Chapter Text
The office was practically silent, the sound of writing and shuffling paper occasionally filling the space. The floor was hard wood, probably spruce, but the desk and chair sat on a plush carpet that felt expensive to the touch.
Currently, he was huddled under the oak desk, back pressed against the panelling that shielded the bottom from view. The position was harsh on his tail and his ears had to press against his head to fit but this was the best he’d be getting.
Hunched up against the dark corner of the desk felt safer than being out in the open where the bastard in front of him wanted him to be, anyways.
After escape attempt number eight, the emperor refused to let him more than a few steps away at any point in time. He even regularly checked under the desk to make sure that he was still there, probably half expecting him to have tunnelled out in the minutes he was left ‘unattended’.
He couldn't. The wood was too thick and it would be far too loud.
It's around the fourth time of him checking under the desk that Wilbur starts growling. His tail bushing up as he flashed blunt little canines at the elytrian, an angry sound making its way out his throat for added effect.
All it got was a coo, as if it's something cute and not horribly disrespectful to the crown.
That seemed to happen a lot with the emperor. Things that he does to disrespect his title, the crown or even the country are only met with fawning croons. If he bites and scratches at his arms every time he reaches for him then he’s only held tighter and gently scolded.
When he was particularly bad he’d get scruffed, a firm and unforgiving hand wrapping around the back of his neck, forcing him to go boneless. That one was the worst, if he was honest. With the others he had some pride, whenever scruffed he was forced to stay limp in his hold as he was lectured.
It didn’t help that Techno always seemed to know when he was trapped or immobile, suddenly appearing out of thin air so he could wrap his arms around Wilburs middle and cuddle him for however long the emperor- or Phil as the man insisted- deemed his punishment necessary.
His chair shuffled back and Wilbur scowled as the man once again dipped his head to look at him, a sickeningly fond shine in his eyes. His tail bushed up angrily and whacked against the floor as he bared his teeth and growled again.
The emperor only frowned looking more disappointed than angry, like he was expecting it but still didn’t want it to happen.
“Mate, what have I told you about growling?” he scolded “don’t growl at your skulk.”
“You’re no t my skulk. You kidnapped me.”
“This again, Wil?” he huffed, an exasperated expression washing over his face “you weren't stolen or kidnapped or anything so dramatic. Your parents quite literally gave you to me. For free.”
“Father wouldn't do that. He needs an heir for the estate.”
“Dearheart he sold that off the day after I got you” his fingers tapped on the desk “me taking you let him bump up the price to a very pretty penny. Everyone wanted the childhood home of the newest prince.”
“You're lying. He wouldn't just get rid of home.”
The emperor just sighed at his words, an almost sad look in his eyes as he looked over him again. “I made sure to buy it myself, of course” he added, like fleshing out his story mattered at all “you may not appreciate it now but I’m sure we can have little vacations there when you settle in.”
A fond look crossed over his face.
“Maybe you could even show your brother and I around? I’m sure there’s plenty of nooks and crannies we’d miss otherwise.”
He didn’t respond, only growling more as he glared at the fancy wooden floor. He was lying, he had to be.
The elytrian loved to lie. He lied about him being a prince, he lied about supposedly loving him and wanting to spend time with him as if he didn’t have more important things to do and he lied about brussel sprouts tasting good. They didn’t.
He lied about little things and big things and everything else in between. He couldn’t trust a single word he said. He winced at the familiar tight feeling in his chest, his emotions swirling in his stomach and making him feel sick.
They lapsed into silence for a while, the blonde eyeing him unhappily as he refused to meet his eyes.
“Staying under there isn't doing you any good, kit” he gently nudged his fancy shoe against Wilburs leg “why don’t you come on out? You can look out the window if you want.”
“No,” he grumbled, “I’m not moving.”
“Mate-”
“I said no!” he snapped, a snarl coating his words “do I even get to say that anymore or will you take that from me too?”
The wobble in his voice made his demand sound weak but Phil seemed to obey nonetheless, returning to whatever paperwork he had to do and letting the room lapse into silence again. He shifted uncomfortably under the desk again, trying to shift so less pressure was on his tail while keeping as much distance from the emperor as he could.
It was quiet, for a while, the only sound filling the room being the scratching of pen on paper and his continuous movements under the desk. He almost hoped it’d stay that way but, of course, Phil just had to sigh and begin speaking again.
“Wilbur I know that you’re young and you’re feeling a lot of emotions but that isn’t an excuse to snap at me” the emperor's voice was infuriatingly calm, he could feel himself bristling already under the lecture “you need to communicate properly, kit. Shouting and snarling isn’t an appropriate response.”
“Give me back to my parents and it won’t matter what I do” he spat “you let Techno hit whoever he wants. He’s your real kid, you should be more worried about him than me.”
“We aren’t talking about Techno at the moment, we’re talking about you” his words were still so fucking even “I know that you’re trying to get a rise out of me but you won’t get the response you want. I’m trying to have a conversation with you about your behaviour and I can’t do that if you fight me every step of the way.”
