Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He woke to the sound of birds chirping outside of his window. George sat up with a soft groan. the bird outside fluttering about, seeming almost happy to disrupt the boy from his slumber. George  stretched with a yawn before swinging his legs off his bed, wincing slightly at the cold air that bit at his feet. Just another normal day at school. Secondary school to be exact. 

“Why do the birds seem to hate me,” George sighed, getting up off his bed to get dressed. Today he chose a baby blue sweater with a white collared shirt underneath, the collar poking out from underneath his sweater. Dark blue jeans and dull gray sneakers to pair with his outfit. He went downstairs after fixing his bed head and brushing his teeth, eyes still blurry with sleep. 

His mother greeted him with a soft smile. “Good morning dear, how was your night?” George smiled softly at his mother. “‘Ts good. I have a few tests today at school.” His mother nodded, turning back to the dishes at hand. “What about your music class, Georgie, honey? Anything for that class?” 

“Not yet, mum. I still have to check in with the teacher on that one. But he told the class yesterday that were going to be having solos for finals this school year.” His mother beamed. “That's great, sweetie! I know how much you love music and your singing, I think it'll be great for you.” George smiled. “ Thanks, mum.” He glanced at the microwave clock before his eyes widened. “Mum! I gotta go! I'm going to miss the first bell!” His mother chuckled before waving him goodbye as he hurriedly slung his school bag over his shoulder, before rushing out the door, almost tripping over his untied shoelaces, his Mum calling a fond goodbye as he walked out into the cold, George calling back a hasty “I love you” before the door closed, keeping him out in the outside world. 

George sighed before he started walking to school. After a few minutes the cold winds reminded him of his forgotten jacket at home, George sighing before shivering as another burst of wind blew over him, chilling him to the bone. 

He soon started running when he realized he was going to be late, making it to school just a few moments before the school warning bell rang for students to start heading to class. His friend was waiting for him at the top of the school steps leading to the school, hurrying over to him when he had spotted him.

“Dude, what the heck! Your first day of Year Ten and you're already gonna be late!” George scoffed, “Says you! Your the one waiting for me, so you might as well be late, too, Nick!” 

His friend laughed. “Maybe, but i just had to wait for my little Georgie-poo!” George felt his face grow warm at his friends comment, rolling his eyes at his friends antics. “Don't call me that..” Nick smiled innocently. “What? I only want my dear georgie to be safe!” George sighed, looking to the side to hide his rapidly flushing face from his friend, to no avail. 

“Aww, George is all red!” George glared at his friend, but there was no real threat behind it. There never was. “Shut up, Nick.” Sapnap snickered before they both turned and made their way inside, George silently thankful as he let out a breath of relief, pausing a moment to let the warm air make its way to his cold body.

Nick, noticing this, chuckled. “Why didn't you bring your jacket, Gogy?” George, too busy getting warmed up again, missed his friend's usage of the nickname, still shivering slightly. “I donno, maybe it was the fact that I was late to school this morning, Nick.” Nick gasped in mock  hurt, leaning on George dramatically. “George! How hurtful!” George chuckled. “Well, you asked, Sapnap.” Nick huffed as the final bell rang, signalling both students were now late.

George groaned. “Now look, Nick! Were late!” Nick smiled. “Come on, George. Were not that late. And besides, were Year tens. We can always use the excuse that we were new and got lost in the halls, seeing we've never been in this part of the school before. Were smooth-sailing.” George huffed in annoyance. “Still no excuse..” Nick laughed at his friend's outward-turned lower lip. “Whatever, George. What’s your first class?” George brought out his class list he got a few weeks before from the office, taking a look at it. 

“Science.” 

“Really? Me too! With Mr. Logan, right?” George nodded. His friend smiling wide. “Let's go then, Partner!” George gasping in surprise as he was dragged down the hall. 

Sitting down for the whole class was boring, to say the least. It was slightly more tolerable with Nick being assigned as his Lab Partner for the rest of the year since they were both late, George thankful even though he knew having his friend as a partner for the school year was only going to end up with him doing most of the work. After science was another class both him and Sapnap had together, which was Math with another random teacher. Again, they got to sit next to each other, mostly because they had gotten there first, despite Nick whining to talk to people in the halls as they were on their way to their next class. 

After another long class of introductions, George let Nick drag them outside to a staircase where a few other kids sat, some year tens whom George and Nick had been friends with since Lower Secondary school, although none of them were as close as Nick and George, who had been friends since both were toddlers. Wilbur called them over. He was a year older then both of them, but still was in their class, most likely because the key above had too many students to fit him in. 

“Hey Nick! George! How is your guy’s first day?”

“Great! So far me and George have the same classes!” Sapnap replied with a smile. Wilbur nodded. Turning to George for his answer. George smiling slightly. “It's been great being able to stay with Nick for this long, but I doubt that we’ll be able to stay together for much longer. They usually never put us in the same classes.” Wilbur snorted. “Nonsense! ‘Tis a new year, my friend, I'm sure they will put you in the same classes if you pray hard enough.” George rolled his eyes. “Maybe.”

Turns out, he and Nick had all of the same classes together.

After that, George and Nick were near-inseparable, going to class together, lunch break together, a few times Nick even convinced George to skip a class or too. George never let it or himself fall behind on his studies. His mother told him his grades would be the thing to send him off to university, seeing that they weren't a family with money. He remembered what she said as clear as the sky outside, which was surprisingly sunny and warm for England weather that day.

“Georgie, you know you have to keep up with your studies.. It's going to be the thing that will get you to university. And as much as i'd rather not put so much pressure on you, leaving like this is hard, and if you can stay behind your studies in school, we don't need to worry about paying for university. Im sorry, sweetie… i wish i could do more so you wouldn't have to grow up like this.” 

Back then, George didn't really understand, but he did now. Even if he was only a few years older then when she was told that by his Mum, he was old enough to realise the importance of his grades to his future. He knew that him and his Mum were the richest people ever, and more then once George had seen the late bills on the coffee table after he came home from school. So he did his best to do his school work, and come home with good grades, never missing how happy it made his mother when he did.

It was now about half-way into the school year, and it was another dull friday afternoon. Him and Nick playing paper-goalie, a game they had made up when they were in primary school. Nick slipped George a sly grin as he won the second round. 

“Georgie, I'm winning!”

“Only because you cheat for days,”

“No! Of course not! I'm hurt you would even say such a thing.”

George laughed. “I only said it because you suck a paper-goalie, anyways.” Nick laid a hand over his heart dramatically. “How rude of you, George. I have quite the skill when it comes to paper-goalie, thank you very much.”

“Not really.”

“Hey! I just won the second round, you know!”

“But I won the first round.”

“Doesn't matter.”

“Yes it does, it means you suck.”

“No it does--”

A cough sounded pointedly from the front of the class, George and Nick looking to see a very annoyed teacher looking them both over. “Sorry,” George and Nick muttered, ducking theyre heads down, Nick whispering a quick “I still won though.” Before the teacher turned back to the white board to resume teaching.

After another grueling few classes, the final bell sounded like music to Georges ears. Him and Nick quickly pack up and zoom out the door excitedly. After school Nick and George were going to the drive-in theatre with George's Mum. George remembered when they had first asked.

“Please, Mum? Please can i go? Gogy and his mum said i could! I promise I won't make it hard on George's mum!” George and Nick wriggling around impatient while waiting for Nick's Mom's response, his mum finally making up her mind just as the two boys thought she would say no.

“Yes, dear, of course you can go. When is it, again?”

Both George and Nick collectively let out little breaths of relief as George replied. “Its this Friday, Laura.” Nicks mother smiled. “Okay then. You can go, Nick, before you go with them come to me to get money for food and drinks, okay sweetie? You too, George.” Nick looked ready to burst while George looked nervous, shaking his head quickly. “N-no thanks, Laura, i don't want you to be wasting your money on me when you already have a son to look after.” 

“Nonsense, George. You will always be considered family to me. You and your mother are both very kind folks.” Nick's mum said as she brought her hand up to stroke George's cheek softly.

George felt warmed by his “Other mothers'' kind gesture. Nick and George's mum had been friends since primary school as well, and shared everything together, especially the raising of each other's sons, even when George's father had mysteriously vanished one day soon after Little George was born. 

George always knew he was missing something as he grew up. No one else had missing fathers like he did. George missing out on all the things a father was there for originally didn't bother him, but over the years all the missed out memories only a father could give got to him. 

Nick's mother seems to sense his growing unease and leaned down to kiss his forehead softly, Nick crying out softly in indignation. “Hey! Mum I wanna kiss too!” His mother chuckled before kissing her own son's forehead, close enough to murmur softly to what she considered both her sons. “You both are my pride and joy, and I am very proud of both of you,” She leaned back and took each boy's cheeks in her hands, Nick leaning into her palm, and, after a moment, George did too.

“Don't either of you worry about me or George's mum ever leaving you. We will always be there for the both of you. Cheer up now, you'll be going to the drive-in soon.” George, feeling soothed, smiled gratefully at Nick's mother, she kindly returned the gesture. Nick smiled. “Mum was gonna go now to tell George's mum. See you!” Nick dragged George off as he waved a hasty goodbye to one of the mothers he loved so much.

George smiled at the memory, turning to Nick once again, Nick looking at him with an amused look on his face.

“What?”

“You totally just spaced off just now.”

“No, I didn't.”

“Yes you did.”

“No.”

Nick chuckled. “I can tell because you always make that dumb face when you go off to wherever you go.” This caused George's face to flush intensely, George glaring at him softly as they made their way to Nick's house from the school, to pick up the money from Nicks mother before they headed off to the house next door to George's mom before they altogether headed off to the drive-in movie. 

“....Shut up.” 

“Ha! Knew it!”

George lightly punched Nick in the arm, causing Nick to yelp in mock hurt and surprise, before both burst with giggles of laughter, the sun already lowering in the lazy sky. 

Chapter Text

On the way to the Drive-in movie, Nick and George would point outside the window and laugh about the things they saw.

“Look, Georgie! That horse looks like a cow!” George giggled and looked to where NIck was pointing with a grin. “Your right, it does look like a cow!” George and Nick giggled as they pulled into a dirt road, the sun well low in the sky. George jumped a bit in excitement when he realized where they were at.

Nick seemed to realize too, because he rolled down the window to stick his head out only to sweep his head back in with a sneeze, dust on his shirt and in his hair. George snickering at how silly he looked with his hair blown back and filled with dust blown up from the tires as they made their way down the dirt road to their final destination.

“Boys! Be careful with sticking your head out the window, I don't want either of you getting hurt.” George's mother looked behind her at the boys from the rearview mirror, eyes filled with amusement, different to her just gentle scolding of the two kids. Like Nick's mother, George's mother too saw the two inseparable boys as her own, and even though her and George were the more.. Financially down, that didn't stop her from giving both boys happy memories to share with her from time to time.

“Nana sylvie! What movie are we watching?” Nick asked excitedly, seeming indifferent to the dust all over him. 

“Mum told me it was a surprise, and I told you the same thing! Why would she say anything different, dummy!” George lightly wacked at Nick, Nick squealing in surprise. Before they could start fighting in the already cramped car George's mother spoke up.

“Now, now, boys. I guess i can tell you. We're going to see Toy Story 3.” George and Nick's eyes widened in shock before Nick whooped in excitement.

“Yea! See, Georgie? Nana always tells me the truth!” George huffed and pouted, knowing very well that his mother could see him at the moment. “Muuum~, why didn't you tell me before Nickie? I thought i was your son, not him!” George stuck his tongue out at Nick as he said, “Aww, don't worry Georgie, It's okay, it must be your first time realising that I've always been the favorite.” Georges eyes widening a little in hurt at what he said, Nick catching Georges look before he turned his face away. 

Nick's eyes widened in realization before he went and hugged George, ignoring his feeble attempts at escaping. 

“Georgie… you know that's not true, right? I was just kidding around with you.”

George glanced back at his friend through slightly blurry vision. He had always been the more sensitive and gentle of the two, and both parents knew that. But right now George wished he wasn't so soft and that Nick couldn't see right through him as he pushed him away softly with a shallow reply. “Im fine. You're probably right, anyways.”

Nick huffed and nudged at George till he glared at him. “What?” George hissed, looking Nick up and down. “I already told you i'm fine!” Nick, not deterred by Georges tone or glare at all, met his fiery gaze with his more calm and collected one. “You know i meant it as a joke, right? Nana always says she loves you and me both. And if anything, she loves you more because you love her and you're actually her son!” George pouted softly. “I know.. But what if she DOES like you more?” 

Nick scoffed. 

“Of course not, you dummy! She loves you more than anything in the world! The only thing that could even come close would be me and my mum.” When George sighed in acceptance, Nick hugged him tightly, George squeaking and wriggling before he huffed and got comfortable in his friends arms, Nick whispering in his friends ear softly after a moment. 

“You've always been weaker than me!” 

George pushed him away with an indignant “Hey!”  Before both of them burst out in happy laughter, the sad air was forgotten when they felt the car pull to a stop. 

Nick and George looked at each other with wide eyes before they bounced a little, the car dipping and squeaking a bit with age as they did so. “Were here! We're here! Were here!” They yelled out in chorus as they hopped out of the car, George's mother smiling softly at their antics.

“Come along now, youngsters. Help me set up the back of the truck so you can go get your sweeties.” George nodded before he leaned back into the open car door to get blankets while Nick went to the other side to get pillows and stuffies. Both bringing back their respective things and laying it out in the bed of the truck, George made sure to get it comfy and warm before he and niece turned back to George's mother. “Nana, can we go get sweeties now?” “And snacks! Please Mum?” George added when Nick finished what he had asked.

“Of course. Do you need a few fivers, Georgie? Nick? I know it's not alot but it'll buy you some sweetcorn.” 

“Or Candyfloss!”

George's mother chuckled before nodding. “Yes of course. Or Candyfloss.” She put two fivers in each of the boys hands, George wincing a little at the amount she gave them. He thought she was to give them both together two fivers, not each of them. Before he could give back his share of the money, Nick whacked him upside the back, earning a slightly pained yelp from the boy.

