Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As the last ink blotted the page in front of him, Wilbur crossed his t’s, dotted his eyes and perfected his punctuation. ‘La Jolla’ was finished -  he was done. His final words for the world he was destined to leave behind. Well, it was not quite finished. He reached up and wiped his chin of the whiskey that dribbled down as he had missed his mouth finishing the bottle. The page had become blurred, he was seeing double. Wilbur saw a finished page - while the rest of the world saw the truth of an unfinished song with ink still drying next to a golden coloured stain. 

Still, even then - there was a piece missing from his self proclaimed master piece. He had run out of time to write it. Wilbur was going to die. 

He was ready to anyway. Maybe they would see whatever was missing as poetically ironic. An unfinished album detailing an unfinished life - at least in their eyes. 

It wasn’t as sad as an illness killing him - well it is sort of an illness he supposed. Depression is a killer. 

That was besides the point, Wilbur had finished what he had set out to do. 

Destroy his life? Check

Chase away all the people who cared for him? Check

Drink himself silly? Check

Write his final album? Check -ish

What was next? Well - not the main event. Not yet. He had other things to do first… like a walk.

He loved going on walks, the town could be a beautiful place at times - especially at night. He wanted to go on one last walk, down through the woods. Maybe even visit the old field he used to play music in.  Yeah… that would be a nice way to spend his last night.

He pulled himself out the chair and grabbed his bag - stuffing his notebook into the old weathered satchel. A single page floated down and landed back onto the table, through bleary eyes he thought he saw “La Jolla”.. It’s fine. That song can wait here for when he was ready for it. 

For now, a walk. 

He stumbled out his front door - shoes half on his feet and glasses skewed awkwardly on his face. He could hardly see with the drink -the glasses hardly helped, they were for reading after all.  

He walked through the now empty and hollow town, not a peep from anywhere. Not a light on in a single window. The perfect little town to live, to have a family , to grow old and sit in a little rocking chair. He wished he wanted it - that he wanted to live such a life.. But he just couldn’t. It didn’t fit - like a jumper several sizes too small. That life choked him. It would have been easier if he was happy with such simplicity. He could have settled down with Ace - God Ace Race - and had children and got a real job and - no. No he couldn’t, it would not be real. It would rot his soul more than it already was to live a life of lies. He could never imagine himself in an office without a guitar in his arms and chords between his fingers.

It was so privileged of him to think so, he hated himself for it. 

Have you ever wanted something you desperately didn't want so bad? He supposed to any other person it made no fucking sense. Just as he usually did (Or didn’t he supposed). He didn’t want the white picket fence life at all, but he wanted to want it. He wanted to be able to settle. His soul far too restless to even consider it. He wondered if any other musicians faced the same peril he did. The choice between listening to his soul or following his brain's logic. He supposed that internal battle had been enough to kill off his heart's will to live.

He had started to sound like a poet. Disgusting. 

He kept walking - back out of town, through the woods he swore as a child was haunted, and through to the otherside. It was a rather large field, with an old park in the middle of it. The council tried every year to fix it up and make it nice for the kids - but some bellend with a lighter and too much to prove would always come a long and ruin it. Wilbur had been that bellend when he was 15, when he had too much to prove, a girl to impress and the audacity to think he was better than this town and he would escape and never come back.

It's funny how things come full circle sometimes. 

Wilbur looked left from the currently intact play area to see… what the fuck was that? If he had to guess, some snobby artist had decided the field was the perfect place for their ugly metal monstrosity of an art installation. What the fuck was it supposed to mean? All it said to Wilbur was ‘ I’m a waste of materials’. What a hunk of absolute shit. 

Maybe he wasn’t the bellend that burned down kids parks anymore - but he was certainly the bellend that broke art installations that meant fuck all. He might as well, he would be gone before he faced the repercussions of it. Maybe they would take the money from his funeral fund.

…Did he have a funeral fund? Was that something he should have planned? In all honesty they should just dump him in a cardboard box and set it alight for all he cared.

Right. Art installation first, impending death later. 

He could hear some mumbling coming from the otherside of the piece, maybe security? That served to piss him off all the more. Fucking security for this hunk of… metal? Maybe he should add this piece of shit to his list, 13 reasons style. Number 13, the giant piece of shit in the middle of the field is horrendous,  it single handedly tipped me over the edge.  

It was incorrect - but funny all the same. 

He managed to clamber up what he could only assume to be a ramp and looked around - it honestly looked like a Star Trek nerd's wet dream. There were panels on the wall with strange symbols that glowed - like an intergalactic tv screen. The room was full of big metal containers, none with any form of lock on them. How stupid of them, this was practically begging for someone like himself to steal from them.  

What kind of shit would even be in the container of an art installation? Maybe tools to weld the metal? Or was it more abstract shit that was supposed to symbolize the meaning of life or how capitalism is eventually going to cause the end of the world? Please, give a 6 year old enough sugar and they could probably answer both of those questions. He had read microwave meal instructions more profound than that rubbish.

He paused for a second. What if it was a tv set? Or getting used for some low budget film or a dodgy netflix original? He could get in tons of trouble for -

Why did he care again? He wouldn’t be alive to face the consequences. He really had to stop sweating the small stuff.

There were a few things lying around, mostly things that looked like tools that you would make up for a shitty sci fi show. He picked up what appeared to be a wrench that had been run over by a car and lifted it up, bringing it down onto one of the screens.

He had expected it to bounce off. Although the wannabe wrench was heavy, he thought the screen had to be plastic. He recoiled as glass shattered and the light from the screen went dim. Well… that ruled out a low budget film. How much did custom glass cost? It’s all smashed now so he hoped it wasn’t too much. 

Maybe it would come out of his funeral fund.

Wait- would his parents pay for his funeral? Himself and Ace never married. They were likely done after the stunt he had pulled…Or so he hoped. That left his only kin as his parents. Would that mean they would have to pay for damages too? 

He smashed another screen. He really hoped the glass was expensive now, maybe his father would have to sell that boat he liked so much. He should have married that instead of Wilburs mother. Life may have been happier.

He really had to stop thinking that far back. He should have been done with that mess - he did not even talk to those people anymore. Mere monsters of his past.

He digressed. It was strangely therapeutic, smashing someone's things knowing the cost would come from the pocket of someone he hated. If there had been another screen nearby he would have smashed that too, but the other screens were further down and he was already distracted once more by the big containers that surrounded him.

They looked like they could have held a few horses, or maybe a car or two. They were longer than they were wide, made of a metal that Wilbur couldn’t quite place. Going with the Star Trek theme, he decided he would call it plutonium. Sounded like a sci fi esq name to him.

His curiosity could not be satiated with simply looking at them, so,  with all caution thrown to the wind, he stalked over and yanked open the door of the closest container and peaked inside. 

It was just a bunch of… junk in all honesty. Toasters, ovens - he thought he could see a hairdryer in here even. Wilbur had never been more confused in his life. He wondered briefly if this was all one weird dream, metal art piece and all, then his foot connected with what he could only assume to be a bag of literal bricks and he went flying.

Okay. maybe not a dream.

His head hit something smooth and solid as he fell, causing him to crumple once he hit the ground. His vision spun as he tried to focus, but the drink was working against him. 

Maybe it wasn’t the way he intended to go out, but at least it was semi interesting. He could imagine the headlines the next day. “Local loser dies after tripping over bricks in new art installation!” At least everyone would get a final laugh out of him - even in the end he played a mere Jester for his crowd of peers. 

He could feel blood trickle down his forehead as his eyes slowly shut. Never mind, it was a shit way to die. Everyone was right about one thing, when it finally comes to it-  death being ‘it’- you really do have a calamity of regrets. 

The way he had left things between himself and Ace. The album that lay in his bag still attached to his body - never to be released or heard as it should. He regretted the drink, the decision to take a walk. He regretted living almost as much as he had started to regret dying.

He thought he was dying anyway, that was certainly how he felt.

The sound of the container door shutting behind him was the last thing he heard, and the soft rattling on the floor all he felt as he lost consciousness. 

They were right about something else too- your life really did flash before your eyes.