“Of course I’m going to fight you! You kidnapped me from my real family!” Tears well in his eyes out of bone deep frustration, one that has been growing since the day he was stolen “I don't want a conversation, I don't want to be near you and I don’t want to be trapped here! I want to go home!”
“This is your first warning, kit” Phil sighed, sounding tired as if Wilbur was the problem “if I have to warn you again I’m taking your guitar away. If you continue to misbehave after that you’re staying in the nest.”
“I don’t care what warning I’m on I-”
Wilbur jumped at the sound of knocking at the door, his head bumping against the firm wood, his ears flattening against his skull at the harsh sting of pain.
A horrible coo left the emperor in front of him, a low soothing sound that was meant to comfort him sending more fear down his spine. Taloned hands twitched towards him, as if he wanted to scoop him up into his arms out from his spot of safety in the darkness.
He whined as he shoved himself further into the corner of the desk, stressed out yips escaping him as the elytrian frowned at his reaction. His brow furrowed and his wings puffed up as he turned to scowl at the door, shuffling his chair in and straightening his posture.
“Come in!” His voice was steely and cold, harsh in a way he only ever used when addressing servants. He wrapped his arms around himself as he heard the click of the door and the quiet steps of some poor servant coming in. “What is it? I’m a busy man and I can't afford interruptions every second.”
“A-apologies, your royal highness” their voice was high-pitched and shaking, clearly anxious under the emperor's ire “I’m coming with the food you requested yesterday.”
The elytrian seemed to perk up at that, his voice slightly less cold as his posture loosening slightly.
“Bring it here and be on your way” the quiet rolling of wheels sounded out over the wood “I’m not to be disturbed until I call for this trolley to be removed, understood?”
“Yes y-your highness” her voice was closer now, higher pitched and flighty “I-I’ll inform the other servants immediately.”
Wilbur perked up at the scent of food and something foreign wafting through the air now that the tray was closer, his stomach rumbling on instinct before he paused.
His head tilted in confusion, unease bubbling through him at the change of routine. It was too early for lunch and too late for breakfast, he’d been under the desk for a while but he knew it couldn't be any later than ten in the morning.
Phil shuffled back again, this time holding a plate neatly stacked with sandwiches on it. He inched forwards from his corner to make grabby hands at it, trying to take it off the older man and frowning when it was just barely out of his reach.
“Here you are mate, I had a little snack tray arranged this morning because you mentioned being hungry the other day and-” he paused, an odd look entering his eyes “hm.”
Phil leaned back, pulling the plate back up before neatly setting it back on his desk. He frowned up at the elytrian, confusion and unease flitting through his stomach and making it churn before the other began to speak.
“The reason I let you under the desk was so that you could have a spot you felt safe in” Phil started “I wanted you to have somewhere to escape to that I wouldn’t touch.”
He looked down at him, something soft yet steely in his gaze before he continued.
“I see now that you’re just using this to shut me out and isolate yourself from me and the rest of your skulk” his unease grew, panic rising to grip his heart “while I won’t drag you out of there, I’m going to need you to actually come out if you want something from me, alright kit?”
A whine escaped him, his ears pressing harshly against his skull as he looked up at Phil.
“This isn’t to punish you, I’m not taking your safety spot away” he looked at him meaningfully “but I’m not going to let you hide from me anymore. You can have your snack if, and only if, you come out and sit with me.”
“A-and if I don’t?”
The emperor's wings twitched, something unhappy crossing his face.
“I suppose you’ll have to be hungry then” he looked away, a frown on his lips “at least until lunch.”
“B-but I’m hungry” he yipped “a-and out there is scary…”
The elytron cood, his hand twitching to touch him but pulling back when he twitched away from it. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, seemingly composing himself before looking back at Wilbur.
“I’ll make an exception if you let me feed you. I’m not swaying the rules otherwise.”
Wilbur whined again, his hand twitching over his stomach as his hunger only seemed to grow. This was another thing the winged man was oddly insistent on. No matter where they were or what they were doing, he had an odd fixation on being the one to pass food over to him.
He did the same with Techno and Tommy, always wanting to hold the food they were eating. It at least made sense for Tommy, the tiny hybrid still being young and messy in the way he ate.
It made no sense for him to do this with Techno, though, always holding the carrot or the sandwich the other boy was eating as if he couldn’t hold it on his own. The rabbit hybrid was completely unbothered by it, simply leaning forwards whenever he wanted another bite.
He asked about it vaguely, once. Pointing out the elytrian’s odd quirk while Techno simply shrugged, saying it was something to do with his bird instincts and wanting to provide food directly to his hatchlings.
A familiar feeling bloomed in his chest, frustration mixing with hunger to leave only defiance and anger. He barely his small fangs up at Phil and growled, his tail thumping angrily against the wooden floor.
“I-I’d rather starve.”
The emperor's face twitches before falling into a stony mask, the same face he uses at court looking back at him.
