a few seconds later behind him, something amusing in his expression.
“I’m honestly just here to make sure you guys don’t burn anything down,” he shrugged, and Wilbur grinned.
Going to the kitchen, Techno pulled up his phone and a recipe.
“Say’s to preheat the oven to 300 degrees first,” He hummed, and Wilbur turned towards the oven.
“Celcius or Fahrenheit?” and asked.
“Wh- Fahrenheit WIlbur, we only have one setting on the oven.” Wilbur shrugged.
“Can never be too sure.” Techno sighed. “Okay, then what?’
“Uh- melt butter? Say’s a stick of butter here.”
“In grams?”
Techno shrugged.
Wilbur sighed.
So Wilbur melted the butter, and they just sorta sat there for a second, staring at the melting butter.
Then a noise came from behind the counter and Techno peered over it to see Tommy waddling over holding a bag of sugar.
“Sugar.” he announced, dropping it on Wilbur’s foot.
Wilbur took a sharp breath, grabbed his foot and sat down.
And then, as if on cue, he began to make pained noises, cradling his injured foot.
“Owww, Techno I am in pain, this is a life and death emergency Technoblade, I require the emergency services-”
“I am not taking you to the hospital because you stubbed your toe, Wilbur.”
“I did not stub it there was a very heavy bag that fell onto it-”
“It doesn’t even weigh a kilo!”
“Life-altering injury-”
Techno sighed.
Wilbur grinned, standing up like nothing happened, grabbing the sugar from off the floor.
“C’mere Toms,” he said, tapping the tall chair that sat around the kitchen island and Tommy scampered over and sat down. “You wanna help?” Tommy nodded eagerly, and Wilbur handed him a red measuring cup. “Can you put brown sugar til the top of that and then put it in this bowl?” he asked, placing a bowl next to the child. Tommy got to his knees on the chair so he could see better, tipping the sugar into the red measuring cup and mainly missing it. By the time he’d filled it up, there was at least double the amount outside the red cup. Wilbur took the white sugar and tipped it into the same bowl Tommy dropped the sugar-filled cup into. He pulled out the cup, handing Tommy the whisk and showing him how to mix it in a circular motion.
“One egg and one egg yolk,” Techno called out, and Wilbur pulled out two eggs, cracking one into a separate bowl and using a sieve to separate the second one from its whites, saving it for later.
Techno watched as Tommy sneakily added more sugar, dipping his finger into the mixture to try and taste it.
“Nope,” Techno said, taking the bowl before Tommy had the chance. “I’m not getting your gross germs in my cookie batter. Tommy huffed. Then Wilbur turned around, dumping the eggs into the mixture.
“Techno passed the bowl to him, humming as he knelt down the get the vanilla extract from one of the lower cabinets and got a spoon from the other.
“Uh…don’t think we have enough Wil,” Techno answered, squinting back at the recipe.
“How much?” Wilbur asked, glancing at Techno.
“It says one teaspoon.”
Wilbur looked at the tablespoon Techno was holding, half full of vanilla extract.
“Techno….that’s a tablespoon.”
“Huh?” Techno looked at the spoon with curiosity. “Whaddya mean?”
“The teaspoon is the little one.”
“Aren’t they the same thing?” Wilbur looked at his twin up and down, genuine confusion on Techno’s face.
“Techno- which one do you use to stir your tea?” He asked, trying to dumb it down.
“Both?”
“No Techno! Why d’you use the big one for tea? We have the little ones!”
“I dunno! They’re cool! I thought they were the same thing!”
Wilbur sighed.
Techno shrugged.
Then Wilbur took the spoon with vanilla extract, took another small spoon and transferred it to the teaspoon . Then he held them both in front of Techno's face.
“Teaspoon.” he held up the little one.
“Tablespoon.” he held up the big one.
Techno stared at them for a second.
“I see no difference.”
“I swear to Prime Technoblade-”
Wilbur was interrupted by a cloud of flour poofing up, inhaling some and sending him into a coughing fit. Techno watched with mild concern as Tommy giggled, throwing more flour in the air.
“Maybe let's not try to kill our brother, hm Tommy?” Techno asked wording more like a vague suggestion as he turned towards the youngest. Tommy shook his head cheerfully.
“Nope!” He exclaimed, grabbing fistfuls of flour and tossing them into the air.
Like Wilbur wasn’t actively dying on the floor of the kitchen.
It was fine, he’d survive.
…Probably.
Simply for the effect, Techno also grabbed a handful of flour, tossing it in the general area Wilbur was currently on the floor of.