“What was that for??” Nick smirked. “For trying to ruin our chance to get monster candy flosses. Now lets go. Thanks, Nana! Come on, Georgie! Lets go!” Nick added when George still looked anxious. He looked at his mother, his mother smiling softly.

“Don't worry about the money, sweetie, go have fun, okay?”

George nodded slowly, a soft smile playing at his slightly chapped lips before he finally let Nick take him away to the vendors. When they got there the man at the window smiled at them, gesturing to the window besides him filled to the brim with whatever was right for a movie. Sweetcorn, candy floss, sweeties like Flakes, Wine gum, Drumstick Squashies, you name it, it was there. 

“Can we have two candy floss, please?” Nick smiled at the man, holding up two fivers. The man nodded and got two candyfloss for the boys, chuckling at their widened eyes of elation.

“Be careful now, I wouldn't want to drop them. That'll be 2 pounds, 15 pence.”  Delighted by the cost, Nick and George gave the man a fiver, the man giving them they're change, which they spent the rest on a big bag of Sweet Corn for them and Georges mother to share, along with two paper bowls for the boys to put their sweetcorn in. 

George wanted to save at least two fivers for his mum, so him and Nick agreed to spend the other fiver on two Wine gums, a box of Maltesers, some Jelly Babies, a Crunchie bar or two, and a bag of Pear drops. George got the Wine gums for his mum, since he knew she loved them. Nick wanted Maltesers and a Crunchie Bar, which George got two of cause he also liked Crunchie bars. Finally they got the rest of the candy to share, which was the Jelly Babies and the Pear drops. When they left the man, they went back to George's mum, who bought them each a Fish and Chips, George getting cod and George's mother and Nick each getting Haddock. As they got situated and began to eat, the movie began to play, Nick almost flinging some of his sauce in George's hair, only just managing to catch himself in time, George glaring at him before they both giggled, turning their attention to the movie as they ate, pointing things out to George's mum or cheering when certain characters came into the movie, Buzz being Nicks favorite while Woody was Georges.

“Nana! Nana! I'm gonna be Buzz and George will be my woody, and we'll be partners in crime! Beating up all the stupid guys that stop us!” George giggled at this, flinging a french fry at Nick, Nick catching it in his mouth, chewing it before smiling at George, a bit of salt on his upper lip, making George laugh more.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, no, i wanna know, Georgie!”

“It's just that you look funny.” George ignored Nick's cry of indignation. He wasn't about to let his friend know how happy he was at being the Woody to Nicks Buzz. Nick on the other hand only smirked. “Oh, you think your so funny?” George smiled wide. “I do.”

Nick threw a Jelly Baby at George before they began to tussle, George's mother getting up to throw away they're empty fish and chip boxes.

George ended up hitting the bed of the truck with his back, gasping and letting out a breath of air as Nick landed on top of him, smiling and laughing.

“See! Who's the funny one now??”

“I am!”

Nick laughed and pressed closer to George's face, George still trying to wriggle free to now avail. “So, Georgie, whos the funniest one?” “Me.” Nick rolled his eyes, now mere inches away from George's face with his own, whispering, “Wrong. I am.” George looked into Nick's eyes before his face began to flush a bright red, now realizing how close he was to Nick's face actually. Nick seemed to realise, his cheeks faintly dusted over with a touch of rose, but he merely leaned closer, Georges eyes widening, his heart beating faster.

“What… Nick.. what are you..?”

Nick smiled at George innocently. “Say it.” George gulped. “Say what?” Nick smirked. “That I'm funnier than you, of course. What else?” George, too shell-shocked by what was happening to think properly, stuttered out, “O-okay! Nick, You're funnier! Your funnier!” Nick lightly brushed some hair from George's face, murmuring after a long moment, fight forgotten.

“You are like my Woody… you know that right?”

George's brain was short-circuiting, he wasn't used to being so close to someone besides his mother, and he whispered softly. “I've always been Woody..” Nick huffed slightly. “Well, yes, but Buzz and Woody are partners in crime. Just like we are.” George nodded, Nick continuing. “Georgie, your my best friend. My brother. Buzz and Woody can be brothers too, right?” George giggled. “I mean, yea, but brothers don't just lay on each other like this.” Nick scoffed. “Of course they do!” George sighed. “Maybe they do, but for now, get off you big lump! Mum will come back and think your trying to marry me or something!” Nick laughed as he rolled off of George, just in time for Goerges mother to come back, two chocolate milkshakes and one strawberry milkshake for them, George and Nick quickly taking the chocolate milkshakes from her hands. 

“Thank you!” They chorused, eyes wide in gratitude before Nick slurped some of his milkshake from his loudly, George giggling. 

They were best friends, brothers even, your honor, and George knew that he and Nick would be best friends their whole lives. 

Now, they both were sleepily talking to each other, Nick leaning against George, no matter how much George squirmed for him to get off of him. The drive-in theature was a bit away from their homes, and on the way home, towards midnight, it began to rain. Hard. they had only stayed this long this time because Nick and George were having plenty of fun, only stopping when George ran into some berry bushes and poked himself, crying when he got stuck. George was still embarrassed by what happened, everytime he thought about it, especially of how Nick have helped him out, getting pricked a few times in the process, which must of hurt, locking eyes with him and saying cheerfully. “Maybe I'm Woody and you're the Sheep Lady. because I always save you when you get hurt.” George, face red from embarrassment and eyes slightly puffy from crying, sighed, leaning into Nick's hug after he was “saved.” In Nick's terms, relishing his warmth before they're  mother found them, frantic, before taking them to the medkit she always had in the car and patching both of them up, leading to where they are now.

George glanced out the window, seeing the hard sheets of rain, not technically surprised that it was raining in the first place. It is always raining here in Brighton, and it rained in England a lot in general, more than not it was stormy. George's mum drove, humming to the soft music on the radio, some sort of pop song by an American artist named Bruno Mars or something like that. George whispered to Nick softly. “Nicky, do you really think we'll be best friends forever like Mum and Nana Laura?” Nick lifted his head and nodded without hesitation, face bleary with tiredness. 

“You think we wouldn't be?” George anxiously picked at his fingers, wincing slightly at a piece of loose skin that peeled away too far. Nick, seeing this, took Georges hands in his own to keep him from hurting himself again with his anxious tick. Nick smiled softly at George. “Well, if you put it that way, of course we'd be best friends forever, Georgie, that's what we will always be. Your my Woody,” George smiled, hugging him softly. “..And you're my Buzz..” Sleep overtaking him like a small black wave, the last thing he heard was Nick murmuring, “Even when I breathe my last breath, we'll still be best friends forever, Georgie..”

Chapter Text

George felt rain on his exposed cheek.

He couldn't have seen what had happened.

Never in a million years would he have seen what came to happen to him and his mother and brother that night on the way home from the Drive-in theatre.

At first, it was calm. An ever-lasting peace he thought could last as the rain pattered quietly on the window, wave after wave of cold rain pouring down on them as they sped down the windy and forested road alongside a steep and winding hillside, almost steep enough to be considered a cliffside. George had just fallen asleep, Nick hugging him close as he ran his hands through his brother's hair, admiring how soft his friend's hair was. He wasn't as tired as George was, and held him close as to conserve body heat, even though they had a huge blanket covering both of them. He hummed a soft tune, broken only by the static of the radio, which had persisted even as George's mum tried to get the weather forecaster on the radio.

“Nicky, honey, is Georgie asleep?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You should sleep too, honey, I don't want you to be tired when you get home.” 

“Nana, can I spend the night with you and Georgie? Mum wont mind.”

George's mum nodded after a moment, Nick sighing with relief.

“George has been wanting you to spend the night again since the last time you spent the night over.” Nick lifted his head from Georges head, eyes sharpening ever so slightly with interest.

“Really?” “Really. Don't tell him I told you this, but he cares alot about you, Nicky.. Not that you don't already know this, he's practically your brother. I trust that you'll protect him from whatever happens.” Nick nodded, holding George tighter to his own body, enticing a soft sound from George as he moved to get comfortable again. Nick smiled a bit before looking up at his Nana. “Till my final breath, Nana.” “Good, that's all i'd expect from his Neck. He would do the same for you, you know. In a heartbeat.” Nick nodded, looking down at the sleeping George he held close to him with kind eyes. “I know he would… he's my Woody, after all--”

Nick was suddenly caneered to the side of the truck, gasping and yelping in surprise and pain as his side hit the door handle, a burst of pain blooming in his side that he knew would leave a bruise, George surprisingly not waking up, still close to Nicks side if not his chest, Nick sighing in relief before looking up at Nana. “Nana. what was that?” 

George's mom didn't answer for a second or two, looking like she'd seen a ghost. She then quickly turned her head back to look at Nick and George, who seemed unharmed besides Nicks little side bruise hell most likely have later on. “Are you two okay? Is George awake?” Nick quickly shook his head, holding George closer from where George had loosened away from his grip. “No, Nana, George is fine. He's still sleeping. I've only hit my side a little on the door.” George's mother smiled and sighed in relief, Nick asking tentatively, “Nana, what happened?” George's mother seems to think for a moment before she begins to speak, only to be interrupted by Nick's screech. “Nana! Watch out!”

Then it all seemed to happen so fast.

George's mother whipped the steering wheel to the left sharply, the headlights of the incoming car blinding both her and Nick, who was screaming at the top of his lungs, George waking up abruptly and blinking in discomfort from the bright lights, gripping onto Nicka shirt instinctively, Nick gripping George so tight, so tight. George was so confused, why was Nick screaming? He couldn't see his mother, because of all the bright lights, and cried out in pain when Nick and him slammed into the opposite side of the truck, Nick groaning in pain. They're truck was now in full hydroplane, and George's mother screamed as the truck spun and swerved out of control, and after a loud horn-like siren, wasn't that the sound a semi-truck makes? George saw the incoming lights and figure of a huge semi hurtling towards them from the side opposite from where he and nick were when they finally came to a stop, Nick still whimpering in pain, Georges eyes widening as the cross beams of light from the vehicle became brighter and brighter, the horns louder and louder, screams loud in Georges ears before Nick grabbed him and tugged them both to the floor of the truck, nick pressing himself against George.

And then they were airborne.

Only for a few seconds

But in those two seconds, George seeing nothing but shards of glass in the air above them as he and Nick both were beginning to lose the fight of gravity and fly from their hiding spot, George losing sight of his mother, rain and red mixing together as the honking of a horn continued, the faint music and talk of someone on the radio blurring together before it all came crashing down on George all at once.

Quite literally.

George screamed in pain and fear as he flew from Nick's grasp, hitting the ceiling of the truck as it rolled and flipped down the hill alongside the highway, Nick screaming as the ceiling caved in more and more each time it made contact with the ground above? Below? It was so hard to tell where anything was anymore, and the glass and rain and what felt like smoke and fire filled his senses and blurred his vision. Sheets of rain pounding against the truck as it was flung down the hill before hitting a tree in the forest at the bottom, stuck upside down, engine smoking, a small fire starting up in the engine of the truck, licking up towards the dull dark sky as not a sound was heard. Even the forest seemed to be holding its breath at the silence that met the stopping of the truck.

Which led George to now.

George groaned as he slowly blinked open his eyes, whimpering softly at the pain he felt from his back and left wrist, everything blurry, everything hurting, burning like fire. It felt abnormally warm for being out in the chilling rain. George heard someone calling out, and he whimpered softly in response, everything hurting too much to move. He didn't think he could move anyways. He blinked slowly, hearing someone calling out again. There was a ringing in his ears, and smoke from the fire in the engine choked him, George coughing and spasming a little from the pain it began creating in his lungs. 

“George!”

Wait, George knew whose voice that was. He knew that voice as well as his own, or his mothers. Where was his mother? He couldn't remember. Suddenly, someone's footsteps could be heard splashing through rain puddles and mud before George could see somes soggy sneakers outside of the truck's left passenger, which was on the other side from where George was in the backseat. “Georgie! Georgie, where are you?” George recognized the face that soon dropped down to peer through the broken window, coughing a bit at the smoke billowing from the inside of the truck. Once he saw George his eyes widened in fear and relief, any and all emotions at once before he called out softly. “George! Can you hear me?” George wished he could respond with words, say he was fine, or say anything at all, but he only thing he could muster out was a horse “Nick..” Before he coughed and hacked from the smoke again, Nick's eyes widening in fear as he began crawling to see if he could find George's mother, freezing once he got to the front of the truck, which looked like it was completely crushed, maybe except the spaces where your feet go.

And the cry that came from his friends throat seemed to wake him a bit more, George hearing agony and loss rip from his friends mouth. George weakly shifted his position, only to cry out in pain again. His whole body was screaming in pain. What was wrong with him? He tried to move again, trying to see what Nick was seeing, but Nick had already turned away from where he was looking and was making his way to him. “Hey, George? Stay still. I think you're stuck. I have to get you out of here.” George whimpered softly before coughing again, feeling light headed. Nick got close enough to help get George out, hissing in pain once in a while from the shards of glass that made their way into his skin or dug into his elbows. Nick, when the truck had been rolling, right after George lost his grip and caneered towards the ceiling,had been thrown clear of the truck, landing in a thorn bush halfway down the slope, seemingly unharmed except for a few bruised ribs and the cuts and scrapes from the thorns as well as bruises and cuts from shifting his way to help George in the truck, glass all over the ceiling of the truck, creating a glass minefield. George cried out in pain as Nick tugged on one of his legs, Nick wincing as he saw why George was stuck. 

Both of his legs were pinned under the car seat, which had bent and broken. Nick tried again, freezing when he heard George scream out in pain, pulling his hands away. He whimpered, seeing his best friend like this, in so much pain, was killing him. He had an idea, but he didn't have much time, the engine looked like it was going to blow up, like in the movies he and George had seen when Mother wasn't home. He turned back to George, hands sliding on the glass below them, Nick slightly wincing. Suddenly, the whole truck moved, Nick crying out in pain as he hit his side on where the back of the front seats would be, a long slice appearing on his arm from where he slid across a smooth shard of glass. He looked at George, whose eyes were fluttering slightly, face twisted in pain. He tried moving to get out again, and he seemed to move abit, but not without a wail of pain coming from the little boy. Nick started backing away. “Georgie, hold on for me, okay? If i go to the road i can call for help! I'll come back as soon as i can, okay?” Georges screamed as Nick finally got out of the remains of the truck, Nick whipping his head back to see the fire crawling towards George's face.

