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Tommy had always looked up to Wilbur, which is why he felt ashamed when he was scared.
Wilbur never made fun of Tommy when Tommy was scared, but...Tommy wanted to be seen as PogChamp, a Big Man, and Not A Baby.
Tommy's breathing was coming in and out in short gasps, and the pounding of his heart was enough to get him to sit up. He hugged himself, swallowing down the tears and sliding out of bed.
Water will help, Tommy thought, sneaking out of his bedroom and past Wilbur, Techno, and Mama and Papa's room. He soon made it into the kitchen, which was dusted in silver.
Tommy glanced out the window, almost trembling at how dark the kitchen seemed at night. He anxiously looked up at the cabinets, hoping that monsters won't peek out of the dark with their big, red eyes.
Tommy slid his footstool over to the sink and stood on it, grabbing his favorite purple cup from the counter and filling it up with water from the sink. The cold liquid slipped down Tommy's throat, causing Tommy to calm down as he relished the feeling of cold water.
"Toms?"
Tommy yelped, dropping the cup in the sink and whirling around with wide eyes.
Standing there, tired-eyed and half-asleep, was Wilbur.
Tommy breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah, Wilby?"
"What are you doing, being up so late?" Wilbur asked, going over to Tommy and picking the five-year-old up.
Tommy looked down. "I just...wanted some water."
"Ah. Okay. Actually, hey." Wilbur sat Tommy down at Tommy's seat, opened the fridge, and pulled out a plate of chocolate-chip cookies that Mama had baked earlier that day. He sat at the table and picked up a cookie. "Want a snack before we go to bed?"
Tommy nodded, picking up a cookie and putting it in his mouth.
Wilbur took a bite of the cookies, hummed, and stood up, going over to the Packets Jar, pulling out two packets of hot chocolate mix.
(It was the good kind of hot chocolate, too—just the kind that Tommy loved.)
Wilbur filled up two mugs with hot water and poured the packets in. He picked up a spoon from the open drawer and stirred in the hot chocolate. He then reached back into the fridge and pulled out a bag of miniature marshmallows and placed exactly ten in Tommy's mug, just how Tommy liked it.
Wilbur finally went back to the table, placing the cow mug in front of Tommy and taking a sip of his own sheep mug.
Tommy took a drink, having the inhuman ability to drink or eat anything when it's really hot.
"So, Toms," Wilbur began, placing his mug on the table, "why did you get up? Usually, you sleep all the way through the night. Did something bother you?"
Tommy shifted in his seat, not answering.
"...You can tell me, you know," Tommy's twelve-year-old brother murmured.
"...I had a really bad dream," Tommy confessed, still not looking Wilbur in the eye.
"Aw, Toms." Wilbur's voice was soft. "I'm so sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"
Tommy hesitated. "I had a dream that you, Uncle Techie, Mama, and Papa took me back to the orphanage. You all...hated me." Tommy looked up, tears stinging in his eyes. "I-I...don't wanna go back. Mr. Dream is mean and old and scary."
Wilbur's expression seemed pained. "Oh my God, Tommy." Wilbur leaned over and pulled Tommy in for a hug. "Tommy, no, sweetie. We would never give you back. You're the perfect addition to the family. Mama couldn't have any more kids, Papa was lonely, Uncle Techie wanted a cool little nephew, and I wanted an awesome baby brother. You're the answer to all of that, Tommy. We love you, and you will stay here until you're older. Okay?"
Tommy sniffed, tears running down his face. "S-So...I don't have to go back to mean Mr. Dream?"
"You don't have to go back to mean Mr. Dream," Wilbur promised.
Tommy latched onto Wilbur, his heart growing light. "I love you, Wilby."
Wilbur pulled away and kissed Tommy's forehead. "I love you too, Tommy. What do you say you sleep in my room tonight? That way, if you have any more had dreams, I can kick their butt."
Tommy giggled. "Okay! I'll be waiting, Wilby!"
Tommy slid off the chair and rushed to Wilbur's room like a ninja. He's so cool.
Tommy flopped onto Wilbur's bed, snuggling under the sheets and looking towards the door for his big brother to arrive.
Soon, Wilbur opened the door and crawled up beside Tommy. "Hey, Toms."
Tommy curled up against Wilbur, closing his eyes and enjoying Wilbur's smell. It was comforting, like a hug.
Wilbur kissed Tommy's cheek again. "Now, do you think you'll be able to sleep, Tommy?"
Tommy nodded, already beginning to go unconscious. "Yeah. G'night, Wilby. Love you."
"Love you too, Toms. Good night."
As Tommy fell asleep, he heard Wilbur's heartbeat.
It was...nice.
Tommy hoped things would stay like this forever between him and Wilby.