He had been home, just the day before. He had already written Jubilee Line and Your sister was right - he was just struggling with the next one. It was like the song was tickling his brain but the lyrics weren’t quite ready to appear.

His front door banged open, Ace. He had forgotten he had given her a key.  He had been expecting this confrontation the minute he had done what he did. He had planned for it. It was easier to let him go if she hated him.

“Wilbur Soot!” She yelled, tears welling up in her eyes and his stomach felt hollow and empty. Seeing her so distressed was tearing him apart, but his kept his face impassive. 

“What’s wrong?” he asked, fake concern lining his words. He placed his notebook down on the table and stood to greet her - but she met him half way with a hard push to the chest.

“Don’t act stupid with me you prick! I found out - I know what you did you piece of shit!”

He changed his facial expression to one of panic, acting the way he knew Ace expected. “Ace..” 

“Don’t Ace me! Sandy told me everything!”

Of course she did. He knew she would, that's why he had kissed her in the first place. Because she would tell Ace race, and this confrontation would occur.  

“I’m sorry Ace, I really am-” He was. That had been honest of him atleast. 

“No, NO! You do not get to just simper and cower Soot.” She laughed sadly as the tears started to fall. “ You know what? You are a miserable cruel coward Wilbur Soot. You will always be miserable because you revel in it, your own misery will be your only company for the rest of your pathetic life. You are a coward, because you do nothing but feel sorry for yourself. I hope your happy with your choices, I don’t care if you're not. Fuck you, Fuck your shitty songs and Fuck everything you have. I am so done with you” 

He watched her get it out, his own heart screaming in agony at the scene, feeling as he kills off any good thing he ever had. She stormed from the house, door slamming so hard the windows rattled. 

He smiled. Tears streaked his own face and he still smiled. He had done it. 

Get Ace to hate him. Check.

There would no longer be any mourners for William Soot. 

He had already mourned her long before the plan was in motion - in preparation for all that had just happened saw.

He knew the kind of girl Sandy was, he knew she would tell Ace. He also knew she would stay by Ace’s side. 

He was cruel. He was miserable. He was a coward. She was right, she knew him better than anybody. 

He sat down on the couch and picked up his notebook and scribbled the words “ Losing Face” - there. A place to start.

Chapter Text

As he finalized the final details of the trip, Tubbo was finally ready to head off to Earth. Having just loaded in a handful of empty containers, putting in the coordinates of Earth (which wasn’t all that far from his current location) and firing off one last message to the buyer that he was indeed still coming tonight, nothing could stop Tubbo. 

Tubbo knew the risks of going to Earth. Visiting was highly discouraged given humans were not allowed in space. The galactic government hadn’t made visiting Earth illegal given there was some trade which went on across the planet, but it was highly advised that there be minimal contact, to try and hide any blatantly obvious alien signs and to park your ship in large fields. 

Tubbo knew this was risky and that the other crew members aboard his ship wouldn’t agree with his choices but he didn’t care. He was bound and determined to get some answers that nobody but himself could find out, or so he had convinced himself. 

Tubbo opened the door that connected the small delivery ship to the rest of the SS Union. He could leave right now, but he figured he could say one last goodbye. He was in a bit of a time crunch, but this crew was basically his family so it felt wrong to leave without a word. 

Wandering out to meet the rest of the ship, Tubbo ended up in the kitchen. To his luck, it was Phil who was standing in the kitchen. Tubbo looked up to Phil like the man could personally reach up and give him the stars. Unfortunately for Phil, Tubbo was just another crewmate. 

This would be fine if everyone else on the ship hadn’t basically been adopted by Phil. Tubbo knew it was because Phil thought he didn’t need parents or care like some of the other crew members did. In his defence, Tubbo did act wildly independent and rarely would ask for help if it was needed. Although he secretly hoped someone would see through the mask he put up and realise he needs parental love just as much as anyone else. 

Phil was standing at the stove cooking some meal for the rest of the crew. His blond hair was tied back into a loose bun that rested just below his hat. He wasn’t in his usual uniform, instead wearing a plain white t-shirt and some joggers. He had an apron on which was tied around his waist, the knot just barely hanging out between his wings. The same wings that Tubbo couldn’t help feeling jealous of. Large, graceful, black avian wings that allowed him to fly fast and graceful. Tubbo’s bee wings twitched at the thought of being able to fly with speed as he could merely float somewhat slowly. It also didn't help his left wing had a slight bend to it which impacted his ability to fly. 

It was quiet in the kitchen aside from the sizzling sound from the pan. It was quite peaceful, which was a surprise for this ship. If Tubbo looked carefully enough, he could see the content smile that rested on Phil‘s lips. 

The little bee alien stood in the doorway for a moment, afraid to break Phil’s moment, but he knew it was now or never. He cleared his throat before speaking. 

“Hey, Phil… I um… Just wanted to let you know I’m heading out on that mission I told you about.”

Phil seemed to jump slightly before turning a round and gave Tubbo that warm, fatherly smile. It was so oddly domestic that he forgot for a moment he was standing on a spaceship about to go on a very risky mission. 

“Alright, mate. It’s just a day trip right?” Phil asked, clearly trying to confirm any information since Tubbo hadn’t told him much at all about his mission. 

Tubbo nodded and gave a half-hearted smile. “Yeah. Just a quick stop on a nearby planet to pick up some supplies and then I’m coming right back. Should take about a day.” 

Phil just smiled and turned back to the food he’d been cooking. “Sounds good.” There was a slight pause before Phil spoke again. “Which planet were you going to again? So we know where to look if anything happens.” 

Tubbo felt a lump form in his throat and he shifted awkwardly on his feet. The one question he was dreading Phil asked. He had secretly hoped Phil would’ve just let him go, no questions. But of course, that wasn’t his luck. 

“Um… Earth.” His voice was barely audible, but Phil had heard. As soon the words had left his lips, Phil dropped what he was holding and removed his food from the heat. 

“Earth?” Phil asked, turning around so abruptly that Tubbo was worried that he was about to knock something over with his wings. 

Before Tubbo could respond, Phil was already speaking again. 

“Do you know how dangerous that is? What if someone sees you? What if you get caught?” 

Tubbo let out a sigh. He had thought of these questions, but the drive to get answers had trumped all the intrusive thoughts. 

“Phil, this is me we are talking about okay? I’ll be fine. I’m going during the night so humans will be asleep. It’s just a quick supply pick up and then I’m coming right back.” Tubbo explained. 

This didn’t seem to satisfy Phil, he just seemed to grow more worried. 

“No Tubbo! I don’t think it’s a good idea to go to Earth. Why can’t you just go somewhere else? Like- literally any other planet.” 

Tubbo’s patience was growing thin. Why was Phil trying to act all parently now? 

“Because the seller needs a few last-minute items on Earth. It’s just easier this way! It’s not even that big of a deal-“

“Not that big of a deal?” Phil has cut him off. “Of course it’s a big deal! You’re going to Earth by yourself! For what? Some supplies? What could possibly be so important you can’t get them anywhere else?” 

Tubbo felt his hands clench as anger began to rise through his body. “Phil, I'm not some child! I know the potential consequences of my actions but I’ll be careful okay?” He tried to reason. “I just… I need these supplies okay? They have to come from this seller since nobody else seems to want to sell these. So, if the seller wants to make the exchange on Earth, I’m gonna go to Earth.” 

Phil’s face flashed a look of sad concern before it went back to the frustrated anger it had previously been showing. 

“What is so important about these supplies that you’re willing to risk your life for?” Phil asked, his voice a little more raised than Tubbo would have expected. 

“They just…” Tubbo paused. How could he explain why these supplies were so important without revealing everything he’d worked so hard to keep secret?

“Look you just… You wouldn’t understand Phil.” Tubbo’s tone came off more aggressive than he had meant it to. 

“Then make me understand!” Phil shouted, slamming his hand on the counter. 

This caused Tubbo to jump, glaring at Phil as he began to fight back tears. Phil had just yelled at him. That had never ever happened before. Why now? 

“Look I…” Tubbo paused to fight back the tears from falling down his face. “I can’t talk about this right now. I have to go.” 