Fuck it, George was wayyy more important then finding help right now.

Nick crawled back in, looking around for anything that can help him maybe lever up the chair, going out again and finding a long but sturdy stick. To which he chucked deep into the crevice between the ceiling and the car seat right next to Georges legs, grunting with effort as he pushed down his all his might, a creaking sounding, whether it was from the stick or the car seat, Nick wasn't sure, but he heard George gasp in what seemed to be relief, Nick yelling out over the rain that had already soaked him through to the bone. “George! Quick! While I'm holding up the chair! Get out! Get out, George!” 

For a long moment, there was silence, making Nick worry that George might have passed out, quite possibly making this much worse. But after another moment he heard rustling and whimpers of pain as George dragged himself down and out of the position he was in before, once Nick could see he was clear, he let go, a smashing followed by a screech of surprise reaching his ears before he ran to the other side and helped George out, half dragging, half carrying him out. 

Once George seemed to have gotten his breath back, pain still alight like the fire which was quickly consuming the engine of the truck in his eyes, he whispered softly, voice scratchy from his prolonged exposure to the smoke. “Nick, where Mum? We have to get her out, too..” Nick winced, George faltering, sensing Nicks hesitance to answer, he asked again, his voice stronger and more insistent this time. Nick sighed softly. 

“George… Nana… she's gone.” 

George stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widening with horror, before he turned and fell back a little, crying out in pain but managing to crawl/ drag himself to the front of the truck where his Mum would be before Nick could stop him. And, seeing what he saw…

He wished he hadn't tried to look in the first place.

His mother was definitely gone, alright. She was a torn, bloody mess, hardly recognizable except for the two bracelets that hung from her bare bloodied wrist. George had made the blue one for her when he was four, and Nick made the orange one, both having little beads that said, “I love you Mummy!” in bold, cursive, and puffy lettering, miss-matched and simple yet after Nick and George had made them for her, she had put them on and had never taken them off. 

George, at this point, was so struck by grief and shock, that, just for a moment, he reached out and grabbed at her wrist, thoughts filling with denial as he called out her name, tugging on her wrist only to jerk back and land on his back, the breath driving out from his already aching lungs. This much smoke was bound to be unhealthy, but George didn't care. He looked at his mothers wrist that he was holding, only to discover what made him fly back so fast.

Her arm had been severed from the elbow, and her lower arm came free from whatever held it in place, hanging limply from George's grasp.

George let out the loudest possible scream he could muster, sobbing as he tried to throw it, the bracelets catching on his own bracelet Nick had made him when they were five, Nick coming up behind him, eyes widening in horror before he walked away the arm caught on Georges bracelet till it was lying in a muddy puddle, Nick pulling a sobbing and panicking George away from the truck several feet away before he turned and went to nearby brush, heaving up his dinner as well as the sweets he had eaten just hours before, before coming back and holding George close to his body, the boy gripping his friends chest like a lifeline as he sobbed his heart out, Nick tucking Georges head underneath his chin, keeping him from looking back at the truck. 

When George eventually calmed slightly, although it wasn't much, Nick helping him calm enough to top hyperventilating, he helped george to his feet, helping him walk as they made their way away from the demolished truck, not getting very far till a loud boom sounded behind them, knocking both boys to the ground, a tire rolling a little ways past them before lounging itself ina nearby bush, George and Nick looking back to see the truck covered entirely with flames, plumes of smoke reaching up to the sky, the thick sheets of rain the only thing stopping the fire from catching the trees or brush. George bursting into tears again, Nick turning him away before they resumed, slowly going up the hill, George and him stopping every few moments, George in the most pain he's ever been in his life from walking, Nick soon picking him up and carrying him on his back, Georges arms around his neck loosely as his legs hung at his friends side, held up by his arms, locking George securely in place as he made his way up the hill, grunting with effort once in awhile since he too was injured and exhausted. 

They finally got to the top of the hill after a long toil, George wavering in and out of consciousness during the whole ordeal, worrying Nick every time the small brunet did not respond to his words as he spoke. They both looked very similar, and could even be mistaken for brother siblings if one didn't know them. But Nick was worried for his George, he was way paler then he usually is, and he had significant wounds all over his body, a huge bloodstain on his side and where his legs were pinned before. Nick set down George, panic started to set in when George didnt even lift his head. Nick took off his jacket and put it around Goerge, and, even though it was almost soaked through, it would provide George with some warmth while he went to the road to call for help. As he turned away George called out for him to stay, fear and pain evident in his shaking voice, as well as exhaustion. Nick stayed for a while, hugging George close to conserve body heat, before he peeled himself away from the brunette, holding his face in his wet hands, holding Georges gaze even though George was barely able to focus on him.

“George, i'm going to find help. You're really hurt, and if I can call for a car on the road they can help us.” George whimpered softly in reply. “Please don't leave me..” Nick sighed, touching his forehead to Georges. “I will never leave you, okay? I'll always be here. But i won't be going far, just enough to find the road. I'll stay in your sights. Okay? So you can always see me.” George, although reluctant, seemed to accept this offer, watching with half-lidded eyes as Nick turned away to find the road, rain already making it hard to see him once was a few feet away. George found any strength he had left to keep his eyes on Nick's retreating figure, unaware of everything else, even the continuous horn blaring from a distance from the semi that had hit they're truck, the semi down the road from where they were at. 

What George did not know was that Nick was already well in the road, George being at the side of the road, rain making it hard for both of them to decipher where they were except at the top of the hill where the road was supposedly somewhere around here. George heard silence for a second, maybe two, before lights blurred suddenly, cutting across his vision painfully, the sirens getting louder and louder from the distance, Nick right in the middle of the beams of light that crossed the path which was the road, and George didn't even have time to react, nor did Nick, as a Firetruck full-sent through the rain startlingly, Nick able to see the driver and the passenger, both filled with people gaping at the kid right in front of them, who happened to be Nick, before the vehicle slammed into Nick, blood splattering across the pavement and across Georges stunned face from where he was only a few feet away, the firetruck far away enough not to hit him, Nick completely dissipated from the devastating blow from the fire locomotive.

George, stunned into silence, more sirens sounding, cop cars, maybe? George couldn't know, he didn't know, and he didn't even hear it as the Fire truck screeched to a stop, a body of a young boy, almost a teen, about ten or so feet in front of the truck, George already on his knees, silence filling his ears from the moment the truck had struck his friend, the blood on the pavement already washing away from the persisting rain. Gaze trained on his friends body, which was huddled in a disheveled and broken bloody head on the road, the image of his friend burning into his mind just his mother had, before he let out a scream that ripped at his vocal chords and pierced the hearts of the firefighters who were running to the body of his friend, who would of not noticed him except for the sound of the boys wail of pure agony and anguish. The driver looking dazed and mortified at what he had done, one of the female firefighter running to George along with another fireman, the woman asking him questions, trying to figure out who else was involved in the accident, before the man nugged her away, George bolting past both of them to where Nick's body lay in the road, getting halfway there before one of the males picked him up, only to drop him when George screamed in pain.

George landed on his knees with a cry, but the pain from his legs didn't. And wouldn't ever match the pain that clouded his heart and threatened to tear his soul apart as he ran the rest of the way to Nick's body, all physical pain forgotten as he landed heavily next to Nick's body, shaking him gently, eyes wide with anguish. He couldn't lose him. No, no, he couldn't lose Nick. 

“Nick! Please! Wake up! Wake up please!”

George shook Nick harder, Nick opening his eyes, his gaze finding George as he opened his mouth to talk blood pouring from his mouth instead of words. George's frantic gaze raked over his friend's condition. He was beyond saving, a voice said in the back of his mind, but he refused to believe it. One or two or the firefighters, including the female from earlier, tried to go forwards to take him away from the boy, the the older more experienced firefighters ordered them to stand back, the firefighters watching quietly, far enough to not interfere but close enough to hear the pretty much one-sided conversation between the two boys, hearts wrenching for the sight of George holding Nick up weakly, sobbing uncontrollably and saying anything he could to Nick to try to help him, get him up, to talk and speak to him before the boys time was up.

“Nick! Please! You said you'd never leave me! You have to be okay! Please Nick! I can't lose you too…” George's voice grows towards the end of his words, Nick weakly reaching up to cup Georges cheek, even though it must have cost a great deal of pain and energy to the boy. Blood bubbling from Nick's lips, he whispered softly, only George being able to hear him as he said, “George, I wasn't kidding.. I won't ever leave you, you hear me? Ever. I'll always be there for you. You're my woody, remember? Your… my brother..” George could see his friend, no, his brother's chest heaving with the effort to breathe, speak, function, blood bubbling around his mouth and forming little riverlets down the sides of his cheeks, subbing brothenly.

“But you are leaving, Nick… you're leaving me alone! What will Nana Laura think? I love you so much, Nick! P-please, N-nick.. Don't leave m-me…. Please..” George knew it was pointless to ask that of his friend, but he selfishly still pleaded. He still needed Nick. Nick was everything to him. He needed Nick more than anything. Nick was his Brother.  

Nick sighed a little, coughing up more blood, blood all over George and his hands by this point, before murmuring, eyes beginning to flutter close.

“Tell Mummy im... gonna miss her… I... love you…. Georgie….” Nick's chest stilled forever more as Goerge still in panic before frantically shaking Nick, sobs becoming louder. “Please! Nick! Wake up! Don't leave me! Nickie please! Nick! No! Wake up! Please!” Finally, one of the firefighters pried George away from Nick, George screaming the whole time, calling for Nick even as he was laid down precariously in a wheeler, struggling and calling for Nick the whole way, before pain and exhaustion finally swept him up in a black wave, everything going black.

Chapter Text

The next few times George happened to wake went by in a blur, wreaked by nightmares every second he closed his eyes, seeing his mother and Nick over and over again, he woke screaming and thrashing, only to fall back into the same nightmares, forced to face the cycle of fear and terror over and over again.

He faintly remembered the ceiling of an ambulance, the feel of people surrounding him bright, blaring lights around him, a long and seemingly endless hallway filled with luminescent lights and smelling of sickness and sterile air and blood. Everything smelled like blood to him now. 

He also distinctly remembered waking up once and seeing Nicks Mother and Father outside talking to the doctor before Nicks mother started sobbing, his father hugging her close. He remembered feeling guilty, and distinctively so. Why hadn't he died? Why had the world been so cruel and taken away his Nick? His Buzz? His everything? Why didn't he save Nick when George needed him the most? Thought like that coming in the thousands filed through his head in the few waking moment he had before he slipped into the darkness of the terror and pain in his dreams, real enough to hurt and fill him with agony both sleeping and awake.

The next time he woke up he had been alone in the room, save for the medical equipment attached to him from needles in his arms and such things like a heart monitor, his beeping hurting his aching head. Where is everyone? Did no one want to see him? What about Nick's Mum? Did she hate him for what happened and left him as well. A nurse came in quickly when he fell into a panic attack, his heart monitor beeping faster and faster as he struggled to breathe, beginning to hyperventilate despite the nurse trying to help him. Nick was always the one who helped him out of these attacks the most, besides his mother and Nicks mother as well. But none of them were here, and the panic deep rooted in him seized his body till be bagan shaking uncontrollably, another nurse coming in and forcing him back into unconsciousness.

The next day he woke to the sight of Nana Lauren, Nick's mother, and Nick's father talking to the doctor across the room.

“N-nana…?” 

Nick's mother whipped her head to George and rushed over in the matter of seconds, eyes wide in fear and grief as well as relief and hope, all at once. She looked like she hadn't slept for days, and she looked disheveled. “Oh, George! How are you feeling? Are you in pain? Is anything hurting? I'm so glad you're safe!” George didn't reply right away, swallowing painfully before he continued.

“You don't hate me?” She seemed shocked at his words. Dumb-struck, even. “W-what do you mean?” Tears began pooling at the edge of Georges eyes, blurring his vision as he whimpered, “Because of what happened. Nick…” He began crying and Nick's mothers face fell before she gently hugged George, her grip reminding him of Nick's warm hugs, making him choke out a sob as she whispered. “Oh, George, i know what you mean, and i would never hate you… especially for what happened. Me and you didn't just lose Nick, we lost your mother, too.. And I'm so sorry you had to go through seeing them both like that, I can only imagine the pain you're going through, both physically and mental. But I'm here for you, okay, George? Im here for you, always.” 

George burst into tears and gripped onto her tightly, afraid that if he let go shed fall away and leave like Nick and his Mum. She let him cry, tears fallin down her cheeks as well, before she heard George whisper softly, “Promise you won't leave?” Nicks mother, no, his mother now, nodded softly, holding out her pinky finger for George to take with his own, smiling softly when he did without hesitation. “Of course, sweetheart. I promise.”

The next days after that went by in a blurr for George. 

Doctors and nurses coming in and out daily in his hospital room, giving him what he needed to heal from the devastating event that had happened to him. His Nana and her husband coming and visiting every single day to make him feel better, Laura even quitting her job so she could stay longer hours to take care and comfort the boy. They had filled out the paperwork for his adoption, Laura, already being the godmother of George, finding it easy to take him in to take care of him, it being requested in George's mother's will as well, since George's father was still nowhere to be found.  

George liked the attention, it helped keep him calm, helped him stray away from the imminent threat of panic attacks that swelled around him everytime he was alone. Terror climbing up the walls on his mind and cracking out of the very seems of his core everytime he was by himself in his hospital room, most of those times at night when no one was around to help or hear his quickening breaths of panic and fear. Where no one would be there to listen to his heart-breaking sobs, no one there to comfort and hold him close while whispering sweet nothing into his ears and sooth his always screaming mind.

