Wilbur had noticed the fear almost immediately, quick to comfort the boy as soon as it was noticed. He really wasn’t mad, not at Tommy anyways. He was mad at himself more than anything else. Wilbur had let Tommy be injured, and then had left him alone with no entertainment. No wonder the boy would try to do stuff.
He pulled Tommy into a brief hug. “Don’t apologize… I was just worried. You didn’t hurt yourself, so there’s no harm done. Just…” he sighed softly, “be careful… take it easy for a day or two. I brought you some books now if you get bored, and I can stay with you the entire time. Phil emptied my schedule for as long as I need.” He said gently, before letting go.
He gently brought Tommy over to the bed, handing him the tray. “I also brought you some food, pain medication, and some more tea if you want it. They may help a bit. Or, will hopefully help.“ he smiled, rubbing the back of his neck a small bit.
How Wilbur could stay so kind to him, he wasn't sure. Tommy let his crystal blue eyes look up again, And face his master. He couldn't understand why he'd do this. He knew he was important to Wilbur, but why? Why was he allowed to stay so long! Why did he seem to take blame for all that had happened even though, it was by accident. No-one had any blame to give or take for the accidents he had gone through. And the few there was to be found. Fell on him, and his desire to do something he was told not to.
As he was pulled in the hug, he froze in slight pain.sighing in slight relief when let go. He liked when he could hug Wilbur he truly did, as it was the only person he ever received one from. But, the sudden movement of his shoulder shot pain down his arm and back. He didn't let it show, he didn't want more worry to come his way, he had caused enough.
As he was taken back to the bed, he looked out the window and sighed. He was thankful Wilbur had brought books and stuff to keep from boredom. And even offered to stay with him as company in case he got lonely.
But, he wanted something else. Something he couldn't get, and he knew it. As his eyes fell to the horizon outside, far in the distance. For a few moments he stayed there, until he snapped back to reality. The wish he had inside, would never come true. As he took the medicine off the tray and Took the required amount to ease the major pain he was in. He smiled at the tea, but left it alone for the time being.
"Have.. Paint?" He asked looking back out the window as he crossed his legs on the bed. It was an odd request. And he knew it. Not many kids his age painted or even drew often. But, he wanted to. It would help pass the time wouldn't it?
Wilbur kept a warm smile on his face the entire time, one that also shown in his eyes. It was an odd thing, how attached he was getting to Tommy through this all. The prince had found the kid in a bush and had taken him in, Wilbur really should not see him as a true friend after just a few weeks at most. But Alas, he did. Tommy was probably the best friend he has had since childhood, and then it was the now general.
The two had trained together and played pranks together. At one point the joke started that they were truly twins separated at birth. But then they started going down different paths, and work started to get more serious. They drifted apart, and Wilbur didn’t have anybody else to just talk to for years. And then Tommy came along.
The fact that Tommy got hurt devastated him, even more so because the prince blamed himself. Wilbur couldn’t have stopped it, he knew that much, but he still felt guilt eating up inside of him.
He had noticed the tiny wince, even as he tried his best to avoid hurting the boy’s shoulder with the hug. He quickly let go, moving Tommy to the bed. He watched the boy the whole time, noticing how he seemed to longingly look at the window. He frowned gently, studying Tommy for a minute. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions, even if he really should have at that point. Tommy would eventually want to leave, assuming that was what he silently desired, and he deserved to. He deserved to be free. That wasn’t even a question.
But, Wilbur wondered if he would be able to let him go at this point….
He startled at the request, smiling gently, “of course! Would you like me to get you a canvas as well? Or would you like to paint the walls.” He asked curiously, tilting his head as he stood up to receive said items.
He knew some would look down at this action, how he was doing things a servant normally would. But, he didn’t care. Not one bit.