Phil’s face seemed to quickly change to concern as he realised Tubbo was genuinely upset, but he didn’t wanna hear it. Phil went to reach out to him, but he was already turning away and heading out the door. 

“Tubbo-“ Was the last thing he heard before the door slammed shut behind him. 

Once he knew the door was closed, a few tears managed to slip down his face. Maybe saying a quick goodbye was a bad idea. If Phil was gonna yell at him, Tubbo dreaded what the others might say. 

He reached up and gently brushed the tears away with his fingers and headed right back to the smaller ship storage room and made his way onto the ship he had packed. 

“Jack,” Tubbo called out as he wandered through the door into the control room of his ship. 

“Tubbo.” The AI responds, lighting up one of the monitors near the captain's chair. The red and Blue hue nearly blinded Tubbo at its sudden appearance. 

“Can you prepare the ship to be able to take off?” Tubbo asked, sniffling as he began his preparations. 

Jack was quiet for a moment. “Of course.” Another pause, it almost seemed like the AI wanted to say something. 

Tubbo let out a frustrated groan. “If you have something to say. Say it. Probably gonna mock me or something right?” He felt bad for snapping at the AI but he was still angry from his fight with Phil.

“Look.” Jack started. “I know I typically enjoy watching the chaos, but Phil is just worried about you.” 

“Don’t care Bossman. I can handle myself. I always have and I always will.” His voice was almost cold. Words that were constantly repeated in his head were finally being spoken aloud. 

Tubbo was the responsible one of the ship. He was in charge of not only all the technology aboard the ship but also communicating with any foreign species outside of the ship. Chief of Communications was his title, and Tubbo knew that he had to keep up this act of perfection.

Sure, by his species standards he was just barely into adulthood. But, Tubbo had been forced to grow up faster than most people. At a young age, he had been sent away from his parents to attend Sam’s fleet school only for a large portion of his planet to be wiped out by an incurable disease. Being the last of his species to leave the planet Tubbo knew he was the one who had to find answers. 

Which brought him to his current mission. He was heading to earth to collect any sort of equipment or technology which could help him end up even one step closer to finding the answers. 

He couldn’t tell Phil about this mission. Phil didn’t even know his parents were dead. Tubbo didn’t have the heart to tell people he was the last bee species. Instead, he mourned the loss of his people alone. He used the sadness and the anger to push him to find the cure.

It didn’t help that the government had basically covered up the bee population pandemic. Most people just assumed the bee population was under heavy lockdown to regrow their numbers after space poachers had come and murdered most of them. Something about it all made Tubbo uneasy, but he typically didn't ponder these thoughts for long.

Jack didn’t respond after this, having decided against arguing with Tubbo who was clearly distressed over the entire situation. 

Tubbo finished starting the engine and waited till Jack informed him that the door to the ship room of the SS Union was airlocked and he was ready to take off.

“Preparations are all complete,” Jack informed. “As I cannot leave the ship you will be on your own until you return back on the dock.” 

Tubbo nodded. “ I know. Thanks, Jack.” His voice was softer now as the anger had started to subside. 

The screen next to him went dark again leaving Tubbo alone again. The wall of the ship opened up, exposing Tubbo to the vast space in front of him. 

The flight to Earth was quite peaceful. Tubbo felt guilty about his fight with Phil, but Phil had crossed his boundaries. Why did he suddenly have to show an interest in him?

Tubbo tried to not think of the conversation but the image of Phil yelling at him left him incredibly upset and hurting. He had always been the perfect crewmate, why wouldn’t Phil trust him just this once? Yes, Earth is so risky but this is him. The kid who takes on everyone’s pressures and puts on a brave smile. 

In Tubbo's mind, there is nothing that could break him. He had already been through hell in losing everything once, nothing can shock him like that again. He was bound and determined to make sure nobody else suffered in the way he did. 

Descending into Earth was probably the toughest part of the trip. Trying not to draw too much attention to himself wasn't too bad given it appeared to be very late at this time on Earth. 

Tubbo managed to land his ship in a field that looked - well it looked like shit. It appeared anything that had been built here was ultimately vandalized or destroyed. The scene gave Tubbo a bad taste in his mouth. Humans must really be pathetic angry creatures huh?

Tubbo turned his ship off and opened the door to the storage section. Grabbing his phaser and tucking it into his belt (can never be too safe) he began his exit onto Earth. 

Tubbo heard the crunch of the dry grass as his feet hit the Earth’s surface. He took a deep breath and he could’ve puked. What in god's name was that smell? He had heard of the pollution problem but this was one of the worst things he had smelled. This is saying something cause he lives with a Raccoon who willingly eats garbage. 

Tubbo tried to ignore the smell as he wandered into the field a little bit towards a ship he could see in the distance. Immediately he noticed another alien who was walking toward him. It appeared to be a feline species. The large cat ears and tail that was swaying back and forth were a dead giveaway. 

“Are you….” The alien seemed to check their communicator. “Tobias Underscore?” 

“You can just call me Tubbo.” 

The feline nodded, his face scrunched slightly. 

“Right. Okay, To-… Tubbo. I got all the supplies. Do you have the money?”

Tubbo reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small bag of change that clinked together as it moved. 

“Yep. 1000 space units.” 

The feline smirked. “Not even gonna try and bargain more? You must really need these items. Wonder what secret project requires these Earth supplies.” 

Tubbo gave the feline a look. “Listen. It’s none of your business why I need these supplies okay? Can you just go get them?” 

The feline made a Merow sound, emphasising Tubbo’s sharp attitude but moved to get the supplies regardless. 

Tubbo watched as the feline brought over a handful of boxes on a floating cargo transporter. 

“Alright, this is everything.” The feline patted the boxes. “Hopefully you find what you’re looking for.”

Tubbo thanked the feline before he brought the supplies back into his ship. It took a bit but Tubbo managed to unpack all the boxes from the transported onto his ship. Most were pretty heavy, but Tubbo handled it like a champ. 

After setting each box down in his ship nicely, Tubbo left the shipping deck. He brought the feline back his transported and gave a warm smile. 

“Alright, I think I got it all packed up. Thanks again.” Tubbo spoke as he handed the bag of money over. 

The feline happily took it and double-checked the correct amount. Tubbo decided not to question, despite having counted 4 times before he left, as the feline wouldn’t have known that. 

“Alright, perfect. Thanks for doing business with y’a kid.” The feline waved a lazy salute before he wandered back to his ship. 

Tubbo let out a sigh. Successful mission. Now he just had to go back to earth. Tubbo walked back to his ship and realised he forgot to close the storage container. Without a second check, Tubbo clicked the button to close it before wandering to the engine room. 

The flight back from Earth was easy, and much less stressful too. Tubbo had calmed down from the fight with Phil and, although he still dreaded coming back home, he figured it would be fine. 

Getting back on the ship, Tubbo didn’t really bother to check his shipping container, being exhausted from the day of travel. He decided instead to go right to bed. Most of the ship was asleep so there wasn’t much of a worry. 

The next morning was uneventful. Tubbo woke up after everyone else had already gone on about their days. Thankfully Tommy hadn’t come to harass him this morning, so he decided to throw himself into his work to avoid Phil. 

Tubbo went back to the ship he had spent the last day on, he opened the shipping container. To his shock, the entirety of his ship was- well destroyed. 

The monitors were cracked and half hanging off the wall, and boxes were open and pushed over. Tubbo was horrified. If this was another one of Tommy’s pranks, Tubbo would personally strangle him. 

All that work and for what? Although, this didn’t seem characteristic of Tommy. Especially not with breaking their equipment. 

Tubbo cursed under his breath and began to pick things up, careful not to cut his fingers on the broken glass. 

Getting to the last box, Tubbo was already exhausted. He was annoyed and frustrated over the entire ordeal. He was expecting this last box to have the supplies all pulled out, but instead, he had found something surprising. 

There was something- no . 

There was someone inside the container. 

Tubbo was mortified. How had he missed an entire creature in his container when he was loading it up? How had the feline pulled this over on him? Most importantly, was it even alive?