Most nights he didn't sleep anyways, trying to avoid the recurring nightmares of his mothers disfigured body, of Nick's body corpse in his arms. But he always either ended up there anyways in some form or another, recently hallucinations from the lack of sleep creating blurred and messy wavering images of his Mum and Nick standing in the doorway, blood oozing out from they're broken and battered bodies and pooling around them, filling the hospital room lapping at his bedsheets, threatening to drown him as they always rose higher each night, becoming clearing and more vivid as well. Last night was the worst night by far. The memory is still quite vivid in his crying mind.

George shook as he watched the waves of blood lap against his pure white bedsheets the hospital had so nicely provided for him while he made his way to recovery, each lap turning the one angelic white sheets a deep angry red. He was too frozen in terror to move and even properly breath, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. He looked up at the source across the room by his closed door, Nick. His friend seems to relish his once-called brother in pain and fear, so different from his life before and even his final moments with the young boy.

“N-nick…” George managed to choke out after a moment, feeling the blood wash up against his waist, adding to his already growing panic deeply rooted in his belly. Nick laughed at his reaction. He laughed .

“Oh, Georgie, are you afraid? Why are you afraid? You were the one who caused all this spilled blood. You were the one who caused my death .”

George sobbed softly, eyes filling with tears. “N-no, it wasn't! Nana said it was an accident! She said it was not my fault! N-none of it is! You're lying to me! Why are you lying to me?”

Nick only laughed darkly in return, blood pooling from his mouth and spilling onto the ocean which now was lapping at Georges upper chest, nearing his collarbone, George will too frozen to move or try to swim away from the liquid which was starting to constrict his breathing even more than it already was with his laboured breathing and gasps of air.

“You think you're safe? That you didn't cause this mess? That you didn't kill Me ? George, everything has always been your fault, from your fathers disappearance to me and your mothers death. All of it. Was your fault. And it will always be your fault.” George couldn't speak anymore if he wanted to, the blood rising fast, already over his mouth and hearing the point where it would cover his nose, George desperately trying to breath without getting blood in his mouth and nose, looking at Nick instinctively for help, screaming for Nick to do something, anything , to help him, save him , anything at all. Nick only smiled, his bloodshot eyes and bleeding tears only adding to the waves as they covered his nose and eyes, George's chest starting to scream for air, George somehow still hearing Nick's voice, even in his mind. 

“ Everything is your fault, George. You're going to drown. You're going to die , and you can't do anything about it because you know it's your fault that your mother died, that I died. You're going to die and you're going to let yourself die because you're a coward . Your too weak to help yourself, to save yourself,” George opened his mouth, trying to get any air at all, the bitter salty taste of blood filling his mouth, drowning him as it gushed into his lungs, his mind screaming in pain and fear and terror, Nicks voice only continuing as Georges screams were muted by the endless amount of blood in and around him. 

“You're nothing but a sniveling, whiney, sensitive, coward , George. Mum hates you for what you did to us, she pities that she was stuck with a disgrace child like you. A crybaby. She wished you were the one who died instead of me, and wished everyday that you werent to useless .”

George's head screamed for air, nothing but the red painful liquid all around him, constricting him, hurting him. 

And Nick was still laughing.

“Oh George, Your nothing but weak . You're weak and you always will be. You always needed me to help you, calm you, save you. But not this time. Not this time .”

George felt as if his head was bursting, and any and all air was gone from his long, George suffocating in the blood of whom he loved and cherished deeply. Black clouding his vision and darkness beginning to swallow him whole.

“ Goodnight, Georgie .”

George woke up with the loudest scream he had every produced, hyperventilating and refusing to calm down even when three nurses tried to help him, his mother ended up being called, even then it took him a long time to calm down, longer then any time it usually took his mother to calm him down, and this time, she noticed how George flinched at her touch, almost afraid for it, eyes flitting around the room and never to her, refusing to talk about the nightmare he had, this only getting worse and worse in the following day before she finally managed to get him to talk to her, once she found out why he distanced himself away from her she had immediately gave him a long speech on how much she still loved him, how much she will always love him, and how she will never hate him for a crash he didn't start or take part in starting by any means, successfully soothing George, at least reassuring him of her endless love for her son, George still a little distant but overall started talking to her more and after awhile, completely refused to stray from her side most of the time, even when he had gotten out of the hospital to only have to do physical training on his legs to walk properly again, he only ever talked to her, never finding any motivation to talk to anyone else.

When he was finally able to go back to school again was when everything went rolling downhill.

He was starting to finally do well in  his long recovery since the accident, even conjuring up the will to say good morning to his father one morning before he was finally forced to go to school, earning a shocked man with a jaw that could reach the floor. His mum so proud and overjoyed that she had taken him out for ice cream, one of the few food that didn't hurt his throat when he ate it, his vocal chords and throat ripped up and sore from all the screaming he had done, both during the accident and during the early stages of his recovery, as well as from underuse. 

The morning that he finally had to go to school was filled with endless whining and crying, George so scared and his eyes so filled with terror, the few words he did speak so distorted and stunted from fear that his mother decided to keep him home from another week, giving the excuse that he was still feeling unwell enough to go to school, which he was. She needed to keep him safe at all costs, and if that meant making sure he felt safe to return to school fully and keeping him home another week to do so, then so be it. 

The week after George tried to pull the same stunt but his mother couldnt keep him home another week without the school coming for both their heads, so she promised him that she would come for him anytime he felt unsafe, but he had to promise her that he had to at least try to make an effort to stay in school before hand, which he reluctantly agreed with a pinky promise. He still had bruises on his legs and over his arms and face and body, some deeper cuts still scabbed over and the shadow scars that still were taking awhile to heal from surgery on his legs and wrist which he had broken in the accident, bandages all over him and wrapped around his chest and waist from his bruised and few broken ribs. To be fair, when he had gotten hurt in the accident, he had been hurt badly, and definitely would've died if the firefighter had not come in time. The man who had almost crashed Georges car head on before the semi had hit them shortly after had been charged with vehicular manslaughter, for being on his phone and drinking wherever he had been able to avoid Georges car when they were driving home.

Now we was standing at the end of the walkway to the school, some kids we were walking to school giving him looks, George not knowing whether they were positive or negative, eventually not wanting to find out as he let out a quiet but shuddering breath, turning and saying goodbye to his mother before turning back to the school, his hands tightly balled up in fists, nails digging into his palms and making them bleed,  shoulder tightly drawn up. He was wearing a blue hoodie that seemed to hang off his body a little, the only reason why it didn't hang off more was the bandages making him look more filled out to the hoodie more than he would've looked like without them. Wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, loose enough to let his legs and stitches breathe through their  bandages, and plain gray sneakers, the bruises on his face, and neck still visible although George felt better that the majority of his wounds except for his face and neck were covered. 

During the whole school day kids bombarded him with questions on how he was doing, how he felt, what the accident was like, too see the scars and bruises, one or two of the bullies during lunch even pushing him around and lifting his sleeve up, quickly feeling guilty and backing away when george screeched in pain, the arm they managed to pull the sleeve being the sore wrist in a cloth strap cast that can easily be taken off, the sleeve catching on the cast and yanking Georges wrist out of the pain reducing form it was in, spikes of white hot pain sneaking up his arms, black flashing across his vision as he felt himself stumble back, his vision fading back before he backed away from the bullies, who had similarly turned and backed away from him eyes wide with guilt and shock, people around them going quiet as Wilbur came running up, pushing and shoving his way through the crowd, stopping in front of George, worry evident in his eyes.

“George! Are you okay? What happened??” George didn't answer, silent tears running down his cheeks as he clenched his aching wrist to his chest, Wilbur turning his head sharply to eye out who did this, the two bullies instantly catching his attention before they both realized the danger they were in, Wilbur walking up to them calmly, although the malice in his eyes towards the two boys said different. George looked wide-eyed as Wilbur went to the bigger of the two, and, without hesitation, punched him right in the nose.

The boy yelled out in pain and brought a hand to his face, holding his nose, blood streaming from between his hands, George catching sight of it and becoming frozen as Wilbur continued to beat up the two bullies, his gaze locked on the blood that dripped onto the ground during their tussle, people around them cheering and rooting for the fight to go one, betting on each side, teachers trying to stop it wilbur going so far as to punch the teacher hard in the gut, the teacher doubling over in pain before Wilbur continued to beat his quarry, even when security ran up and finally wrestled Wilbur and the two boys away, one of them , a female, turning to talk to him and entice him to come with them, he was still frozen, on his knees, still clutching his irritated wrist to his chest, gaze still fixed on the small blood puddle on the ground, eyes glazed over in terror. Not hearing the lady security guard trying to speak to him.

It was all too much. Everything was all too much. It was too much like the accident. All of it. The other students fell quiet once the fight was over, all of them now looking at George, some in annoyance, some in pity, others in confusion as to why he wasn't listening or looking at the security lady, confused why he was just blankly looking at a blood puddle.

George's breath was already ragged and coming in gasps, a younger security guard coming and trying to calm him down, ordering the female guard to get help as he tried to assist George, but he was already too far gone. He shook his head repeatedly while gazing at the blood, more guards coming and shooing away the other students back to their classes, Wilbur somehow able to run back to George, somehow he was able to get away from the strong guards who captured him and the two bullet-students. There was no way he was leaving George to deal with whatever happened to him alone.

Skidding to a halt by George and falling to his knees, lightly setting a hand onto Georges thigh. George flinching and breaking his gaze from the blood,meeting Wilburs eyes before flinching away again, Wilbur noticing what he was looking at and slowly maneuvering his body to block the sight of the blood, almost immediately taking an effect in calming George down once he couldn't see the mess, Wilbur lightly rubbing circles into George's thigh.

“George, please, can you hear me? Breath with me.” George didn't quite understand, still in a state of panic, but seeing his friend exaggerate his breathing, nodding for George to do the same. Complying silently, shaking as he did so.

When George could think clearly again, breathing still a little rough but overall much better then before Wilbur came and helped him, he collapsed into Wilburs arms, Wilbur hugging him without hesitation, holding him close as George clung to Wilbur like a lifeline. Like if he let go Wilbur would disappear. He knows George needed it, from all he's been through. After awhile though the security made it a point for them to go to the office and the nursed office to be looked at, Wilbur helping George to his feet and walking with him the whole way to the nurses office, George not letting go of Wilbur for a second, Wilbur not minding one but as George gripped his hand tightly, looking relieved just at being in contact with his friend.

After they got checked out and George was fixed up, they went to the office, where Wilbur gave George his phone number and strict instructions to call or text him whenever he needed to, George promising him with a soft nod, before Wilbur was promptly suspended. George's mother quickly came to school and picked her boy up, and from then on after hearing from George what had happened she decided to pull him from the school entirely and homeschool him from then on, George enjoying that idea a lot more than being to school with other children.

Turns out Wilbur was expelled from the school George used to go to a few weeks later for getting into a fight with the same two kids, breaking one of the kids arms. George's mum shocked at first at the idea of such a violent boy being around her son but when George pleaded with her for Wilbur to homeschool with her she eventually agreed after a meeting with Wilburs parent, His father Phil, as he introduced himself, explained how Wilbur cared a lot for his friend, and both times he got into a fight at school it was for George and George only. Which comforted George's mum to the degree to let Wilbur homeschool with George, George thrilled and happy that he had Wilbur at least, Wilbur happy he could stay near his friend and help him out, both George's mum and Phil co-teaching both boys, Phil already experienced from homeschooling his other son, Wilburs twin brother techno. 

Eventually all three got closer, the Twins not really having many friends contributed to them getting along and George ended up taking a liking to Techno, no matter how scary everyone else thought he was. Techno would never admit it but he grew fond of George too, and would fight also for the boy if any harm came to him.  As weeks flew by the boys got closer together, George healing from his wounds nicely and getting to meet the youngest of the Sleepybois family, a 9 year old blond named Thomas, nicknamed Tommy. Tommy grew to like George, wanting to play and hang out with him every chance he got when he wasn't in school with Phil, he also was homeschooled basically, merely because he just hates going to school. 

George now only talked to Techno, Tommy, Wilbur and Phil, as well as his own parents, which was great progress, but still refused to talk to anyone else, especially other kids his age besides his schooling mates. When summer came along the boys were all happy to camp and spend time together, both families getting closer until the boys didn't like going anywhere without at least one of the others. George was always a bit more clingy and close to Wilbur because of how he knew Wilbur first. Wilbur always there to help George through his panic attacks and nightmares that still plagued his mind at night, although they were a little more tolerable when Wilbur was around.Wilbur and Techno, especially Wilbur, became somewhat very protective over George, like big brothers, even though they were older than George by a year.

Eventually, the whispering sound of the two families started to hurt George and the other kids, and both families decided to make a change about it.

Both parents talked and came to a decision, deciding to tell the kids at they're mini family gathering that night after they finished dinner.  Phile cleared his throat, his sons and George pausing in their quiet talking to look up at him, Tommy pausing from his whining to techno to look as George's mother began to speak.

“As you children know, there's been whispering on the street about us as a whole, and we parents realize how much its starting to stress you out,” George looked uncomfortable and leaned closer to Wilbur, Wilbur letting him and even scooting closer to George to comfort him as his mother continued.

“We understand the stress it's putting you under and we've made a decision.”

The kids looked slightly curious as Phil cleared his throat before speaking up.

“Were moving to Florida.”

Chapter Text

The car ride to the airport was filled with excited squeals and chittering, but with that, came nervousness, anxiety, and and underlying fear. Although the SBI and the Davidson families were both excited, George seemed to be on the brink of a panic attack, not wanting to leave the place where he grew up. Where Nick grew up. 

Wilbur seemed to sense this in his friend, and scooted closer to him, letting an emotionally-exhausted young teen lean onto his shoulder before falling asleep. Even Tommy found it within himself to quiet down after a few moments of arguing with his brother Techno on the matter. 