His twin made a betrayed-sounding noise, and Techno shrugged.
“They’re looking awfully flat…” Wilbur whispered theatrically as all three brothers pressed their heads against the oven glass, staring at the brightly coloured cookies. (they were not originally red, green, pink, and yellow. That was Tommy’s doing, with a bit of Techno’s help and to Wilbur’s utter dismay. )“I don’t think they’re supposed to be like that.”
“You think we missed something?” Techno whispered back.
There was no reason for the whispering. Wilbur was just dramatic and Techno went with it.
“I’m gonna check the recipe again,” Wilbur said, grabbing Techno’s phone from the counter and shoving it in his brother's face for face ID. Then he scrolled through it, a concentrated look on his face. “Flour, chocolate chips, two sugars, salt, butter-” He cut himself off.
“We didn’t add baking soda, did we?” Wilbur sighed.
Techno shrugged.
Tommy giggled.
“Try it,” Wilbur pushed the bright yellow, pink, red, and green cookies toward Phil. “Please?” Phil looked at it suspiciously, hesitant as he slowly grabbed one.
“You sure this isn’t poisoned, mate?” He asked, poking it. Felt like a cookie.
“ Yes I’m sure it's not poisoned,” WIlbur responded, slightly exasperated.
“Like you didn’t add salt instead of sugar?”
“ No, I’m offended dad, try the cookie.” Phil sighed.
“If I die Techno is in charge.” Wilbur gasped dramatically, putting a hand on his chest, right over his heart.
“You have such little faith in your son Phil, I am never going to emotionally recover from this-”
Once a theatre kid, always a theatre kid.
Techno snorted.
“I mean we did forget to add baking-” Tommy started, before Wilbur smack his hand over his mouth.
“Nope! We forgot nothing, they are perfect and absolutely nothing went-” Wilbur made a noise of concern, looking at Tommy with disgust. “Tommy did you just lick me?”
Tommy grinned innocently.
Wilbur retreated his hand pretty quickly after that.
Techno watched as Phil took a hesitant bite of the green cookie, immediately gagging. Tommy turned towards the noise, and Phil held up a thumbs up, a weak excuse for a smile on his face.
Tommy- apparently satisfied at his reaction- took two of the red cookies, scurrying out of the room like a raccoon.
Honestly, the parallels between Tommy and a raccoon were truly impeccable.
Phil turned towards Wilbur, some mixture between disbelief, amusement, and pure confusion written on his face.
“Wilbur, what in the actual hell did you put in these?”
5. “Tech.” Techno made a noise, shuffling to his other side.
“Jus’ a few more minutes Wil,” he mumbled, and he felt something shaking his shoulder.
“Techno,” Wilbur repeated again, and this time he cracked an eye open to reveal Wilbur standing over him, something excited in his eyes, even though the room was dark. “I wanna show you somethin’,” he whispered, and Techno groaned.
“Do I have’ta get out of bed for it?” Techno murmured back, nearly falling asleep again.
“Technoo, c’mon, please?” Wilbur asked, and his brother sighed, opening his eyes fully.
Oh, the things he did for Wilbur.
“Fine,” he whispered, and Wilbur grinned.
“I’ll wait for you at the front okay? Get a coat, it’s gonna be a little bit cold.” Techno groaned at the prospect of having to leave his bed, the sound of Wilbur closing the door already thudded behind him.
Techno rolled out of bed- already missing his warm blanket- and got dressed, meaning he just threw on a hoodie and some sweatpants, tying up his hair in a low bun.
He thought about it for a moment before Techno grabbed the blanket too, wrapping it around his shoulders. Wilbur and his spontaneous night trips be damned, he isn’t about to freeze in the middle of the night.
True to his word, Wilbur was waiting at the front, two thermos mugs in his hand.
He handed it to Techno as he slipped on his shoes, grabbed it and took a sip.
Coffee. Wilbur knew him too well.
“Mimimi,” Techno muttered, a horrible imitation of Wilbur. “I wake up people at-” he checked his phone, and it read 3:04 in bright white light, “-at three am to go do somethin’ that I keep a secret-”
Wilbur hummed, a small smile on his face.
“Promise you're gonna like it,” he said opening the door, and Techno hugged the blanket a little bit tighter around him as the cool air hit him.
“Techno you drive,” Wilbur said, going towards the passenger seat, and Techno groaned.