Tubbo grabbed a nearby pole which had been busted off some supply he couldn’t name and gently poked the creature. 

A soft groan escaped the tall figure's lips as he rolled onto his side. 

“Fuck off, Ace…” He muttered, the words slurring together and raspy.

Tubbo immediately froze. His translator was supposed to translate languages into bee speak. This wasn't bee speak. This was something else. Something Tubbo knew, and something he knew well. 

Then it dawned on Tubbo. 

This was English. A language he had learned after Tommy bet him he’d never be able to learn an Earthian language and be the ultimate intergalactic linguist. 

Tubbo had kidnapped a Human into space accidentally.

Chapter Text

Wilbur was not a fan of waking up. Not in the morning, not noon or night (Maybe this should have been obvious as he had tried to make himself permanently sleep).

He especially was not a fan of being woken up, which Ace was rather fond of doing.

Wait. That was not right - Ace should not be waking him right now, not with no less of a knife in hand. 

His bleary eyes blinked open, head pounding as his eyes adjusted to the light. Shit, he really regretted drinking so much the night before. The whole reason he drank so much is that he really wasnt supposed to wake up and feel this shit - now he feels like the 8th circle of hell opened up in his cranium.

Once his eyes adjusted to the light, he recognised where he was, the shitty little container in the art installation. He was surrounded by all kinds of electronics and gadgets and… the person in front of him.

His eyes, still quite blurred, attempted to focus on the figure in front of him.

“Shit man, I-” even with a hazy silhouette, he realised something was very off. First things first, he had giant wings and antennae. Second thing - he was not shouting at Wilbur to get up, which anyone who had 2 pennies of sense would do after someone broke into private… could an art installation even be called private property?

“You look like a shit cosplayer” He groaned, trying to get a rise out of the slowly forming person. His eyes had started to unblur and details were becoming more poignant. 

The being stared down at him which Wilbur could only describe as blurry shock.

“Cosplayer?” The being eventually buzzed out. Yes, buzzed out, he was clearly very committed to his role.  The only way he could describe the beings' accent was as if Barry B Benson was posh and buzzed a lot more. Serious commitment to his role indeed.

“Yeah, fuckin cosplayer. You got the big things on your head and the wing’s, or are you an actor? Shit- am I on some sort of set? I hope it’s Doctor Who and not Star Trek-”

“I don’t know what those things are, Set? Doctor Who? Our Doctor is-”

“Oh, so you're improvising? Then, Take me to your Leader!” Wilbur giggled out, still coming out of his delirious hangover state. 

“I don’t think zzztztzt would like you much” 

Wilbur rub’s his eyes, confused as to why this actor kept buzzing when saying what he assumed was names, maybe the bee’s in whatever show he had crashed into had various buzz sounds for names? Yeah it was probably a Doctor Who set.

Once his eyes unblur and he finally gets a good look at the person in front of him, he wonders if maybe he was still somewhat drunk. Maybe the costume designer was just incredible this season - because the bee boy in front of him looked so…real.

Like the wings that fluttered behind him were really his own, and the antenne that twitched were responding to him. “Shit, what kind of budget did they put for this episode? Those wing’s look real man!”

The boy’s eyebrows lifted up, almost disappearing into his brown hair, before looking almost…sorrowful?

“Do you know where you are, human?”

“Yeah? Norfolk? I’m on some weird set or something - you can drop the alien bit now”

“Tis not a bit, human. You’re on my ship, in space. We are several leagues away from Earth as we speak. Did you intend to end up here human?”

“Space? Are you pulling my leg or something? Cause it’s really not that funny. I have a huge headache and you’re trying to pull such a stupid joke.”

“Tis not a joke, Human. Leave this container and look from a window. You will see yourself amongst the stars.”

“Amongst the stars” Wilbur mocked, stumbling to his feet and out of the container he must have found himself in. He walked over to what he assumed was a window, almost laughing to himself as he prepared to see a tv screen showing the night sky.

When his eyes landed on a nebula, and saw no sign of it being a screen - he started to freak out a little.

“WHAT THE FUCK?”

Okay- maybe a lot. 

“See, I told you” A buzzing voice came from behind and he whipped around to see what he now realised was an actual alien. Despite how oddly human he looked, now that his mind was clear and so was his vision - he realised how inhuman the boy (?) , looked. 

“I- I didn’t mean to come to space! I was drunk, I was -” He did not feel all that comfortable telling this random alien why he had really been out that night “Where the fuck are we? Take me back to earth!”

The alien went into a more defensive position, as if he was prepared for Wilbur to leap and attack him. “We cannot. We are many lightyears away from Earth. Not enough fuel to go back. Plus, it is illegal”

“You can’t just steal me from Earth and not take me back! You look human enough, could you not slip by or something? I do not belong out here - what do you mean illegal?”

At the mention of looking human, the bee boy (much easier than just alien) looked disgusted. AS if Wilbur had done something truly foul.

“Not Human. Apodemia. Very rude. Illegal to go to earth as you are not civilised for intergalactic communication just yet. We are supposed to leave you alone until you meet us. I did not steal you, you wandered onto my ship - your fault”         

“My fault? My fault! If Earth was so illegal, what were you doing there? Huh? What the hell am I supposed to do out here?” To say Wilbur was one space fact away from a complete mental break was an understatement to say the least. 

He was supposed to be dead, not in space . The only familiar things around him seemed to be various earthly objects that the bee had picked up from his crusade to earth. He had nothing but the coat on his back and the bag over his shoulder - and he was so alone. 

“Doing illegal things” He shrugged “Needed things to mess with…” he looked at Wilbur with a sort of pity in his eyes, one Wilbur had to restrain from knocking out of him. The bee looked at him as if he understood something about Wilbur. Not that he had any idea on what that was exactly.

“Do not worry humans. I will keep you safe.”

Wilbur let out a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “Is it not safe for me out here?”

“More like… people do not believe humans are safe”  Wilbur looked at him to elaborate 

“Humans are dangerous. Your fight to survive is terrifying, you will destroy anything in your way to live or protect your young. You lose a limb and keep fighting on, you tame wild beasts and keep them around as if they are your kin. You have so much adrenaline running through your veins sometimes it is enough to kill a small army - yet that is nothing to you. You squabble amongst yourselves so much, many species fear the wars you will bring to the stars once you get here - and you will. It is only a matter of time. Nobody wishes this time to come quickly - so any humans in space are obliterated.”

Wilbur’s stomach sank, which was strange considering he had been trying to kill himself the night before. Maybe it was because the fact he would die where no one could truly find him was bothering him  - regardless, he was scared. He was torn between wanting death, but not one like this. Not when it was not his choice. 

“But, I haven't even exercised since I was twelve, I cannot take down anybody! I am the biggest non threat to the universe!”

The Bee nodded “I know this. I have studied your kind, tis why I can speak your common language of Anglais. Most do not attack unless provoked. Tis why you are not dead right now. I do not wish to see you gone, human.”

“So… you will not kill me?”

“No, but you also cannot walk around my ship looking the way you do. The others may not feel the same as I do. You will have to be disguised.”

“Like what?”

The bee’s wings fluttered and he gave a smile “Like me, I think I can put together something believable. You will stay disguised until they like you too much to kill you!”

“I am very unlikeable bee boy.”

“Tis not bee boy, it's uh- Tub-o. I think you say tub-o”

“Right, Tubbo. I’m Wilbur.”

“Well Wil-burr, you will need to make yourself likeable if you wish to survive.”

“So…what? That’s it - no chances of going back to earth? I have to get used to being in space for the rest of my life living amongst a bunch of aliens?”

Tubbo nodded “Yes. Like I said, I do not wish to see you dead Wil-burr and tis too risky and too far to take you back. Stay.”

Stay. That’s probably the first time anyone has asked (or told) him to stay. Maybe that's why he nods. “Stay…. Not like I have a choice”

Tubbo nods “You don’t. Get in box”

“What?”

“You cannot come out yet, get back in the container so I can get you a costume. Then, you can come out. You will be uh… country cousin. Long lost”

“...You want me to be your long lost hick cousin?”