One they got to the airport Wilbur nudged George, who murmured softly, “No… not yet…” Before going to sleep again. Tommy’s snickering only stopping after he was met with Wilburs glare, to which while they started arguing, Techno swooped up George onto his back in a piggyback ride, Tommy seeing this and immediately whining, Wilbur giving in and picking him up to carry him on his back as well, Tommy giggling with delight before he leaned into Wilbur, resting his head on Wilburs shoulder, Georges face already in Techno's neck, his cheeks lightly dusted with a rose tint. Phil smiled and grabbed Tommy's and Georges Suitcases before him and the kids headed off, Tommy giggling and rambling cheerfully at all the new things he saw that the airport brang to his attention. Asking absurd but familiar questions like, 

 “Wilby, when are we gonna get to Florida?” “Wilby, is an aero-plane as big as daddy says they are?” “Wilby, is brother Gogy gonna be alright? He's really tired all the time, isn't he?” 

Wilbur froze a little at his brother's last question. By now they were a security check, already having dropped off they're luggage to be put onto the plane. He hadn't known Tommy considered George a “brother” already. Sure, little Tommy had been old enough to know that George wasn't there brother by blood, but he seemed to accept George as another brother soon after he came, and he came to grow attached to George very quickly, despite George's grief for his friend Nick and his mother. Wilbur hadn't even known that Tommy had even picked up on George's negative emotions in the past few months that it took him to recover physically from the “accident”, as Phil and Georges mother dubbed it. Georges couldn't stand when anyone mentioned it, even if they mentioned it as the “accident,” still breaking down when it was brought up. 

The memories were still too fresh. The fear was still there. And everyone understood that.

Wilbur shook himself out of his thoughts to a concerned little brother looking at him while clinging lightly to his back as they waited in line to go through the security check. 

“Wilby, will brother Gogy be okay? He's tired.. He's always tired.”

Wilbur smiled comfortingly to his little brother, offering little advice for the overall situation, for he knew his little brother was still too young for that. Still too young to understand. “Oh, yes, Toms. Of course he'll be okay. He's still a little sad from being hurt a few months back. But he'll be okay. It'll just take him time to heal, that's all.” Tommy nodded after a moment, seemingly serious for the first time in his life, Wilburs face contorting in confusion and awe. When had little Toms ever been this serious? Before his seemingly serious overall face flipped into a smile like it was never there, Tommy suddenly started to squirm in Wilburs grip, Wilbur giving his brother a dirty look as his brother giggled. “Down! Let me down, Wilby! We're here already!”

Wilbur looked ahead, and, to his surprise, they were there. They were the next to be screened, Techno somehow managing to convince the guards to let him go in with George, coming up with the excuse that George was so exhausted that he couldn't stand up even if he tried to, which, in a way, wasn't far from the truth. Techno and George, sleeping soundly on his back, face still propped up against the side of Techno's neck, arms around his neck loosely as they and George's mother waited for them, Phil right behind them. Wilbur set Tommy down with a huff of indignation from the boy before he let Tommy go first, the guards watching the little boy march into the adult scanner, trying to redirect him but only being met with downright refusal and screech-ready insults of Tommy saying things like, “Fuck off!” and “I'm a Big Man” or “Big Men don't take the baby scanner.” 

When Tommy was through and waiting for his father and brother to pick him up again, Wilbur went, going through as fast a s possible, not fully trusting the guards with Tommy's safely, since he was standing in the middle of an airport just looking like he wanted to be snatched while waiting for his father and brother with big blue eyes, Techno inching his way closer to him to keep an close eye on the boy before Wilbur made it through, swooping up Tommy with a smile before letting him piggy-back ride off of him again as they went to get burger king to eat before they boarded the plane. George's mother looked a little upset with the idea of moving, too. Wilbur could see it in the way she walked, sneaking glances behind her when she thought none of the children or Phil was looking, eyes soft with a longing to go home. To her dead son. To her husband, who had left her a few short weeks after the death of their blood son, George's mother having finding out he had been abusing George while she was out for work a few weeks after announcing they're move to the US but a few months before they actually moved, coming home specifically early to bully and physically hurt the boy, drilling false truths and guilty thoughts into his head, George's mother coming home early one day with Phil by her side, both of them talking on the topic no one cared about anymore, only to be met with the sight of Georges supposed “father” beating George while he screamed and cried profusely, apologizing for something that was never his fault in the first place, Phil immediately beating the shit out of the horrid man after he hit George's mother down in a bout of anger when she screams and ran up to stop him from laying another finger on her last living child. 

After that George and his mother moved in with Phil and his family permanently, Georges mother quick to divorce the stupid man after finding out about his true colours towards her son. George was more drawn into himself then before after that, not talking to anyone else besides his mother or Wilbur, whom he had gotten very close to after he had basically beat up those two bullies for him. 

As they finished their food, Techno waking a sleep-heavy George to eat, George eating gratefully before falling asleep on the chair where they waited to board the plane, they waited for another half hour before the announcement for the boarding of their plane to the US. Tommy at this point sleeping soundly in his chair next to George, both of them sharing a soft warm blanket. Wilbur picking up Tommy, putting his long overcoat over the boy to keep him warm as they got in line to board the plane, Techno waking George up, George wrapping the blanket around them before they all made their way to board the plane, letting the lady at the desk they're scan they are tickets before they walked down the attachable hallway and boarding the plane, Tommy rambling happily while Techno talked comfortingly to George. 

Phil and Georges mother had been getting closer since George and she had moved in after that day with Georges fake-father. All the kids noticed, but it seemed to bother George the most, who seemed to always flinch when around Phil, always seemed to look behind his shoulder as if thinking something was always wrong, that something was always following or chasing him. Maybe there was. The grief has been chasing him since the beginning, but that's definitely not all that he's been through, no. From his fake-father to the moving, Georges was so stressed that it actually made him sick a few times, His mother and Phil's family were always there to cheer him up.

Now, sitting in their seat, Wilbur, Phil, and Tommy were sitting together in one row while two rows behind him, sat George's mother and across from her a few rows back sat Techno and George, who seemed anxious to be away from either Wilbur or his mother but thankful for being with Techno, who was the strongest brother out of the three. If anything bad happened to them while in this flight, Techno would look after him, right? Techno would save him, keep him safe. After the initial shock of the plane waitresses explaining what to go in the event of a plane crash, which seemed to tear up Georges insides with anxiety and the take off, George eventually relaxed after an hour or so, leaning into Techno's shoulder and falling asleep, Techno wrapping an arm around the boy, as if to reassure him of his presence, which for the most part, seemed to work, because George only seems to relax more as he fell into a deep sleep, the blanket around both boys, Techno looking out the window right by where George was sitting as they got to cruising altitude, an announcement ringing out on the speaker saying they that be cruising from then on out till they're destination.

Chapter Text

About halfway through their flight, where Phil was reading a book contently, Wilbur writing songs while using the light above him, successfully pissing off people trying to sleep through they're night flight but him not caring at all, Tommy in between them seeming to sleep fine, leaning against Phil, somehow maneuvered so that his head was on Wilbur's lap, his legs on Phil's. George's mother two rows behind listening to music while sleeping softly, her quiet snores sounding almost silently to the human ear. Techno and George were sleeping as well, Techno having just fallen asleep after finishing yet another book on Greek mythology, the book thrown haphazardly into his duffle bag between his feet under his seat, Georges carry-on backpack on the floor where his legs would be if he wasn't curled up into Techno's side, legs drawn up from the floor as he kept close to Technos warmth. 

What Techno didn't understand or know was that George was having one of the nightmares that made him worse-for-wear. And during a plane flight like this one, this being his first plane ride as well as Technos and the boys’ also, you could say that this wasn't going to well in their favour so far, especially considering that George, while having a really bad nightmare, was already a fearful and anxious stressed person. This would not be good. 

George dreamed.

The rain pattered onto the sidewalk as George began to walk up to the two caskets which contained his two beloved family members. One was closed completely, His mother too broken from the accident to be fixed for an open casket. The other held a boy, George's friend, and his brother. As George reached the two caskets he noticed a growing pot in his stomach that was already threatening to drown him.

George seemed to falter as he came right in front of his friend's coffin. He felt sick to his stomach. Nick looked so peaceful, eyes closed and the scratched and wounds that were on him the last  time that George had saw him non-existent, skin smooth and unblemished like they were never there, the only thing to suggest that he was gone for sure was the unnatural paleness to his skin and the pure cold that met Georges fingers when he touched Nicks cheek softly.

George whimpered as the touch sent chills down his spine. Mind reeling. This isn't how it was supposed to go. Nick wasn't supposed to be here, like this. He was supposed to be with George, his mother was supposed to be with George, both of them were supposed to be alive and breathing, next to him at Georges house instead of here, in a casket, never to awaken again.

George tried to step back, to back away from this brother's casket, but his feet seemed to be plastered to the ground. Keeping him from moving. George spared a glance back at his friends open coffin only to freeze up in terror when he saw his friends eyes open, staring up at him with anger in his eyes before he sat up, glaring holes into Georges chest before his eyes trailed to his face.

“You missed me? I saved your pathetic life from that truck. And yet even though I'm the strongest one, I still died.”

Georges breathing rapidly started to turn shallow, his heart beginning to feel like it was slamming itself out of his chest. At first glance, Nick seemed fine, but as George looked closer he could see blood and bruising beginning to form along Nick's face and body, blood leaking down tears that ripped along his skin. Nick looked almost hurt for a moment. “Why? Why George? You're the weaker one! The weakest of us two. Why did I have to die and not you? This is all your fault! My death is all your fault!”

And suddenly George could feel full blown terror flash up and down his spine as the casket Nick was in started to fill with blood, the reeking fluid sloshing back and forth as Nick continued to yell at George. 

“Ever since I met you you have been nothing but trouble and stupidity! You never and will never mean anything to me, George! I hate you! I Hate you so much! You killed me! I died and it's all your fault!” George finally was able to move from the spot that he was previously glued to, turning away and sprinting as fast as he could towards the exit, glancing back and screaming when nothing but a wall of blood came bearing down on him.

George gasped awake in the plane, breathing harshly and trembling so much. He turned to where he knew Techno was only to find his seat empty. And not only his seat. When he looked around the plane, he noticed that everyone else was gone as well. No one on the plane other than him. 

They left me! George thought bitterly, panic rising in this throat as tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. They left me all alone! Please don't leave! Come back! 

When George tried to call out for Phil, his mum, anyone at all, he was met with silence before a light thumping on the pilots front door to the cockpit sounded eerily, scaring him. “H-hello? Mum? Phil? Wilbur? Techno? Tommy? Anyone?” 

He got up and went to the door that led to the cockpit, only to recoil when he saw that the cracks forming along the edges of the door were dripping and leaking bright shiny liquid, making George stop in his tracks before he turned and spirited away. 

No no no no no no no 

George screamed as he reached the back of the plane and the door burst with the rank odor of copper and steel, the goopy liquid surging forwards and spreading along the plane, making its way towards the frightened boy,  the voice of Nick screaming profanities in his mind and the screams of his mother echoing with each lap of the waves that made its way closer to his feet. 

No no no no no no no

George got up as high as he could on a chair, everything getting louder and louder and louder, Nick screaming in his head, blaming him, hating him. The waves of blood only lapped closer if not faster as George felt it slosh over his knees, the smell so strong it made him want to hurl.

No no no no no no no

George finally started bawling pathetically, fear in each of his frantic movements as he tried to climb higher, to no avail, his heart beating faster and faster, his head feeling like it was going to explode.

Please.

And then, when everything became almost deafening,

He woke up.

______________________________________________________________________________

George sprung up from his chair by Techno with a cry of what sounded to Techno, of pure pain. Techno swung his head to George, eyes widening as George began struggling to get out of his seat, blind terror in his eyes and a faraway glaze to them, his movements too erratic, too jerky, for this nightmare, or whatever he was having, to be a 1-time thing.

“George, look at me.. Look at me! George, listen to me, alright? You're okay, you're safe. That's right… i'm here.. Look at me, look at only me.” Techno ignored the stares they were both getting from other passengers on the plane, because he didn't care what they thought. They were lucky George didn't wake screaming his lungs out like he was being murdered.

George seemed too reluctant to listen to him at first, but after a long while of Techno soothing the panicked boy, George was finally able to slowly hone on Techno's gaze, The pink- haired boy smiling softly. “That's right, George, look at me. I'm here. I'm not leaving you, okay? I'm here and i'm not going away.” George seems to freeze for a moment before hugging Techno suddenly and bursting into tears, catching the pink-haired boy off-guard but he didn't mind, rubbing the other boys back softly while he continued to calm him down. 

“That's right, George. Im here. Listen to my voice. You're alright now, you're safe. I'm here for you.” 

Once George seemed to calm down, Techno let him relax against him still, lightly rubbing his friends arms and back with his hands, successfully calming the boy.

“Techno?” “Yea?”

“Thank you for helping me...You wont leave, right? You wont leave me?” 

Techno nodded, rubbing small circles into the boys back. He felt the dampness of his shirt from Georges tears and he knew for sure that George did not look the best with his puffy eyes and blotchy face from crying, trails leading down his cheeks and around his eyes, effectively staining them with tears. The nightmare he had must have been bad, too, from how badly the boy was still shaking tremendously.

“Let me make you a promise George. I'll always be here for you, and I'll never leave. Okay? I won't leave, ever. And if you ever need me, i'll be there. Okay?” Techno knew what he was saying was a bit excessive but he was relieved when it seemed to reassure the small brunette, George locking pinked with Techno's outstretched one, sealing the deal. George feeling more light then he had been in a few days, George foolishly allowing himself to hope now that he had Techno to help him through everything. 

George blinked gratefully at Techno, eyes softening for the first time in awhile, so different from the reserved, scared, and unhappy look in his eyes from the time of the accident.

“Thank you so much Techno… You helped me, thank you.”

Techno smiled just slightly before it was gone, but that didn't stop him from unconsciously pulling the brunette closer to him, George resting his head on Techno's shoulder before slowly but surely, he fell asleep, gripping his arm lightly but not enough to cut off blood circulation or hurt. Techno watched over the boy for a while before whispering semi-fondly. 

“Your welcome, George. You're my friend, and you know how much you need me. Thank you for being the best friend I've made so far besides my brothers and father.”

Techno eventually falls asleep as well, the plane flying silently through the night and keeping the two sleeping boys in the state in between while comforting them in soft words of wisdom and the night as they flew towards their new home.