Tommy smiled when Wilbur said he'd get the paints and, asked if he'd do it on the walls. He didn't know if that was an option originally. But, if it was now, he'd surely do it. It meant more room, for more creativity that lingered in his mind everyday. So much he had thought about asking before, through the pen and paper given everyday for work to speak. But never did as he thought it would be a burden to trouble other servants about it. And, he barely ever found time to paint before. He preferred to stay by Wilbur's side. "Just paint" he said softly. His eyes never leaving the window.
He had thought about it. Leaving before. A few times a maid or two would say something that hurt his feelings or scolded him for a wrong mistake that needed major correcting. An Error made that he couldn't fix alone. From them, he had thought about leaving, finding a proper home again. He had the money as he was paid to be the princes personal aid. And a few paid him to do side jobs such as dusting shelves in the grand library or help with dishes in the kitchen. A silver coin or two. He had never spent them. He had saved every little bit he earned, and had enough now to leave and be good. He could find a new job too. But he felt leaving, would be harder than he thought. Wilbur was family to him now. The closest thing he ever had to one in a long time. That's why he wouldn't leave no matter how many chances he had been offered.
No. He wouldn't leave even if his life depended on it. He swore loyalty and respect to Wilbur. As a prince, and a friend. And so, he'd keep it this way. Even if it meant he'd get hurt protecting him.
Starring out the glass owned window, he felt peace.
Wilbur nodded, smiling gently as he walked towards the door. “I’ll be back in a bit.” He said, opening the door with a soft creak before exiting the room. He wasn’t fully sure where he would find paints, seeing as he had never needed to get them before. He wasn’t sure if they had them at the castle, so Wilbur was going to try his luck in town.
He got dressed to go out, got a bag of gold and a basket, and went down the extravagant stairs leading to the road.
It wasn’t a long trip to the closest town square, nobles trotting around on horseback or walking with regal grace. He just looked around for a shop that would hold paints. He grinned as he spotted one, striding over to the gold-rimmed door and pushing it open. He began searching around for good quality paint sets, along with some brushes and pallets.
He ended up getting a smallish jar of each color, along with a couple different sized paints and two wooden pallets.
He headed back with the supplies in the small basket. He smiled as he made it back to Tommy’s room. “I got everything you may need to paint the walls. I think this room would look quite nice with your own hand crafted murals on the wall.” He hummed, setting the basket on Tommy’s night stand
While he was gone, though it had only been an hour or so, tommy managed to sneak out of the room and get some of the castle work he needed to do done. It was quick work, which didn't require any lifting or such. It was dusting and helping a maid with dishes. He promised her once that he'd help her do them once a week, and today, was the day he promised to set a small part aside to do it. Though she wasn't happy to see him hurt, he wouldn't leave until she allowed him to help. When he was done, he waved a silent goodbye and went back to his room to wait.
While he spoke infront of Wilbur, he still had yet to talk infront of anyone else. It was only the prince and Tubbo who knew his true voice. No-one else in the castle or kingdom knew what it sounded like anymore.
When he saw Wilbur had returned he jumped off the bed and quickly ran to get the paints, his eyes sparkling with delight as he saw the many colours and brushes. With a smile he politely took the basket and set it by a clear wall. He didn't have anything near it, he had purposely left it empty from any picture frames or the dresser which he moved.
Setting the basket down, he picked through the paints and began to work with them.
Mixing colours to make different shades of different colours and adding them to the wall at random. Or, so someone would think. He moved in an odd pattern, one side of the wall then to the other, as he used the paint sparingly yet well, making the wall vibrant. Eventually, Trees and shrubs came to be seen in red leaves and browns trunks. Mixes of orange and yellow added to make it more realistic, with blue behind it for a sky. A bright smile was on his face as he worked for hours, silently on it.
He was almost finished with the whole wall around three or four hours later. As he stepped back to look at it from a far.
Autumn coloured trees, and shrubs, with black and white flowers in the green grass below a blue and purple sky. A small cottage was placed in the middle alone.