“Do not know what some of those words mean - but yes! Will work. Crew do not know my family, so you will be fine. Then, steal their hearts. Then you can be human again”

So, now to survive in space Wilbur has to dress as a weird fucking bee alien, so the other aliens don’t kill him.

Why the fuck did he have to go on that walk again?

He did not have time to get lost in his thoughts once more as Tubbo got sick of his dawdling and grabbed him, dragging him towards the container and back in.

“Ow! I’m human, shouldn’t you be scared of me instead of dragging me around.”

“You? No.” He laughed, it sounded just like an angry bee “You have skinny arms. Cannot even lift blaster, probably”

Wilbur did not know what a blaster was, but he knew an insult when he heard one.

“Fuck you bee boy”

Tubbo pushed him back into the darkness, and moved back to the exit, holding onto the door. “Not bee boy. Apoidea. Will get first aid - for your head.” Wilbur had not even realised he had injured himself.

“Fine. Whatever… I'll just sit here, I guess.”

“Good human” He buzzed before closing the door, putting him back into darkness once more.

His life was now in the hands of an alien's craft skills. Great. 

He wondered what would happen on earth now. He was supposed to die, have a funeral and it would all be over and everyone could move on… now he did not know.  There was no body, he had not written his note yet so there was no clear path for what he had intended to do that night. As far as anyone in his life knew, he was simply gone.

Would there be a funeral with no body? Or would his existence remain on a missing poster - his life now a mystery of the town. What had happened to Wilbur Soot? An unsolved crime?

Maybe he would be just like the man who had disappeared not too long ago, barely 3 months before himself. Maybe he would be presumed dead and still have a funeral - but then that would be a lie wouldn’t it? Those he cared about would not have the closure an open casket could give them. 

They would be left wondering, those who had cared, what had happened to the man they knew. A note would have cleared something up - all they had now was an empty bottle of jack daniels. 

At least they had his guitar. That was something he supposed. 

His existence on earth was now one big question mark - all he could do was hope he had made everyone give up on him so that it did not haunt them for the rest of their lives. 

Especially Ace. He did not want her to wander forever. She deserved peace of mind at last.

Chapter Text

As the door to the shipping container closed, Tubbo finally let his adrenaline start to catch up to him. 

He had kidnapped a human into space. He wasn’t sure the weight of that realization had fully set. 

Part of him was excited. He had been studying human culture for so long, hell he had learned an entire language just for fun. He could finally learn about their culture, even if it was highly illegal to keep this human in space. 

The other part of him was filled with anxiety. Humans were dangerous… well maybe not this human. But his crew mates wouldn’t know that. He doesn’t want to know what Techno or Tommy might do if they find out there’s a human on board. Not to mention if Tubbo gets caught he will go to an intergalactic prison. He’s sure Sam and Ponk would be incredibly disappointed if after everything he ended up in prison.

Tubbo knew he couldn’t sit with his thoughts for very long. He was running against the clock. He had to figure out a costume for Wilbur so he could hide.

Tubbo quickly moved down the hall away from where his human was hiding and headed towards his usual workspace, his workshop. 

On his way to his workshop, Tubbo almost tripped over something. Well- it was more of a someone. 

Looking down, Tubbo saw his best friend Tommy. He stood at around 3’10 with large fuzzy ears, a puffy tail covered in large stripes and a signature black, a mask-like pattern that covered his eyes. The raccoon-hybrid looked back at him with a displeased look.

“Oi! Bitchboy watch where you’re going!”

Tubbo let out a slightly forced laugh. “Sorry, Bossman. Didn’t see you there.”

Tommy gave him a look. “It’s ‘cause I’m short, isn't it? How many times do we have to have this discussion: “I am the biggest man ever you should notice my presence more.”

Tubbo awkwardly scratched his neck. “Listen, how am I supposed to notice your presence when you are quiet?”

Tommy looked up at Tubbo and deadpanned. “I will piss in your shoes if you don’t stop insulting me.”

Tubbo shook his head. “Fine, sorry sorry. I was just distracted-“

“You’re acting weird.” Tommy cut him off.

Tubbo was taken aback. How could Tommy always recognize when something was wrong?

“I’m acting weird?” Tubbo questioned, playing dumb.

Tommy nodded. “Yeah, you seem all frantic and not like your usual self. What’s going on?”

Tubbo shrugged. “Nothing I just- am working on a big project and I’m just a little stressed.”

Tommy looked unconvinced. “Oh yeah? You sure it isn’t because of that fight you had with Phil yesterday?”

Tubbo’s heart sank. He had honestly not even really thought of that. Sure, he had avoided Phil earlier that morning, but now he was more concerned with his new human. 

Tubbo realized quickly he could play into this. “Oh. Yeah. How did you even hear about that?”

“Sneeg overheard you and came gossiping to me,” Tommy admitted. 

Of course it was Sneeg.

“I always forget he always seems to be listening.” Tubbo groaned. 

“You sure you’re okay?”

Tubbo nodded. “Yeah, I'll be fine. We both just needed to cool off. I’ll talk to him eventually. For now, I just wanna stay in my room. Process the fight and all.”

“Ew. Feelings.” Tommy’s face scrunched in disgust. “Well good luck with that.”

“Thanks,” Tubbo said, shifting from one foot to the other. “Well, I’m gonna go uh… Sulk in my room. Bye!” 

Before Tommy could answer, Tubbo went running down the hall to his workroom. The door opened and Tubbo stepped inside. 

His workspace being a mess was a bit of an understatement. Tubbo liked to lay all his things out and was known to start a variety of projects before finishing one. In the corner, he had piled a bunch of scrap supplies including random metals, wires and other gadgets he had managed to collect. 

His walls were scattered with various sketches and plans he had for future projects to help the ship. He had two types of desks. One desk held a screen where Tubbo would do his coding and communication with Sam.

On the other was where he did his contraption building. It was littered with tools both on the top and within the drawers it had. 

To anyone else, it would look like a machine had thrown up in the room. But, Tubbo knew exactly where everything was. It often baffled the rest of the crew members as they wouldn’t be able to find anything even given hours to search.

Tubbo had been lectured about leaving a mess but nobody dared try to clean it. Phil had tried once and Tubbo had screamed at him since he could no longer find anything, despite it being clearly organised. 

As the bee stumbled into the room he quickly closed the door. He needed to figure out exactly how he was gonna disguise Wilbur. He had an idea but he was gonna have to pray it worked. 

Tubbo wandered to one of the walls where two pairs of wings hung. One larger and one smaller. Both robotic, bee-like wings. He had been working on them recently to gift to Tommy and Ranboo so they would be able to fly. He had managed to create them and make them move, but actually capturing the aerodynamics was proving troublesome so he had put them on hold.

However, he figured these could be good enough to give to Wilbur. Nobody knew he was working on them, especially as nobody ever enters his workspace. 

Tubbo grabbed the larger wings off the wall. Ranboo was a bit taller than Wilbur but he figured these wings would fit better than the ones he made for the raccoon child. 

The wings weren’t anything super complex. They were simplistic bee-like robotic wings. They had a more grey tint to them instead of Tubbo’s completely clear wings so they might come off as suspicious. However, the bee knew he was the only one of his species this crew had ever seen so he was sure he would play it off. 

Tubbo set the wings on his work desk and then began looking around. The next thing he needed was his antennae. 

Tubbo reached into his supply pile and pulled out some wire. It was a relatively thick wire that was black so he figured that could work and be bent to the right shape. The only issue would be Wilbur wouldn’t be able to move them, but again he could claim that some bees don't express using their antennae. 

Tubbo grabbed his wire cutters and began to cut the right size. He took the wire and measured it against his own antennae to get a realistic size. Once he was done with that he bent the ends into a little loop. It didn’t look great but it could be enough to fool the crew mates. 

Now he just needed to find a way to attach them to Wilbur’s head.

Then, an idea struck him. 

Niki had hair clips she used when she worked. Tubbo figured he could weld the wire to the clips and they would be easy to take on and off. 

Tubbo slipped out of his room and made his way down the hall. He knew Niki would be busy with her tasks today so, hopefully, he could just slip into her room, grab them and get out before anyone could see him. 