Chapter Text

Techno awoke to the sound of an announcement of the loudspeakers announcing their arrival at their final destination. He felt a weight on his side, turning his head to see none other than George leaning against his side, sleeping peacefully. Techno huffed. At least he's sleeping. He thought ruefully as he remembered the nightmares that had woken the poor boy only hours before. Techno never said this to anyone else but he always felt bad for the boy, and ever since he finally joined their household and family dynamics, the young boy felt the need to protect the other, even though he was only a year or so younger than him. Him being Wilbur's twin and all.

Once the plane came to a complete stop and people began getting antsy to get off, picking out their carry-on's from the overhead compartments precariously as not to his other passengers, Techno lightly nudged the sleeping boy to his left. “George, wake up. We have to go now, were in Florida.” George seemed to whine before not moving a bit, if anything he drove deeper into his friends side, Techno sighing. It was nearing their turn to leave so he helped George up onto his back before they went out of the plane together, people giving them looks but Techno only glared back before continuing on with a sleeping George on his back. Techno made George wear their carry-on's, which for George was just a backpack and for techno as well. George waking only to put the bags on each side of himself before he fell back asleep. Since Techno helped him with his previous nightmare only hours before, he seemed to sleep better, as long as he was leaning against the pink-haired boy. 

Techno met the others at the gate, Phil giving him a look only for the boy to ignore it as they dismissed it and made their way to the baggage claim, where Phil carried Georges luggage as well as his own, Tommy refusing for Wilbur to carry his luggage as well as his own, saying something along the lines of, “I'm a big man! Big men can carry their own luggage!” Before he dragged his little bad from the conveyer belt and onto the ground before following Techno, asking many questions about why George was on his back, and why he was sleeping so much.

“George is sleeping now because he didn't have a great time sleeping in the plane, Tommy.” Tommy thought before he murmured. “He had another one of his bad dreams, didn't he?” Techno nodded and Tommy patted Georges leg softly, as to not startle him. “Ok! Goodnight, Gogy!” Tommy smiled at his brothers before he ran off. His little bag screeched behind him as he ran to catch up to his other brother. 

Techno smiled after his brother and continued to follow the group, making sure that George was comfortable while he walked. When they finally got to the car rental, Phil got the paperwork done while George's mother Laura hustled the kids towards the car, a large van, very sleek, and the colour of a dark gray. 

Techno went to the backseats, blocking Tommy when he tried to follow, saying things along the lines of “George needs to sleep, buzz off Tommy.” Tommy looked like he was going to throw a fit but thought better when George was right there sleeping. He turned and sat in the two middle seats with Wilbur and began excitedly talking to him about his home.

The drive to their house was pretty uneventful besides Tommy's endless talking and the quiet conversation between Phil and Laura as they drove. George was leaning against Techno as he slept, breath fluttering Techno's hoodie, Techno reading a book he had brought in his carry-on. When they finally got to their new house, little Tommy was definitely the most excited out of the bunch of children, being younger and having seen a new place. He was filled with an energy that lit up the car, and now, the house as he ran inside. 

Techno went to pick up George, who was awake now but still groggy, George letting himself be picked up by the older, looking around blearily as they walked inside the house followed closely by Wilbur, suitcases forgotten as they got the chance to see and explore the house.

The house was really big, it was two stories tall with a lower third story that was there because of the slope that the house was on, with an attic and a basement. Much bigger than George;’s and The SBI brothers' house before. Both Laura and Phil put in money for the house and were able to buy a nice and comfortable house for the boys to finish their growth in.

“Techno, how long did it take us to get here from the airport?” 

Techno turned his head to George, who seems more awake now but didn't move to get out of Techno's grasp like he usually would. Huh. maybe the boy was too comfortable to move. Never mind that. “Meh, it took about 45 minuets to get all the way here from the airport. Were like in the middle grounds of Orlando.” 

George nodded in understanding, looking at the houses which surrounded them. They were evenly spaced but they all had good amounts of space around them, meaning that weren't too far into the city and in an industrial neighborhood. He looked inside as they went into their new house, eyes filled with as much wonder as resident Tommy as he took in the things around them.

The house was huge, of course. And very spacious as well, Tommy came and yelled at the top of his lungs, excitement in his eyes. “I call the room by Wilby! I call the room by Wilby!” Tommy quieted when George winced at the sound too loud for his still waking ears, Tommy whispering a gentle “Sorry, Brotha Gogy!” Before he sprinted off again, dragging a tired looking Wilbur. 

I guess he didn't get much sleep on the plane. George thought distinctly, which was true, because Wilbur had been worrying too much about his Gogy ever since they had gotten on the flight, Wilbur only then discovering that he wasn't going to be the one to sit by George. Glaring at his twin as he went past with George, only for his twin to roll his eyes indifferently back. If his twin had any say in it, he would have thought that his brown-haired twin would have liked the pale british boy. 

But that's besides the point now, and besides the angry glare Wilbur gave his brother as he passed with a content George, The british brunette pointing at places he wanted to see or go to as they overtook Tommy and Wilbur at one of the rooms. “Techno, what room do you want to have in the house?” 

“Preferably not next to Tommy. He's nothing but noise.” 

George chuckled at this. “Well, of course Tommy's loud, he's only nine. And I wouldn't mind a room near Tommy. He seems to enjoy my company enough.” Techno scoffed. “Because you used some sort of voodoo magic to force him into liking you. I've never seen him take a liking to someone that fast.” George smiled. “Maybe it's because I'm nicer to him than his twin older brothers.” Techno huffed at Georges remark. “Maybe. But Wilbur's always his favorite.” George nodded, smiling a little at the mention of Wilbur. “Maybe, but Wilbur's have always been nice to him, at least nicer to him than I usually am.” 

George huffed, wriggling a little to get more comfortable in Techno's arms. “Maybe it's because you've never shown any interest in Tommy is why Wilbur's his favorite instead of you.” Techno shrugged. “Well i don't mind being the second choice. At least it means i get more peace and quiet from the little runt. Techno smiled slightly as George gasped in mock shock and wacked his shoulder softly. 

“Don't say that about him! He's a good kid! Besides, Wilbur has always been great with kids, it's not your fault you're not gifted like him in that way.” Techno huffed at George's blatant insult but didn't comment. How could he? George was right.

“You talk about my twin with a tongue of honey. What's your deal with the devil?” George turned his head away from techno, embarrassed. “It's just that he's so nice to me. I wonder why sometimes. That's all.” Techno nodded as he looked into a room he would have liked to take as his own. “Yea, he's your friend, after all. We all are. And what do you think of this room?” George nodded decisively after looking around the room. “It's really pretty.. I dont think its for me anyways.”

Techno nodded, hearing Phil call for him. He looked back at George apologetically. “Do you wanna come back with me or explore on your own?” George looked around. “Explore, please.” Techno nodded before he set down George gently before waving goodbye and heading to the living room, leaving George to his own devices. George watched him leave before turning and heading up the stairs, exploring rooms up there, finding a rope that, when the boy tugged on it, opened up a mini stair-way to an opening in the roof, Georges eye widening. He looked around, not seeing Wilbur or Tommy, but hearing them making a ruckus downstairs, maybe they didn't explore this yet, meaning George got to explore this first. Sweet.

George climbed up the stairs and closed the stairway behind him, although with much effort, and continued on his way, looking back up only to gasp in delight. This was for sure going to be his new room.

It was a room made in the very top of the house, in what can be considered the attic. Except the room was pristine and clean, not dusty like some other rooms in the house that George has seen with Techno. He quickly went to the bed in the room and pressed a hand on it, giving an excited breath when his hand seemed to bounce on the squishy bed. 

The walls were her pristine, not a stain or mark on them, and there was another door leading to a walk-in closet on one side of the room and a bathroom just for him, with another door leading to the actual attic to store things. But other than that, the room itself was huge, bigger than the other rooms George and Techno looked at together. George walked around the room, inspecting every corner of the room and ultimately deciding that this room was his. The room has low-hanging ceilings, but that didn't bother the boy, since he was still a little short, not fully grown into his full height yet. The ceiling tapered from one of the sides where the ceiling was two feet away from the ground, near to the left of where you originally came in, sweeping to the right till the ceiling was about seven or eight feet away from the floor, where his bed rested along with a few shelves and a desk.

George smiled and already started figuring out where he could decorate the room and what color to paint the ways. Probably a light sky blue. Blue being his favorite colour, among being one of the only colours he can actually see. 

When George went and finally came down from his new room, he made sure Wilbur and Tommy didn't see him come down, as not to reveal his room, and told Phil and his mother where his new room was before he sped outside and got his luggage, coming back and having from trouble lugging it up the stairs, Tommy coming along, eyes wide as he stared at George trying to bring the suitcase up the stairs to no avail. “Gogy? What are you doing?” George paused with a huff to look at Tommy, his breaths coming out in tired but excited puffs. “Because, Tommy, I'm bringing my stuff to my room! Wanna come with me, Tommy?”

“Yes, please!” Tommy excitedly followed him to his room, trying to help George bring the suitcase up the stairs more than once, only getting in the way, once even almost falling down the stairs in his attempts to help the young british brunette.

“Tommy, why don't you wait for me at the top of the stairs? I'll be there soon enough! I don't want you to get hurt trying to help me.” Tommy nodded enthusiastically, already done with trying to help George before running up the stairs the rest of the way, George just barely getting to the halfway point before a voice sounded behind him. 

“George? Do you need help? I'm almost certain that this is going to kill your  back.” 

Before the brunette could respond, Wilbur came up behind him, brushing past him as he took the luggage bag and set up the stairs, George smiling softly before he thanked Wilbur, following the taller up the rest of the stairs. “So, George, i'm guessing you're bringing your stuff to your chosen room, which one?” George smiled, opening his mouth to speak before Tommy spoke loudly behind them. “Hurry up, Gogy!  You said you'd show me where your new room is, not Wilby!” George turned to Tommy, ruffling the younger's hair. “Of course, but that doesn't mean that Wilbur can't come along.” 

Tommy huffed but didn't complain, taking Wilbur's hand as Wilbur tugged along George's things, George finally stopping right below where the rope was, three rooms around them. One on each side of the highway opposing each other, and a third room just behind George when he turned to meet the boys. “Gogy, is this your room?” Tommy asked, pointing to the room right behind George.

“The other cant be your room because those are mine and Wilby's room.”

George nodded. “Quiet right, Tommy! But this isn't my room either.” “Then why did you bring your stuff here if this isn't your room?” “Because my room is higher.”

Tommy looked up at the rope with wide wondrous eyes at the rope, immediately after a moment reaching and jumping up to pull at it, ending up successful but not before George pulled him away. “Hey! What was that for Gogy--!” The stairs that the rope sets off slammed down where Tommy was just moments before, Tommy's eyes blew wide with disbelief before he hugged George tightly. “Thank you..” He murmured quietly.

George chuckled, setting Tommy down despite his protests. “No problem, Tommy. Now let's go, shall we? Also, Wilbur, do you want to let me go and carry my bag up the stairs, they are quite steep, you know..” Wilbur shook his head, already beginning to pick up the baggage to carry up the steep set of mini-stairs. 

“It's not a problem.”

“Okay, if you say so, Will.”

Wilbur smiled slightly at the name. He liked when George called him that. Like how Tommy liked when Wilbur called him Toms. He hoped that George would only call him that, and not his brothers or dad. Or even Laura.

When he finally was able to get the bag into George's room, he was blown away with how clean his room was already, considering that this house is not in use for a while and the other rooms in the house looked fairly dusty. But this room, not a chance. Wilbur didn't think he could find a speck of dust in here if he wanted to. He turned to George. 

“Wow, you really did get the best pick of the rooms here. Didn't ya?” George nodded sheepishly, looking around at his room. “I found this room by chance and I thought that this was the perfect place to start up my room, but it's gonna suck going up and down those stairs all the time at some point, I can already tell.”

Wilbur looked around the room again.

“Yea, this room is completely untouched apart from us right now, i wonder how long it's been since people have been in this room. It's spotless.” George nodded, the sun beginning to set, George turning to look at the sunset with unfazed eyes, Wilbur and Tommy on the other hand, looking on in awe at the beautiful sight before them.

“Wilby! This isn't fair! I'm the Big Man here, so why can't i have this room instead?” 

George interrupted the younger boy with a nudge, Tommy turning to George with a soft glare, no heat behind it as the older replied. “Because i already told Phil and Laura that i would take this room as my own, Tommy.” Tommy huffed but went to the large window to look around at the lawn and the setting around them as well as the sunset that was just in front of their very eyes.

Wilbur smiled at his little brother's antics and turned to George. “You picked well. I'm glad you were the one who got this room. If it was me or any of my other brothers it would be a lot less clean a lot sooner.” George giggled at that, Wilbur chuckling in return as George said, “That's only because you guys are messier than me. Besides, you three can come into my room whenever you want. Me and you slept in the same room anyways when me and Mum moved in with you and your family.”

Wilbur nodded. “Yea, and if you ever need me for anything, like you have another nightmare, just come down to my room.” He chuckled at the thought that popped into his head, continuing. “But don't fall down the stairs, George. That would be bad.” George nodded and went to the stairs, opening up and letting Techno up, who had been tugging on the rope to get up moments before. “Did I interrupt something? No? Yes? I don't care I'm coming in anyways, nerds.” Techno climbed his way up, Tommy skipping up to bombarded him with questions, Techno sighing and picking the smaller boy up without any issue, Tommy chanting and laughing along as his older brother carried him around the room.

Wilbur turned to George with a smile. “How about that? George?” George, seeing where this was about to go, shook his head wildly, eyes widening in panic. “No! Of course not! You are not doing that to-- Wilbur!!” Wilbur smiled, a crazed but genuine smile on his face as he picked up George, holding him by his thighs, George wrapping his thighs around the older so he wouldn't be dropped. “Wilbur! Why?” Wilbur smiled, walking to Techno, exchanging a look between his twin, the pink-haired boy only rolling his eyes in return.