“Wil I will quite literally crash this car, I’m half-asleep and about to pass out from exhaustion, you’re driving whether you like it or not.” Wilbur huffed with no real heat behind it and got into the driver’s seat. Techno got into the passenger seat, a small smile on his face at how easily Wilbur gave up. Honestly, Techno could’ve driven, the coffee has kicked in by now, but he just really wanted Wilbur to.
Reap the repercussions and all that.
As Wilbur got onto the main highway- it was empty, as it should be at the ungodly hour of the night- Techno hummed softly, Bluetooth connecting his phone to the car before Wilbur smacked his hand away.
“Nope,” he said, popping the p. “I drive I get control of the AUX cord.”
Techno stared at him.
“This is a 2021 Honda Civic, why do you need an AUX cord? we have Bluetooth, Wil.”
“-Mimimi my name’s Techno and I don’t believe in AUX cords,” Wilbur said in an imitation of Techno earlier. Techno sighed, and the corners of Wilbur’s mouth twitched upwards.
Y’know what- fair.
So instead he connected Wilbur's phone- by Bluetooth, because Techno was lazy and wasn’t about to go looking for the AUX cord they kept in the car-, and Wilbur sifted through his Spotify playlist, looking at the road and back on his phone ever so often. Usually, Techno would’ve told Wilbur to get off his phone and keep his eyes on the road but realistically- it was 3 am. Nothing was gonna happen, no one was out, so Techno wasn’t worried much.
Wilbur finally decided on one, some sort of guitar sounding the car as Wilbur cranked up the volume. Techno wasn’t really familiar with the entire music thing, it was more of Wilbur’s realm, considering he made music.
Honestly, it was nice. It wasn’t too loud and wasn’t too high-paced either. Sorta calm but also just- a vibe.
They sat in comfortable silence for a bit, just listening peacefully to the music.
“When the world goes to bed, I’ll lie here empty in my bed but I’m fine,” the song started, and Techno smiled at the memory. He remembered the first time he’d heard Wilbur learning this specific song, notes ringing in the air as Wilbur strummed it gently from the other side of the thin wall that separated their rooms. They were teenagers, Techno wasn’t in a good mood- he’d failed miserably at something in school, snapping at everyone and anyone who tried to ask him what happened.
Wilbur hadn’t said much, letting Techno go to his room, and closing the door behind him. He just pulled out his guitar and leaned against their shared wall- it was paper thin, and Techno would’ve clearly been able to hear it. He sat there for a few minutes, simply practising his guitar, trying to perfect this song, before Techno padded into Wilbur’s room in pink Minecraft pig fluffy socks. His eyes were puffy and red, most likely from crying, as he sat next to his twin, listening to him play.
“If the world crashes and burns, will you still love me through the night?” Wilbur sang. It wasn’t perfect- far from it, Wilbur hadn’t learnt how to sing just yet, and his voice cracked at some places- but Techno hadn’t complained, simply enjoying listening to his twin.
“I’ll feel alright.”
They didn’t say anything-they just sat there.
“I’m feeling alright now,”
Two brothers.
One plays a song, and the other listens.
“You were such a nerd,” Wilbur huffed, most likely remembering the same memory. Techno chuckled slightly. “You got so upset over that test- what was it? sophomore year geography or something?” Techno smiled. “The funniest part was that it wasn’t even a final.”
“Yeah. nightmare of a subject, glad that my major had nothing to do with it.” Wilbur shook his head fondly.
“Cause you are my shooting star,” Wilbur hummed along to the song, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.
“You made me fall from the stars and healed my broken heart,” Techno sang alongside the lyrics, and Wilbur smiled. “Be my light through the dark, but I don’t mind,” Wilbur joined in this time, and the two just sorta- sang. It seemed almost like a movie scene, a moment just for the two of them.
At some point, Wilbur had pulled over in some random dark field, neither of them really getting out of the car.
It wasn’t perfect, it’d been a while since Techno had listened to this song, but he’d remembered most of the lyrics and it was okay.
And- Techno feels alive, he realizes.
Wilbur was singing next to him, and they were both laughing and stumbling between words because it’d been forever since either one had listened to it.
Techno felt alive.
“Waiting for your love, but I don’t mind-” Techno sings and grins, because there was someone else singing with him, and that’s all he needed.
Because- it’s just them.
Wilbur and Techno. Just how it started.
And Wilbur’s eyes are shining and he’s tapping the driving wheel happily and-
Sometimes, that’s just what living is.
Being alive and singing some old nostalgic song in the middle of nowhere at three am.
“One more song,” Wilbur begged once the song was over, and Techno rolled his eyes fondly before nodding.