The little bee managed to slip into her bathroom, rummaging around through a couple of drawers before he managed to find some hair clips. Given Niki was one of the few females on board, she was allowed her own bathroom. Which worked in Tubbo’s favour right now since no one else was here, but it felt wrong to be in her space. 

Within minutes Tubbo was in and out of Niki’s bathroom without anyone seeing. 

He ran back to his room and started working on the two little antennae. With a little minor welding, Tubbo managed to create the headpiece and it looked- well, somewhat realistic. 

That’s a lie. The antennae look very much like wire, being a bit too thick and they wouldn’t move. But, Tubbo prayed it would be enough to trick the rest of the ship. 

Tubbo collected the wings and the headpieces and was about to head out when it dawned on him. The most important part. A translator. 

Sure Tubbo understands English and would be able to communicate, but Wilbur would be unable to hear or communicate with the other species on the ship.

A few colourful choice words slipped past Tubbo’s lips as he set the equipment down and went to his computer. 

Tubbo had spare translators, that wasn’t really a problem. The problem was in the actual technology behind it. 

The translator technology has been created by Sam, Tubbo's adoptive father. As Tubbo grew up, Sam taught him how it worked. As new languages were discovered Sam would have to input any words into a program he created. 

Each word was linked to a base language, which was Creeperspeak given it was just the easiest for Sam to program against, and then could be translated into any language. 

Tubbo had always found this fascinating. It started his interest in learning other languages. He began learning the new languages for Sam and then helping program them. 

Soon, Tubbo was the main translator for it in his spare time. It was something he enjoyed and had offered to his father to let him be the one to do it. 

Programming languages often took a long time. Mostly due to the fact all the words had to be inputted against Creeperspeak.

The other issue was the technology needing to be hooked up to the computer adding the new program in order to update its languages. 

Thankfully, Tubbo had already made a program to compare English to Creeperspeak. Given he grew up with that as his main second language (after Beespeak) he often would learn new languages against Creeperspeak (especially since that was how Sam taught him). 

This program had been created as a sort of language-learning software often prompting sentences or requiring Tubbo to speak sentences out loud. 

He had gathered the English language from various books he had managed to purchase off what best could be described as a black market (Phil still does not know Tubbo did this. Only Tommy, Jack, and Sneeg knew the Bee spoke English). A lot of the books and other contraband he’d received were very basic English, which he assumed young Humans learned. 

Tubbo moved to his computer and pulled the program up. He knew he would have to change up some of the programming, but the base code would be already usable. 

As he pulled up the program he hadn’t used in a while, Tubbo worked his way around the coding. It didn’t take long for him to copy it over into the actual program. 

Once he finished copying everything over, Tubbo removed the translator from his ear. He plugged it into the cord attached to his PC and began the update. 

As it updated, Tubbo rummaged around his room and found his spare translators. He picked one that he figured would fit Wilbur, and moved to his computer. 

Before removing his translator, he swapped the ‘translated language’ of his communicator from Beespeak to English. This would help him determine if the new update worked or not. 

He swapped out the two translators and realised he would need to collect the translators of everyone else on the ship to update them. 

This would be the hardest part. How would he possibly be able to collect everyone’s translators without it being super suspicious? 

He didn’t have much choice though. It was this or risk telling everyone about the Human. Which would only result in the extermination of the human and, even though they just met, Tubbo felt attached. 

He was so fascinated by Humans and now he would finally get to analyse one in a humane way. The scientist in him was excited about it all. 

Tubbo took a deep breath and put his translator back in. 

Time to go collect everyone’s translators. 

Tubbo left Wilbur’s new translator to update, since it was a few updates behind, as he wandered out with a little bag to collect all the translators in. 

The first person Tubbo decided to find was Ranboo. He was often hiding in the medical area, making sure things were stocked and ready, or having to take care of Tommy who often gets himself into trouble.

Tubbo wandered down the hall, humming to himself (which was something he often did when he was bored or doing something trivial). It didn’t take long to get from his work area to the medical unit.

Tubbo touched his hand to the scanner on the wall causing the door to slide up quickly, revealing the small room.

Ranboo was wandering back and forth between the cabinets and one of the beds, where Tommy was sitting, holding his wrist which was bruised and cut. 

Tubbo was somewhat relieved to see Tommy here as that would be one last person to track down, meaning he could get back to Wilbur sooner. 

Ranboo glanced up as the door opened and he smiled warmly.

“Tubbo!” The enderman called out, standing up straight. 

He was rather terrifying to anyone who didn’t know him. Standing at 8 ft tall with a jaw that could unhinge at will. However, he was rather unusual for an enderman given he suffered from half albinism that impacted half his physical characteristics. His ears pointed out and he had a long, thin tail which often flicked when he was anxious or mad.

But, Ranboo was genuinely one of the most gentle creatures. Tubbo often enjoyed hanging out and talking to Ranboo. It was always easy and he never felt judged or criticised. Unfortunately, Tubbo still often kept to himself about his past and struggles.

“What brings you around?”

Tubbo was somewhat relieved when the English came through perfectly. It sounded very much like how Wilbur spoke, except Ranboo’s English accent translated very differently. 

Both boys in the room now had their attention on Tubbo who was still standing in the doorway.

“Oh! Uh- Sam has a translator update. He asked me to collect everyone’s translators and update them. Something about a newly discovered language… I don’t know, I didn't really read the message. Just saw he wanted them updated as soon as possible.”

Tommy gave Tubbo a weird look but just shrugged it off.

“I thought you were going to hang in your room.”

Tommy’s accent sounded much closer to Wilbur’s, which was funny to Tubbo. Different intergalactic species had different accents through the translator. Sure, he had somewhat noticed it before but normally the difference wasn’t this major.

“Yeah, well I got the message to my communicator from Sam and figured I could pre-occupy myself.”

Tommy nods. “Fair enough. But you’re gonna have to talk to him eventually.”

Tubbo gave Tommy a look. “I am well aware. But it’s fine. I can handle myself, you know.” His tone came off a bit harsher than he meant. 

Tommy sat up a bit at the tone change. “I’m just looking out for you man. No need to be a dickhead to me.”

A soft sigh escaped the bee’s lips. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just a bit stressed. I just wanna get these communicators updated.”

Tommy just nodded as he pulled out the translator with his good hand and handed it over. Tubbo slipped it into his bag quickly before turning to Ranboo.

Ranboo stayed rather quiet but seemed rather uncomfortable with the situation. Tubbo wasn’t sure if it was because Ranboo knew about the argument with Phil or if it was because he had just snapped at his best friend. Either way, Ranboo chose not to question it. 

The tallest soon handed over his translator, before returning back to work.

“What happened anyways?” Tubbo asked, trying his best to speak in Racoon, a language he knew the basics of but struggled with long-term conversations.

Tommy seemed to puff up his chest a bit, as if he was going to start ranting, which was enough to inform Tubbo what had happened.

Tubbo snorted. “Please don’t tell me you were fist fighting with Jack in his robot body… Again.”

Tommy pouted and crossed his arms. “It’s not my fault he’s a prick who keeps locking me in my room! If I hadn’t crawled out through the vents I could’ve starved!” 

Tubbo shook his head. “Then maybe don’t provoke him. I’m sure that would help lower your chances of being locked in a room.”

Tommy just flipped Tubbo off which caused him to laugh.

It was nice to laugh a real, genuine laugh. Tubbo hadn’t realised how much the last 24 hours had really thrown him off his rhythm and stressed him out. 

“Alright alright. Stop antagonising my patient.” Ranboo spoke softly, but it wasn't anything mean or malicious, more of a gentle nudge. “You have more people to find. We will see you soon.” 

Tubbo nodded, deciding not to try and enderian, as Ranboo often laughed at how poorly he pronounced things. 

With a small wave, Tubbo went running out of the medical unit and towards the engine room. 

As he walked by the vents, he could hear the little footsteps of his favourite little inching.

Sneeg was the definition of chaos, and Tubbo thrived watching him torment everyone on the ship. Even if he didn’t understand it very well.

“Sneeg!” Tubbo called out happily. 