“What was that little thing between you two?” George asked hesitantly, lightly gripping Wilbur's shoulders as he looked over Wilbur's shoulder at Techno, who was playing with Tommy. “Oh, it wasn't anything bad or such, but friendly competition, in my opinion.” George nodded after a moment. “Oh okay. Wanna see my closet?” George added after a moment, Wilbur looking to George and nodding. “You have a closet too? What's up with you and catching good finds?” 

Eventually, all of them tired out from a day of moving into their new home, playing and fooling around, and hanging out in George's room for the majority of the time here so far, they all fell asleep in a jumbled heap after dinner on Georges bed, each of the under the sheets and blankets that covers the bed, Tommy and George in the middle, Techno on one side near Tommy and Wilbur near George as they sleep in a some-what organized but jumbled heap in the bed, Phil and Laura coming to check on them once to find all their sons sleeping peacefully, 

After a brief moment of watching the kids sleep quietly, they left them to rest from their eventual day under the bright hazy midnight Florida moon that blankets each of them in a soft haze of moonshine. George being the one out of the four that looked the best in the cover of moonlight that came from the window, sleeping better then usual for the first time in months. Safe and happy under these new citrus skies and hazy blue moonshine that bathed everything it touched in a sheen of beauty.

And George, while sleeping, felt safer than usual that night.

Chapter Text

George had woken up before the others, and slipped from Wilbur's grasp around his waist before he sneaked out of the room, being as quiet as possible not to wake the other three brothers. 

Yawning and stretching once he got out of the room, he made his way down the hallway and smiled to himself once he realized he was the only one awake so far.

As he looked for something to make himself for breakfast, he heard some shuffling in the hallway, turning to see his mother come walking down the hallway, looking sleepy from their first night in their new home. She saw him and brightened a little before coming over to him.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Why are you up so early? Is something wrong?” 

George shook his head, turning back to the fridge as he thought about making himself some sort of egg. “No, nothing bad. I just happened to wake early. Probably because this house is still so new and unfamiliar to me.”

His mother nodded in understanding. “I'm surprised that you were able to sleep, really. I know your still wary of unfamiliar places.” George huffed as he got some milk from the fridge door, turning to the cabinet to get a glass before pouring himself a drink.

“It's better now that I have Wilbur and the others to keep me company. They're really.. They're really nice to me. It's different from what I'm used to.”

His mother kissed him on the forehead as he smiled softly at her in return. “I know how much they mean to you. I'm glad you're able to get close to them after everything.” George nodded, leaning into his mothers touch. It had taken him a while to get used to physical affection, and his mother was the second person he ever let touch him after his whole ordeal, the first person being Wilbur. His mother wasn't jealous of the boy or anything for being the one to get his sons attention before her or anything. Infact, she was grateful that he was able to break her son out of the shell that kept him paranoid and afraid of everything, more so than ever before.

George looked at his mother softly. “Want any milk?” “No thank you, sweetie, but do you want to help me make breakfast for us and the others? Those sleepy heads are most likely still asleep, I'm surprised they get anything done.” George smiled and nodded. 

As they worked in the kitchen, the small brunette jumped as he felt hands wrap around his waist. Only to relax a moment later when he saw Wilbur playfully laughing before leaning into the other as he whipped the eggs in the bowl they were in, adding milk. “Hey, George.” George looked to the side and smiled at the boy. Wilbur's hair was an absolute mess, sticking out in places and being fluffier than usual. Wilbur never usually fixed his hair after walking, because after a few waves at it with his hand it was a s good as new. George wished he was that lucky.

“I see you've only woken to the smell of food, huh.” George smiled as Wilbur scoffed. “I'm not just good for smelling food and waking up to it, George.” The other smiled an poured the eggs onto a pan, watching it sizzle before turning to the other, spatula in hand. “Well it seems so, Will. I mean, you woke to the smell of food. Not me.” 

Wilbur rolled his eyes but smiled anyway. “Your lucky it was me who woke and not Tommy. He is probably too tuckered out from running around the new house when we arrived to wake this morning to the smell of food. Otherwise he'd be here begging for you to feed him already. The little child.”

“Well, i'm helping mother to feed him either way.” George winced a little at the look that passed in Wilbur's eyes before it disappeared just as fast as it came. “Sorry, Will. I didn't mean to bring up the topic of mothers--” Wilbur smiled softly. “No, it's okay, George.  I really shouldn't be talking. Besides. Laura is kinda like a mother to me.. She's really kind.” He whispered toward the end of his sentence, George's mother was right there, after all. George was sure that his mother had heard it anyway, but his mother showed no sign of hearing Wilbur's comment on her, so he let it be.

“She is really nice, but i don't think that--'' George yelped in pain as he leaned too far on the stove, burning his hands. With a whimper he flinched away from the hot surface, cradling his hands with wide eyes, the pain bringing back rather painful memories for him as he began to breathe faster. 

No, no, no, no… Not again.. Not again.

Every thing he experienced that day began to drown him, and his laboured breathing reminded Wilbur of that fact as he slowly reached for the other and out his hand on his shoulder, backing off a little when George has gasped in fear and hopped away, almost too close to the stove again for the others liking. 

Wilbur cautiously reached for the boy again, breathing out a sigh of relief when the other seemed to let him. Or moreover, did not react at all because he seemed to be spiraling into the pit that seemed to take him every time he would catch a tip of panic. Wilbur nodded to his mother who resumed the cooking for her and George as Wilbur gently and slowly guilded the other away from the chaos of the kitchen. He brang the small brunette into the bathroom closest to the kitchen and took his hands in his as George seemed to crumple to the floor, breaths face paced and panicked. 

“George, please, listen to me. Okay? George? I want you to list 5 thing you can see. Okay? Listen to my voice, and list 5 things you can see.” George seemed to not hear for a moment, Wilbur seriously worried for the other before the brunettes eyes seemed a little more focused as he glanced around the room before his eyes resting on their interlocked hands, Wilbur making sure not to hurt the other boy more as not to send him spiraling again.

“I.. I can see our hands… and the floor… and the door.” Wilbur nodded approvingly, lightly brushing his thumb over the others hand comfortingly, gesturing him to move on. “An-and i can see your fluffy hair… and your glasses.” Wilbur smiled. “Good, George. Now tell me four things you can hear.”

George seems to hesitate a little more on this one, concentrating a little to hear everything happening around them in the bathroom. His breathing was gradually slowing, eyes looking less panicked. Good. “I can hear Mum cooking in the kitchen… I can hear your voice… and the dripping from the water faucet. I… I can also hear the light above us, since it's a little quiet.”

Wilbur nodded, bringing George closer, letting the other rest his chin on Wilbur's shoulder, the other thankful. “And three things you can smell?” 

“The toast Mum is making. The eggs. And the syrup for the waffles.” Wilbur nodded approvingly.

“And two things you can taste.” George thought for a moment. “The glass of milk i had… and the bit of cheese i sneaked behind Mum's back when she was cutting up the bell peppers..”

Wilbur laughed softly, George smiling softly. His friends' laugh always soothed him more than a lot of other things. “And one thing you can feel?” George met Wilbur's eyes before Wilbur lightly squeezed his hands softly, a soft blanket of red making his way on both of their cheeks before George whispered softly. “You. I can feel you. Your hands, i mean.” Wilbur smiled softly and nodded. 

“Good, good. You're getting it now. Your okay to stand?” George shook his head and rested it again on Wilbur's shoulder, eyes closing as he made himself comfortable. “I don't want to yet… please.” Wilbur immediately nodded, lightly snaking his arms around the younger.

”Feel better?”

“Yea. Thanks, Will.”

Wilbur smiled and lightly rested his head on his friend's head, careful not to hurt the other before he closed his eyes in contentment. 

Eventually they both heard a knock on the door, followed by loud giggles and chuckles. 

Knocked from they're quiet moment to themselves, they looked at each other before Wilbur started standing, reaching down and helping George up with a soft smile, George taking his hand as they stood, Tommy on the other side of the door.

“Wilby! Gogy! Techie said you're doing bad things in there! Hurry up and come out I hafta’ wash my hands for breakfast!” 

George's face went a considerable amount of red, especially on his cheeks and nose. Wilbur chuckling and reaching for the doorknob, George wincing only for Wilbur to look back in alarm. He was gripping George's hand. Not enough to cause him too much pain on his burns, but enough to make the other wince slightly in pain. 

“Oh, George, I'm sorry! Here, let me help you bandage your hands up.” George looked like he wanted to argue but Wilbur didn't give him the chance to and instead slightly scooped him to the medical cabinet after unlocking the door to let Tommy in. the 9 year old bursting in, excited to break up whatever “bad” thing Techno told him, only to deflate a moment later when he discovered only Wilbur fixing up George's hand.

The excitement came back into the young boy's eyes when he realized George was hurt, followed by a small gasp of concern. He rushed over, hopping and standing on his tip-toes to see what Wilbur was doing to Georges hand, since he was shorter than Wilbur and George and his older brother was holding Georges hand quite high to treat it.

“Wilby, what's wrong with Gogy's hands? Is he hurt? How did he hurt himself?”

Wilbur smiled soothingly at his younger brother, Tommy huffing in reply as George sighed, the bandages and wound honey soothing his skin effortlessly. “I just learned a little too far onto the stove, that's all, Tommy.” 

Tommy looked at George's finished hands, now bandaged up before he looked at his own and decided not to ask any more questions before he went and washed up his hands for breakfast, George wincing slightly at the water. Wilbur sighed little. “I think for pains’ sake, we probably shouldn't wash your hands.” George nodded and they were on their way to the dinning room after Wilbur had cleaned his hands, the last three seats left were all apart from each other, Wilbur scowling at his twin when he realized that his brother was sitting by the little brunette besides him.

George looked slightly uncomfy, so he turned to Wilbur and smiled slightly. “Don't worry Wilbur, it's not like the seating is assigned or anything, Techno is probably just trying to annoy you. It's fine. I'm safe.” Wilbur nodded with a defeated sigh. 

“I guess so, but it still doesn't stop me from wanting to shove that smirk of his face.” 

George chuckled, and Wilbur thought he heard angels.

“Don't be like that! Techno's fine. Your fine. I'm fine. It's just for breakfast.” Wilbur nodded and he went to take his seat, sending one last glare Techno's way, his brother rolling his eyes back before turning to George as he sat down, whispering something into his ear, only for the brunette to giggle at whatever he had said to him.

Wilbur fumed but he pushed his anger away and instead focused on talking and messing around his Younger brother who was across from him and was flinging bits of hash browns at him. 

Once they were finished with breakfast, George's mother checked over George's hands before smiling softly at Wilbur in thankfulness, gesturing him over.

Once Wilbur was by George and his mother, she smiled softly at him. “I wanted to thank you for helping George. I know how hard it can get sometimes, and I'm glad he has such a great friend to help him when things get tough for him that's his own age.” Wilbur smiled back at her, looking at George before replying.

“I enjoy George's company. He's a close friend of mine, I'd say.” 

George smiled softly at Wilbur, and Wilbur could see his mother in that smile. They were very alike. George turned to his mother and said a few words before he went over to Wilbur and smiled. “Ready? Mum said we can go outside and play in the backyard. We can bring Tommy and Techno, too.” 

Wilbur didn't like the idea of his twin being close to George again but he ignored it and smiled, excitement bubbling up inside of him. This would be the first time they would be outside since they have gotten here. He knew his dad probably wouldn't let them explore the neighborhood they were in, but he didn't mind that. They can always do that later and besides. anywhere where his family was, he was bound to be, too.

Once they all went outside, Tommy immediately squealed and ran around with wide eyes. Dragging George to play with him in the long grass they still had yet to cut since they moved in.

Wilbur followed along but his brother put a hand onto his shoulder, effectively stopping him. He turned to his brother, looking dubious. “What do you want, Tech.” Techno smirked slightly, and only a boy like his twin brother Wilbur could see the little emotion he conveyed as amusement before he asked. “You like him, don't you? That's why you try to kill me with your eyes every time i'm near him.”

Wilbur froze, eyes widening as he gazed at his brother. His expression did not change, and even then, it looked like there was even more amusement dancing around in his eyes. “So you do like him.” Techno said, as if it was a matter of fact and not fiction. 

Wilbur stuttered. “No! No, of course not! He's just a friend, really! I just really like having him with me and vise versa.” 

Techno snorted in reply. “Keep telling yourself that, Will. But when he starts to fall in love with someone else, you'll regret not trying to make a move in him sooner.” Wilbur huffed angrily. “You don't know what you're talking about.” He turned the other way, but anxiety suddenly bubbled up inside of his chest. Quickly turning back to his brother, he asked tentatively. “Wait… do you like George?” 

Techno chuckled. “Of course not. He's my friend, almost like a brother. But I can see how it's different for you and him because you were his friend before everything happened.”

Wilbur bristled. “I don't like George, Techno!” 

Techno sighed. “Of course you don't, and I have wings and can shoot beams of light from my eyes.” Before his twin could respond with another lash at Technos pride he continued. “I just hope that you realise your crush or whatever it is you have for him before you do something you regret. Keep your feeling in check before you do anything rash, stupid.”'

Chapter Text

“Wilby! Let me come, please! I wanna explore to!”

Wilbur groaned in exhasperation as Tommy whinned to go with them to explore the town they now resided in. Tommy resorting to violence and hitting against his brothers sides. Before Wilbur could get in a word edge wise, George came over and smiled, talking Tommy;s hand, gently leadng him away from his older brother.

“Come along now, Tommy, of course you can come. Lets go wait outside for Techno, okay?” Tommy cheered and blew a raspberry at his brother as they past, heading to the door.

Wilbur sighed, watching them, Techno coming up bihind him with a book. Closing it, he set it on a nearby coffee table before murmuring. “Theyre gonna make me go as well, arent they?” Wilbur nodded without hesitation before Techno groaned, following him outside to meet George and Tommy. They both closed the door of the house, Phil and Laura giving them money to spend for lunch or anything fun while they were out.

George was playing with Tommy in the grass, following the little blond through the long grasses and flowers in the field besides theyre house. Theyre house was the last one on the end of theyre road, meaning only the field followed by a forest layed in theyre path.