This one was just as familiar, not really something they listened to often, but a melody that would’ve been just lingering in the background of childhood memories- Wilbur making some sort of arts and crafts, or Techno nearly burning the house down because he wanted to bake a surprise for Phil while he was out. Then Wilbur put another. And another. Techno acted like he didn’t realize. Wilbur seemed so eager, pure joy shining in his eyes- who was Techno to say no to that?
By the time the last song was finished, Techno’s blanket, which had been previously wrapped around his shoulder, was abandoned in the backseat. Wilbur got out, popping open the trunk and pulling out a thinner older blanket, laying it on the grass in from of the car. He pulled out some store-bought popcorn too, and Techno nabbed the thick quilt, sitting down on the thinner one and gesturing Wilbur over when he’d turned off the headlights of the car.
“Look up,” Wilbur nodded towards the sky, and Techno gasped.
The sky was a dark expanse, covered in little bright twinkling lights. You could clearly see the milky way, a long cluster of stars stretching across the sky in shades of pink, gold, and a million other colours. It was just them, together, under an open sky, staring up at waterfalls of stars and rushing rivers of galaxies. He barely registered Wilbur curling himself under his blanket, lying down so they were in a more comfortable. Somewhere, in the dark, Wilbur's hand found Techno's.
“Knew they’d be bright tonight,” he murmured softly, and Techno broke eye contact to see Wilbur watching him with an expectant face.
“They’re beautiful Wilbur,” Techno said breathlessly, looking back at the vast expanse of stars stretching across the sky, and Wilbur smiled.
“If you look there,” Wilbur pointed to some star in the Milky way, “That’s Orion.” Techno hummed.
“The mythology dude? The one who tried to become a hunter of Artemis and just died instead?” Wilbur shrugged.
“I’m just the astronomy nerd, you're the mythology dude.”
Fair point.
“If you look at the three stars in a line with Orion, that's Orion's belt, and a little below that but still connecting to the belt is Orion's sword.”
“Dude’s got a lot of stars dedicated to him.” Wilbur snorted at that, and Techno smiled internally.
“You see that really bright star a little bit down and to the left? That one’s Sirius, and it's the leader of Canis Major. That one-” Wilbur pointed to three stars in a wonky-ish line, “-is the handle of the Big Dipper, which I never understood why they called it the Big Dipper when it looks more like a kite.” Techno just hummed, shifting slightly so he was facing more of Wilbur, but was still able to see the stars. He gently took some of the longer hairs near his neck and started braiding them neatly. “If you look at the lowest star on the Big Dipper though you see the end of Ursa Major. It’s funny too, ‘cause the Big Dipper isn’t actually a constellation, but it's like- the only thing people will remember and see in the sky.” Techno smiled fondly at his brother. He seemed so enthusiastic about the stars, sharing his knowledge about them with Techno. Techno tied up the edge of the little braid, and Wilbur’s monologue stopped momentarily as his hand drifted to feel it, shooting Techno a soft look that meant the world.
“Higher and a little bit to the left of Orion's belt, you can see that really bright red-ish star,” Wilbur pointed out, and Techno traced to where Wilbur was pointing. “That one’s Betelgeuse. It’s the tenth brightest star in the sky and is like- over seven hundred times bigger than the sun. Six hundred and forty-two light-years away and ten point seven million years old.”
“How d’you remember this stuff Wil?” Techno wondered in awe. Wilbur shrugged.
“Had a lot of time on my hands,” and Techno almost laughed, snorting instead.
“Like, forty-five degrees up from Orion there's that small cluster of stars, that one Hyades, and a little further than that in the same direction, there's another small cluster, that’s the Pleiades, or usually called the seven sisters.” Techno hummed.
“There’s only six though,” he pointed out, and Wilbur nodded.
“It's cause there’s only six you can see without binoculars, seventh one is less bright. They’re still considered one of the most beautiful sights in the sky though.” Wilbur was right at least on that account- they were beautiful.
After that Wilbur went silent for a bit, simply sitting up and gesturing for Techno to sit in front of him without saying anything. Techno obliged, and Wilbur pulled out the elastic holding Techno’s hair in a bun, humming softly as the combed through it with his fingers.
“Didn’t brush it did you Tech?” Wilbur remarked softly, and Techno snorted.
“Sorry 'bout that, next time I'll make sure to note to brush my hair whenever my brother spontaneously takes me out star-gazing,” He said sarcastically, and even though Techno couldn’t see it he could feel Wilbur grinning behind him. He tugged Techno’s hair gently, weaving the three parts together into a complicated braid, somewhere in-between adding flowers intertwined into the braid. By the time he was finished, the sun had already begun to rise, peaking just above the golden-kissed buildings in the distance.