He waited for a moment before one of the vents opened up and the inchling jumped out, landing on Tubbo’s shoulder. Sneeg was the smallest crewmate on board, standing barely 3 inches tall, but had a loud enough presence that everyone couldn’t help but love him. 

He had small blue, moth-like wings with black on the inside. He had two small antennae that stood up off his head but they were smaller and thicker than the antennae Tubbo had. He was mostly blue with black colouration that covered his eyes and black hair that fell overtop of it. He also wore a cape on top of his normal clothes that had an attached hood that he often kept up. 

“Bee boy! What can I do for you?” Sneeg smiled happily.

“I am updating translators. Can I borrow yours for a little while? Just need to add an update Sam sent my way.”

Without hesitation, Sneeg nodded and reached up to his translator. “Sure. Can you clean it for me while you’re at it? I spilt something on it ages ago and I have been meaning to ask you about it.”

Tubbo was a bit baffled. “Spilled something? On your translator?”

Sneeg just nodded. “Yeah?”

“But… It sits in your ear?? How could you possibly spill something on it?”

“Listen sometimes I hate listening to people talk, so I just take the translator out and pretend to understand people. It’s funny. Nobody has picked up on it yet.”

Tubbo was just stunned but he couldn’t argue with that logic. He wondered if Sneeg had ever tried this tactic on him. 

Sneeg then removed the translator and handed it over before waving and jumping back into the vents. As Tubbo held the translator he could feel it was sticky on the outside, causing him to cringe. He didn’t even want to know. 

At least Tubbo knew he could take his time with Sneeg’s translator. The man didn’t seem too concerned about being without it.

Tubbo continued down towards the helm of the ship. He had a feeling he’d be likely to find Niki, Kristen, and probably Phil there. 

He didn’t want to address Phil yet, but hopefully, if he was surrounded by other people the man wouldn’t question him too hard. That, and Techno was gonna be the hardest person to find so he figured that would be best to leave him last.

In all honesty, Tubbo wasn't even sure if Techno was still on board. He often would go off on little ‘missions’ as he would call them, which was just his cover for going and doing something that was likely very illegal.

As Tubbo approached the helm he could feel his anxiety rise. This wasn’t even that big of a deal. He was going to be fine. Or so he hoped. 

The door of the helm slid up and Tubbo wandered in.

Immediately he could see Niki sitting in front of a screen off to the side. Niki was probably one of the scariest people on the ship. She looked rather innocent, being a Merling and all. She had peach-coloured skin that was covered in scales that often caught the light and allowed her to shimmer. She had short pink hair and large, fin-like ears. She also had a long tail which was surrounded by thin webbing to help her swim. She also had extra thin fins on her calves and forearms. The Merling also had a small water tube that was attached to her nose and ran into a small water tank that was attached to her back to help her breathe.

However, she had a terrifying side. If she flashed her mischievous grin and showed her sharp teeth, anyone would be able to know she was a force to be reckoned with. She was also brilliant and could strategize better than anyone Tubbo had ever met. 

He could somewhat make out that Niki was doing her usual mission preparation as she had a planet’s information pulled up and she appeared to be taking notes. She seemed incredibly focused. 

Tubbo’s gaze then turned to the other person in the room. Kristin. The mother figure of the ship. She was the other terrifying person on the ship. She was a Dragonborn after all. She was the second tallest on the ship, after Ranboo, with large black leather wings with purple webbing. Her skin was a lighter purple and covered in scales, but they were more opaque than Niki’s scales. She had long black hair and two thick horns that pointed up from the top of her head. She also had large fang-like canines and claws, although she made sure to keep them short enough to avoid hurting others.

Despite her terrifying appearance, Kristin was also incredibly sweet and gentle. She also gave some of the best hugs, Tubbo assumed they were what a mother's hug should feel like.

On Kristin's lap, however, was something Tubbo didn’t expect.

Techno sat on her lap, looking over what Tubbo could only assume was Kristin’s next navigation plan. 

Techno was probably one of the strangest members aboard the SS. Union, which was saying a lot since no two species were the same on this ship. Techno was, well- he looked like a human-pig that had gained sentience, and then was drawn by a 14-year-old who watched too much pokemon. Nobody really knows how it happened, he always rambles about this blue hedgehog, but after the ship realised that Techno might just be trying to confuse them, they moved on from it. 

Techno stood on his two back legs like he had become an anthropomorphized pig. He kept on a red cape and a crown on his head. He was quite short, only standing at 3 ft tall but he had very violent tendencies towards anyone that wasn’t the crew. 

This is why Tubbo was surprised to see Techno sitting on Kristin's lap. The pig did often seem to seek out her praise and the two had a very close bond, but he is still one of the most wanted criminals across the galaxy. 

By this point, Niki had glanced over and noticed Tubbo, giving a warm smile.

“Tubbo!” The Merling called out happily, causing techno and Kristin to change their attention.

“Hey guys.” Tubbo waved awkwardly, shifting slightly on his feet.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you in a few days. Whatcha been up to?” The Merling was also good at keeping track of everyone. It was almost scary.

“Oh, you know. Just business things.” 

Kristin seemed to give him a sad look before quickly changing to a somewhat forced smile so that Tubbo wouldn’t see she knew. He wasn't surprised. She and Phil often seemed to confide in each other about any problems on the ship. 

“Speaking of…” Tubbo decided to change the topic before more questions were asked. “Sam asked me to do a translator update. I’m just going around collecting everyone’s translators so I can give the update as quickly as possible.”

Techno let out a snort. “Didn’t he just have an update recently? Did he find another new language?”

Tubbo just nodded. “Apparently. You gotta remember he’s been working on this since before I was even born and then we worked on it together. We did have a bunch of half languages we were studying as well by the time I left.”

The pig seemed to shrug. “Fair enough.” He hummed before reaching up, pulling it out and tossing it over.

Tubbo fumbled to catch it but luckily he didn’t drop it before he quickly tucked it into his bag. 

Kristin was next to remove her translator and hand it over, still having yet to speak to him.

Finally, Niki handed hers over. He was thankful they didn’t try to talk to him for too long. 

Niki and Techno both turned their attention back to the work they were previously doing before Tubbo had wandered into the room. 

Knowing his work was done, the brunet turned around and went to head out the door.

“Tubbo, wait.”

It was Kristin’s voice that broke the sudden silence and caused the boy to turn back around. Kristin knew the others wouldn’t be able to easily understand her but Tubbo would as his translator was still in place. 

Kristin had gotten up and wandered over to him. She did tower over him quite a bit, but he didn’t mind. He looked up to meet her sympathetic gaze. 

“I assume you still have to find Phil?” 

Tubbo just nodded, knowing he couldn’t really communicate otherwise. 

“He should be in the engine room. He was just checking on some things. I really hope you two talk. He feels terrible about the other day.”

Tubbo felt his wings and antennae droop as a sudden guilt waved over him. Sure, he was mad at Phil, but he didn’t want the man to feel bad. He hated being pitied. 

“He cares a lot about you Tubbo. We all do. Just… Take care of yourself, okay?”

Her voice was warm and Tubbo couldn’t possibly feel too sad when she spoke to him. She always showed so much care for him. Something he craved but was too afraid to let get too close. He frequently reminded himself she wasn’t his mother and she was just his First Officer. 

And still, as Kristin opened her arms offering Tubbo a hug, he couldn’t help but dart into her arms and give her a tight hug. That warm, signature hug that made him feel like the rest of the world couldn’t hurt him.

The hug lasted but a moment as he knew that he had to get back to Wilbur as quickly as he could. 

Tubbo managed to speak out a rough “thank you” in enderian, knowing Kristin was familiar with it and Dragconic was one of the few languages Tubbo had struggled to learn.

She just smiled and patted his head before he managed to turn and run out the door.

Next came the roughest part. Phil. 

He now knew that Phil was in the engine room and knew he had to finally face the problem he had danced around all day. 

Tubbo made his way down to the room, stopping outside the door with his hand hovering over the sensors. Could he really do this?