Tommy giggled as he was chased around by George, but stopped once he was out of breath, turning and going back to George before falling on him, both of them going down into the long grass, George yelping in shock and surprise before all went quiet.

Wilbur smiled before he called out into the grass for them, receiving no responce.

“Guys? Come on now, Tommy, George. We wanna be able to explore this whole town by sundown, and its almost noon already! Lets go!” When neither responded still the twins exchanged a glance before Techno called out. “Tommy, lets go. You wanted to see if they had lollies, right? You too George.”

Neither responded again, to the twins’ dismay. Wilbur made his way into the grass, Techno following, looking cautious. When Wilbur made it to the place where he saw George and Tommy last, only flattened grass was there, nothing else. Techno came up behind him with a sigh. “Where did they go? George wouldnt of just run off like that, especially in a place he doesnt know.”

Wilbur sighed and began rufflinf through the long grasses before he heard something off to the side. Shrugging it off as the wind going through the grasses, he was shocked, letting out a yelp of surprise as something, no, soeone, crashed into him from the side. Techno whipped around as he saw Wilbur falling into the grass alittle ways from him, and he grunted as he fell also. Another being slamming him into the grass.

Wilbur groaned as he finally looked up to see George looking back at him with a small giggle. “Got yoou, Will.” Wilburs frieghtened face broke into a smile befor ehe laughed along with Georges giggles, small screeches and grunts coming from the grass alittle ways from them, Wilbur and George poking theyre heads up from the grass to see Techno stumbling through the grass, a young Tommy clinging to his back screaming as his older brother tried to grab him by his shirt. The little boy ducking and leaning back to avoid his brtohers grabby hands, only making them stumble more.

Wilbur smiled, turning to George, who was giggling softly at the interaction that still went on. “Did you guys plan this?” “No, actually, Tommy crashed into me and told me the plan, and i had to do it no matter what i thought, hah.” Wilbur chuckled, looking at the spectacle before them again.

“I guess Tommy didnt give you a choice, huh?” George smiled, leaning against Wilbur as he nodded softly. “I never stood a chance against Tommy.”

Once Techno was able to drag the little boy from his back, they set off to town, walking down the streets of theyre neighborhood before coming into the beginnings og the town they now were to call home. George definitely was uneasy, sure, but so were the rest of the boys. It was midday, so they didnt come across any other kids, for it was a weekday, meaning the other children were in school.

They made theyre way down town and stopped at a small cafe when George and Tommy wanted to get some sort of drink from there. Tommy wanting coffee but Techno denying him of anything of the sort, because of how much he didnt want to end up babysitting a hyperactive child.

In the end, George was somehow convinced by the little boy to give him some of his own coffee, and there such, a new monster was born.

“Why did you give Tommy some of your drink?” Techno groaned loudly as they made theyre way down a street, Tommy hopping and buzzing around like a little demon of energy. “If mum find out about this, well be dead!” Wilbur sighed, face palming while George looked innocently at them both. “I didnt mean to! Its just, his eyes! He does the cutest little puppy eyes, i just couldnt deny him!” Techno huffed. “Even i know that his eyes are just so he can get what he wants. Either way, this is on you, Gog. Im sure not taking the blame.”

George gasped in mock hurt, but he did look alittle nervous at that. “M-Mum wouldnt get mad at me for this. Shell think it was one of you guys! Im the most behaved one here.” Techno huffed. “I bed to differ, George.” George giggled. “Well, then. I guess im the prettiest, which means shell believe me more then the lot of you!” Wilbur chuckled. “Techno, is he prettier then I? Surely not!” Techno looked them over before turning back to pick up Tommy without a second glance.

“Depends on what your into. If you want a Soft Femboy, George is the way to go. If you want a soft e-boy, the kind youd see in coffee shops, then Wilbur.”

Wilbur and George burst out laughing, George covering his mouth with giggles spilling from between his petite fingers. “Soft Femboy? How am i a Soft Femboy?” Techno didnt hesite to list the reasons as to his final conclusion, pointing out Georges slim figure, his small waist, wrists, and ankles, silk soft hair, and feathery and light look about him. Making Georges cheeks fill with red and Wilbur lighty growled at his twin for safety measures before he turned to George with a chuckle.

“And what about me?” Techno again went about discussing why Wilbur looked the way he did, from his messy soft hair to his sweaters and jeans, followed by clean sneakers but a beanie usually and the more tired look to him, and the small about of darkness to his eyes that looks like he has eyeliner on underneath and to the outer corners of his eyes at all times. An black or darker coloured overcoat to top off the look usually, if not that then black combat books instead of sneakers.

Wilbur chuckled, but nodded in understanding. “I can see how you come to that conclusion now.” He looked at George to see him offering the little boy more coffee with hushed whispers and small smiles, Techno grabbing Tommy away with a yell of indigination from the younger.

“Stop doing that, George!”
“Im sorry, i didnt mean to! Its his eyes!”

________________________________________________________________________

When they finally got Tommy to settle down abit, they arrived at the place they would eat at.

It was a small mexican Diner, kudos to little Tommy for seeing the “tacos” and immediatly wanting to try one. George wanted fish tacos with something they called Kingfish, while Wilbur got supreme nachos, and techno getting some burritos. Tommy finally getting Tacos. They sat down at a table to wait, Tommy sitting by Techno while Wilbur went and sat by George.

“Its nice to be able to explore the new town were gonna beliving in, dont you guys think?” Techno nodded along with Wilburs question, taking a sip of his water. Tommy was playing with his juice, blowing bubbles into it while George watched with an amused look on his face. Techno seemed to think for a moment before he turned back to his twin, ignoring the little boy to his right.

“Do you think that Dad is gonna be making us go back to school?” Wilbur seemed to look worried, while George froze, all previous amusement on his face vanished. He quickly looked at Techno in slight panic. “No! He cant! I cant go back to school!” Wilbur senses the boys rising panic and wrapped an arm around his shoulders to lad him into his side, George smiling slightly, grateful for the comfort being offered by the other.

“Techno, Im sure were gonna be at least homeschooled till the end of the school semester, which is only a few weeks away, but after that, im not sure about.” George seemed to shrink at the idea of going back to school for second semester, but Wilbur kept himat his side as he continued.”But im sure if we all gang up on him and Laura, we can try to convince them to let us stay homeschooled.”

Tommy looked up from his juice and made a face. “I dont wanna go back to school. Theyres mean kids there. I dont like any of them.”

Techno looked to the little boy. “You dont know that about this school. They could be really friendly, for all you know.” Tommy shook his head with a huff. “No way, theyre no different from the others from our old school. If they were mean enough to call me names and hurt big brother Gogy, then i dont want to go back there. Theyre all dumb.”

Wilbur smiled alittle at the younger. For such a young mind, he already seemed to be learning and understanding more then he definitely did when he was Tommy’s age. He asked more questions, thought about things more often, and understood more. Maybe it was becausse he was the youngest, but even then he didnt really know for sure since he didnt have any friends here or back then who had younger siblings.

George looked up at Wilbur. “I hope he lets us stay home schooled.. I dont think i could take it if we had to go back to school. I still have the scars….” Wilbur sighed softly, gazing at the other, eyes sweeping over a scar over his eyebrow on one side, smaller scars along his arms and along some parts of his neck where he had gotten burned by the fire. The burns werent bad, they definitely could of been worse for him, he was lucky Nick had saved him in time.

Nick.. Wilbur knew that theat boy haunted the dreams of George most nights, along wiht his mother, but he couldnt do much to stop that except lay with him, Tommy usually joining and Techno too, puling up and sleeping together in Georges huge room when George happened to have a bad dream. It had been a few days since they moved in, but already the boys had worked out a system in what to do incae the small brunette got hurt or had a bad dream or panic attack in the house.

Theyre food came quickly after that, each of them digging into teyre separate meals. When they were done, Tommy wanting more Tacos and complaining thatthree just werent enough for him, he was quickly satisfied when he got some of Georges leftover fish tacos. When he was finished they went on theyre way and stopped by an arcade before going to a movie theature on the way home.

“Wasnt that great, Wilby? The giant robot in the movie beat up the bad guy! Dumb guy thought he could win but no! Stupid!” Wilby smiled, holding Tommys hand while they all crossed the street, to keep the younger from straying too far down the path ahead of them.

“It was a pretty good movie, wasnt it?” Wilbur nodded to Techno, who usually didnt care, but to hear that coming from him was a compliment to the movie they watched, for sure. George seemed to enjoy the movie too, even though he didnt watch movies like that that much.

“Do you think that Daddy will let us have more movie time Wilby? Or milk? I want milk. Gogy, can you come with me to get milk?”

George smiled and nodded, letting the child let go of his older brothers hand before they made theyre way to a little convenience store down the street, the twins following to get some of theyre own snacks and refreshments for when they get home.

Once thwy got what they wanted, Tommy getting a bag of Jelly babies, complaining that “Americans are weird, why do they name theyre Jelly Babies ‘Gummy Bears’? So stupid.” The nine year old also getting carried away with a bottle of pop cola, chocolate milk,and some crisps, each respectively names Coca-Cola and Chips, which the young boy also disliked.

George got Strawberry milk, a small blueberry muffin, and some crisps as well. Wilbur getting Fanta Pop, cookies, and some fries from the food hot box. Techno got some orange juice, crisps, and some jelly babies, also named jelly beans in America.

When they got out of there they made theyre way back home and settled in the backyard, talking aout anything and nothing as they looked to the setting sun, its last dying rays settling over the horizon and adding a golden sheen to whatever it decided to lay its rays on. Tommy, at the moment, was convincing them to explore the forest, which so far wasnt any successful.

“Come on Wilby, Gogy, Techno! I wanna explore the forest, it looks fun!” Techno looked up from his chips. “You know Mumza wont allow it, she wants us to be home in time for dinner.” Tommy groaned, whining. “But mumza will let us, i swear! Mumza will!” Wilbur chuckled at his antics and looks beyond the treeline, only to freeze. “George! What are you doing?”

George looked behind him and waved, looking back towards the sun, which was slowly sinking beyond the hills. He lightly brang a hand up to the sky as if to reach for the stars above his head, when he slipped at the edge of a small hill-like cliff face of which he was standing on the edge of. He gasped as he felt earth become slippery beneath him, and braced himself for the fall, dirt getting on his pants and in his shoes.

“George!” Techno turned to see Wilbur sprinting in the direction of the woods, and as he peered closer to Wilburs destination, he could see George slipping, falling down into unknown. He stood and took Tommys hand, who complained and asked why they were running so fast, only to halt at the edge of the small cliffside that George fell from, George at the bottom shaking dirt from his hair, looking dazed.

“Gogy! Did you fall? Are you okay?” George peered up as Wilbur began to make his way down, Techno picking up Tommy before slowly sliding down on his feet, grimacing at the dirt and sand that got into his sneakers. Putting Tommy down at the bottom, the little boy ran over to George, who was being fussed over by Wilbur, looking alittle shaky but otherwise looking alright, save for the dirt smeared across his face and clothes.

“George? Are you alright? Does anything hurt?” George smiled at all of Wilburs questions, not bothering to answer all of them as he continued, only opting to say that he was in fact, okay. “Wilbur, im fine, i promise. Just had alittle fall. I think we probably should go back home for the scrapes on my knees.. I havent looked at how bad they are, but it hurts. Stings.” Georges eyes were slightly watery, and Techno could see the slightest bit of panic there.

Wilbur helped George up, only for the wind around them to bring a shiver to theyre spines. It was quiet here, and even little Tommy was looking spooked. Tommy turned to Techno with wide eyes. “Techie, Its quiet here..” Wilbur heard something in the bushes and immediately tugged George closer to him, Techno scooping up Tommy in an attempt to keep him off the ground and away from whatever made the sound. George looked between them and Wilbur, whispering. “Does.. anyone happen to know what made that sound?”

They all shook theyre heads, freezing when they heard something, someone, stumbling through the woods. Tommy leaned closer to Techno while George was gently nudged behind Wilbur as the boy cautiously called out into the woods, voice echoing like ill-tuned autotune. “Hello? Is.. Whos there?”

Sniffling followed, and a boy slowly peeked his head out. He seemed pale for his age. Too dull for a child as young as him. Tommy poked his head out from behind Techno where he definitely did not hide, because yes, he is very much a big man and is not afraid of other kids his age.
“Who are you?”

The boy jumped at Tommys words but slowly came out of the bushes none-the-less.
“Im.. im looking for my daddy.. He left me in a box and then it started to rain… it started to rain and i was so cold, so i fell asleep. When i woke up i decided to come and find him but i got lost.”
George looked at the little boy, stepping out and taking a few steps closer only to pause when the little boy tensed. Looking at him now, the boy doesnt look so bad, but he is definitely scuffed up from crawling around or running through bushes. He looks so pale though. And tired. Georges eyes softened. “Hey, its okay. Im safe. My name is George. You must be tired, and hungry. Would it be okay for me to come closer?”

The boy slowly nodded, coming closer as George did till he grabbed Georges hand, legs unsteady as he began tearing up. “I was so alone, i couldnt find anyone else, i was lost.” George bent down and wiped the tears from his eyes, Wilbur stepping forwards but Techno stopping him, much to his dismay. “Not now, George needs to stabilize the kid, first. Then one of us can get him since George cant lift him most likely.” Wilbur slowly nodded in understanding before he stayed where he was, watching Geirge calm down the child with s soft smile before George nodded to them, Techno coming forwards before wilbur could only for the small child to start crying louder, gripping onto George.

“No! I dont wanna! I dont wanna!” Techno stopped dead in his tracks and George firmly held the boy in place when he tried to run away. “Hey, hey, its alright. Do you wanna stay with me?” The boy, seeming to consider his options, nodded after a long moment of silence, Tommy hopping up to the by in excitement. “Hi! Im Tommy! Who are you?”

Techno picked Tommy up as George picked up the boy, the kid deciding to bury his face into Georges neck without a reply, Tommy looking wide-eyed on in indignation, opening his mouth to speak but wilbur whispered something in his ear as they started walking back towards the house, Tommy seeming to understand the situation before falling quiet once more.