Sunrises were truly a beautiful thing, casting tangerine rays onto the field they sat in, almost chasing away the stars as they began to fade in the light.
“ Home is,”
Techno’s attention had been caught at the sound of a string ringing through the air, turning around to see Wilbur thumbing his guitar.
“ Home is where I’m with you,” Techno turned to face his brother completely, and the sides of Wilbur’s mouth twitched slightly upwards.
“Stargazing at our futures, wondering whether we’ll be alright,” Wilbur went a little bit higher at the end.
“And the end, oh,-” his voice broke a little at the end but he took a breath and continued. “Home is, home is where I’m with you,”
“Holding your hand, silently staring at our paths ahead of us, ” Wilbur looked at Techno at that, and he smiled softly, and it seemed like enough for Wilbur cause he continued.
“When the sky is filled with cries, I'll sing to the air with endearing lullabies,” the sun was rising a bit faster now, soft chirping blending with Wilbur’s notes, and it reminded Techno of the nights when they couldn’t sleep, so Wilbur would take out his guitar, and they’d brainstorm idea’s together.
“You'll be here, safe in my arms, 'cause you're my best friend in the world,” Techno almost laughed at that, simply because of an inside joke of theirs, and Wilbur grinned, glad that Techno had caught on. For the next few seconds, he didn’t say anything, humming gently with the music, letting it vibrate through the air and settle on the twin's shoulders like a warm blanket.
“I'll be with you even if our summers grow cold,” The sun had begun casting its rays on them, letting the sky on fire with shades of orange and purple, pink clouds dotting them.
“That time, when we sat on the bench, listening to familiar tunes,” Wilbur’s eyes softened at the memory.
“Face to face with a sunset, revisiting what a wise man once said.”
--
“Close your eyes Wil, I’ll be here when you wake up,” Techno murmured quietly, listening to his twin’s hitching breaths from crying as he curled in closer to Techno. “I swear you’ll never hear goodbye from me.”
--
“When the sky is filled with cries,” Wilbur sang, raw and exposed, and Techno loved it. “ I’ll sing to the air, with endearing lullabies,” he loved listening to his brother create music, he loved listening to him play. Techno loved him. “ You'll be here, safe in my arms, 'cause you're my best friend in the world,” he held the last note again, taking a breath before continuing again. He loved him like the way gum sticks to sidewalks, like the clouds love the wind, or the sand loves the sea.
Techno loved him like the stars love the sky, he loved like fire how loves wood. He loved Wilbur like moths love light, like how a bird loves the morning. Techno loved him like the sunrise loves the gold, or like the snow loves the buildings after a night of flurries. He loved him like a musician loves music, like a writer loves a quill.
Techno loved Wilbur- it was that simple.
“Someday I'll catch stars for you, so that your nights won't be so blue,” Wilbur’s voice cracked near the end again, and he choked back a sob.
“You'll be here, safe in my arms-”
--
Techno cracked open the door hesitantly to Wilbur's room, watching as Wilbur sat up almost immediately in concern, a message of “you okay?” clearly asked through his furrowed brows. Techno simply made a noise- he didn’t trust himself not to burst into tears on the spot- and instantly Wilbur shifted over in his bed, tapping the spot next to him. He padded across the room, closing the door behind him with a click and crawled into Wilbur’s bed, instantly being wrapped up in Wilbur’s arms.
“You’re safe,” he whispered softly, words muffled as he buried his face into Techno’s shirt. “I swear, you’re safe.”
--
“-‘cause you're my best friend in the world...”
He left the words drop off, simply humming along with the strings, and as the birds joined in too, ad Techno felt his heart go soft.
And as they sat there with the sun’s rays facing towards them and the stars behind, soft sounds still vibrating in the air and a gentle breeze passing, Techno came to a realization.
Because- maybe that’s what living was.
Simply getting dragged outside to see the stars at an ungodly time of morning on a weekday.
Just listening to your twin play an instrument he’s been playing for as long as either of you could remember as the sun rose because you're his only audience and that means something.
Maybe it's simply existing, and having someone you love existing with you because there's music in the air now, and the birds are faint background noise, and there’s an electric feeling of familiarity around you.
Because- it’s home.
And home was wherever Wilbur was.
(So Techno sighed and leaned his head against his twins as the sun showered its golden rays upon them and the final notes of the song sat in the air.
Because- that’s just how it was supposed to be.
Wilbur and Techno against the world.)