Before he could ponder it too long, the door slid open to reveal Phil who was just about to leave the engine room. He seemed surprised at first to see the bee, but his face quickly changed to one of more sympathy.

“Tubbo, mate.”

“Hey, Phil.” Tubbo greeted awkwardly. 

“About yesterday…”

Tubbo realised he wasn’t ready to tackle these feelings. He had to think quickly.

“It’s okay!” Tubbo cut him off.

“No, it's not. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, that was wrong of me. And I’m sorry.”

Tubbo forced a small smile on his face. At least he was apologising. That would be good enough for now.

“Honestly, I was just stressed out and you were just trying to help. I understand. I think I overreacted anyways.”

Phil wanted to respond but Tubbo put a hand up.

“Really! I promise I’m good!”

Tubbo wasn't sure he believed the words he was saying, but it would have to be enough for now. It would buy him time. That, or he would just repress these feelings as he now had bigger issues to deal with. So long as Phil wasn't mad at him.

“Okay. I’m just glad you made it home safe.”

A warmth spread across Tubbo’s chest. Even if Phil wouldn’t be another father to him, his praise still was enough for the younger. 

“Anyways…” Tubbo began. “Can I borrow your translator? Sam asked me to run an update for a new language and I’m trying to get everyone's at once.”

Phil seemed surprised but nodded. “Oh! Yeah. By all means.” 

With that, the avian removed the translator from his ear and handed it over. Tubbo placed the last communicator in his bag and gave a nod.

Before the interaction could change to be awkward, Tubbo took off down the hall back to his study. 

Once the door closed behind him, Tubbo let out a breath. That went… better than he expected. 

The brunett shook away the thoughts before going over to his computer. He finished programming Wilbur’s translator to keep English as the translated language.

He then unplugged it and began the tedious process of updating all the other translators. It took some time, luckily he could do a few at a time depending on the size, but soon enough they were all done.

It honestly took him more time to clean Sneeg’s translator from whatever had been spilt as it really did not want to come off. 

Once he was done, Tubbo collected the translators and exited the room, dropping them into little bins that lined the wall with everyone’s names on them.

These bins were incredibly useful for Tubbo. If anyone had tech that needed repair they simply dropped them in the bin. He would then take the time to repair them and then put them back when he was done, sending them a text to pick it up when they had time.

This saved Tubbo so much time, especially so he didn’t have to always track people down.

The bee opened his and sent off a message in the ships group chat informing them the updates were complete and to pick up their translators when they had time. 

Now, Tubbo could finally return to Wilbur.

He wandered inside, grabbing the wings, antennae, translator and finally a communicator that would attach to his wrist. He figured it would be odd if Wilbur didn’t have one, since it was the easiest way to chat with everyone. The technology was also developed by Sam as it would work to translate any messages into the native languages of ships. Making communication easy for anyone who didn’t speak at least some of just about every intergalactic language. 

Tubbo knew he didn’t have much time, given people would be making their way to his office to collect their translators. So, without much more thought, the bee was heading out and back to where he had left his new human friend.

Chapter Text

-- 3 Months later, on earth --

The casket went into the ground empty. That didn’t matter to the Soot’s, as long as it was done and dusted in a smooth and appropriate manner so they did not look like the cold hearted bastards they truly were, then they did not care there was no body.

Of course they would not care, their only son became a musician instead of a lawyer and so they kicked him out. The funeral was was damage control, or as much damage you can do when your only child commits suicide.

Allegedly, allegedly he committed suicide. A body was never found after all. 

A body would never be found because he didn’t kill himself . Ace kept strong in this belief. She did not care what the song he left behind alluded to. She knew, of course, that Wilbur’s mental state had been in shambles. He was sinking, but she couldn’t keep holding him up.

She wondered, remembering their last argument, if he had even wanted her too. If what he had done had been a sick way of getting her to leave him.

He was never the smartest. 

The depression, the song found, the empty whiskey bottle and the disappearance all pointed to suicide. At first, after the two disappearances just months before, they believed it was a serial killer. Then came the suicide theory. Either way, one thing they could all agree on was that Wilbur was definitely dead. 

That wasn’t true, because she would be able to feel it. Nobody listened to her, his parents closed the search and everyone got ready to say goodbye to someone who was not even gone. Not in the way they pretended he was.

Well, almost everyone. 

The funeral was on a nice day, it should not have been. He would have hated it. He had always wanted his funeral to be on a rainy day, something about pathetic fallacy. He was not dead, she reminded herself, so why did it matter so much? 

His parents had chosen the date, she had planned everything else - making everything as expensive as possible. He would like that. Will, he will like that. Anything to inconvenience his parents was funny to him - he will get a good laugh out of the entire affair, especially when she tells him about the wagyu steak she swore up and down was his favourite.

Wilbur couldn’t even really taste, so he didn’t have favourites. They would have known that if they actually gave a shit about him. If they had not repeatedly treated him like a burden. 

They had not even wanted his thing’s, not that she would have let them have them. Ace kept his records, his clothes and his jewellery. She kept his journals and bedsheets. It was all she had left of him. He was her best friend, argument or not. 

She gave his guitar and songs to the only other person to think he was alive. She gave them to Puffy, the woman who was his mother in all but legality. The teacher he had not lost contact with since he left school all those years ago. He had dinner with her sometimes, showed her the music he was working on. 

Puffy also did not believe he was dead. 

“The song is unfinished, he hates not finishing things” She had said to Ace when she went to tell her the news.

“I know. I know he’s still out there, but they aren’t listening to me”

Puffy stroked the guitar carefully, the strings had been changed not long ago and tuned even sooner. 

“And they won’t. This is simply easier for them, less scandal. We can keep looking, but there is a chance he does not want to be found”

“What do you mean? How can he not want to be found?”

Puffy sighed, hands gripping her mug. “I mean, maybe he has just gone away for a while. Gone to clear his head.”

“And you believe that?” 

“I have to, or I will go mad”

“So we do nothing?”

“No, we can keep pushing fliers and pictures of him online, we do not have to give up. However, we cannot just stop living our lives”

“I can’t just go on about my life like he’s not missing!”

“Don’t you think I feel the same? That I wish to be out there banging on every door looking for him? We can’t. Life does not work that way. Bill’s have to be paid, life has to carry on. We have to just hope he comes back to us”

“And what if he doesn’t?”

“Then we pray he’s somewhere better”

She did not know what she preferred at this point, people simply believing he was dead or thinking he was alive, but not being able to do a thing about it. 

In the end, they had gone for a simple gravestone made of granite. His parents had insisted on gold lettering, but at least it looked nice. 

In Loving Memory

Of 

Wilbur Soot.

Never Stop Singing,

My Nightingale 

xx/xx/xxxx- xx/xx/xxxx

There is beauty in devastation, she supposed, as the sun set over the horizon. 

His own personal sunset - just like he had asked. 

A body saddled up to her own, blonde hair curling over her shoulders and blue eyes shining with something Ace could not quite decipher.  Sandy had been her rock ever since the night Wilbur had left, after their argument. 

She had helped Ace put up posters and make appeals , when she really didn’t have to. She was just nice like that. So.. helpful, and very sweet. She could see why Wilbur may have liked her - although Sandy was convinced he had been uninterested and was simply looking for someone to kiss that night. That it had been quick and felt cold - like he did not care he was kissing a beautiful girl. Like she was simply a side quest he had to get done.

Ace almost did not believe it, Sandy was a bombshell. Anyone who could not see that must have been blind. 

A hand enveloped her own and she leant her head onto the blonde's shoulder.

“How am I supposed to get over this, he was my best friend Sandy. We grew up together, we went to school together. What did we not do together?”

Work - she thought silently they did not work together, yet they kept trying anyway - because everyone said they should.

“Slowly and not alone” The other woman said softly, resting her head on Aces. “This is something only time can heal, dove.”

“But I am on my own” A small sob leaves Ace’s mouth. “I can’t afford to move back up near my parent’s. Will is gone, Puffy is so busy…”

Sandy’s hand squeezes her own “You have me. I’ve got you dove, I've got you.”

For the first time since Wilbur’s disappearance, Ace broke down in someone's arms. 

They’re warm.