“You won’t starve, kit” his teeth were bared in a forced smile, none of it meeting his eyes “you’re just choosing to be hungry. I’ll have an extra large lunch made to fix the defiant little mistake you’re making.”
He crossed his arms and leaned his back firmly against the desks wall, scowling back at the emperor as he signed and returned to his paperwork.
They lapsed into silence again, the only sound filling the room being the scribbling of the emperor's quill against paper.
His stomach growled again, loud and embarrassing as it broke the quiet of the office. He saw the emperor's wings twitch and fluff as a small snap! followed it, his writing pausing its flow as he took a deep breath.
Wilbur tilted his head in confusion as he watched the emperor leaning down and plucking a feather from his wings, small scratching sounds following it as he seemingly fashioned it into another quill.
Their silence continued for a while longer, only broken by the occasional growl of his belly followed by the further fluffing of the elytrians wings. Red tinted his face out of embarrassment, the small pride he found in defiance quickly dashed in the shame he felt from how loud his hunger was.
The food smelled divine now, making his mouth practically water as he pictured the neatly stacked variety of sandwiches just waiting for him. He leaned forward hesitantly, pulling gently on the emperor's trouser leg, his tail flicking anxiously as he heard the man’s writing pause.
“I’ve already told you, kit” the blonde sighed “if you want your snacks you have to come out from under my desk.”
He let out a high whine, watching as Phil tensed before continuing with writing whatever legislation was in front of him, pressing his quill harsher against the paper compared to earlier before. His ear twitched as his tail flicked uneasily beside him.
“W-what kind of food is it?” he asked “it's probably not even worth it.”
The man's writing paused again as he shifted in his seat, probably looking over the tray that was wheeled in.
“It’s all light stuff, dearheart. Small sandwiches to keep you full so you’re not overly hungry when it's actually time to eat. I don’t want to be giving you any excuses to skip your meals again.”
There was something steely in his voice, a warning not to attempt his previous hunger strikes again. Defiance bubbled in him over it but he pushed it down, too focussed on the scent of food and smart enough to recognise that it’d just be an excuse for the man to confine him in the nest.
“I can smell that” he huffed, inching further forwards “I’m asking what's in them!”
The emperor chuckled at that, uncaring of the tone he spoke with.
“Ah, of course” his voice tinged with a coo “I forget how wonderful that little nose of yours is, I’m sure you’ll be sniffing out any poison in your food in no time.”
“Poison- are people seriously going to try and poison me?”
“Of course they will, kit. The second I put a crown on your head you’ll be sure to become a target” the emperor's voice into something resembling comfort “don’t worry though, I keep all my hatchlings nice and safe. Anyone that tries to lay a hand on you will pay with their life.”
“I’m not your hatchling” was all he could muster, mind spinning that people could try to hurt him over a role he never wanted to take “I’m not a prince either!”
“Well I suppose you’re not my hatchling on technicality, sweetheart. You’re lacking the wings for that” the elytrian laughed, uncaring at the frustrated noise he made in response “you will be a prince though once you’re more settled in. I’ve already picked the flowers for your coronation too, they’ll look wonderful next to your crown.”
“I don’t care about what flowers you’ve picked, I’m not having a coronation or being a prince! I don’t even-”
Phil cut him off with a sigh as he leaned down to look below the desk.
“Instead of arguing again, how about I tell you about some of the snacks, hm? Didn’t you want to know about those?”
He scowled back at the man, tail flicking irritably before he slowly nodded, hating how smug it made the emperor looked in return.
“There’s cucumber, ham” his head tilted to the side “I think there’s even a couple jam ones for you. There’s no crust on them either but if you don't want a sandwich there's a couple cookies and tea cakes for you too.”
He huffed at the crusts being cut off, something he knew Techno insisted upon. He thought it was immature, something only babies and spoiled rich rabbit princes enjoyed.
“The crusts didn’t have to be cut off” he scowled “only Techno likes them like that.”
“It's an easy mistake to make, love. The servants are just so used to your brother that they haven’t gotten used to your preferences yet” Phil chirped “I’m sure they’ll catch on in due time, for now you two are just too similar.”
An upset yip left him at the comparison.
He was nothing like Techno.
“Oh don’t be like that, kit” the emperor cood “I know you and him are in a rough patch right now but one day you’ll learn to appreciate the traits you share.”
“I’m nothing like him. I’ll never be like him. He’s mean and spoiled .”
“Don’t say such mean things about Techno, Wil” the elytrian sighed, taloned hands combing through his hair “he’s not here to defend himself. How about you eat instead? Hm? You get grumpier on an empty stomach sweetheart.”
He bared his teeth at being called grumpy, a growling yip escaping him as his ears folded back against his skull. All the emperor did was coo again, reaching a hand under his desk to ruffle at his hair before laughing as his scowl deepened.
As much as he would hate to leave his safe spot… he was hungry. The fancy royal meals were much less filling than the ones he used to have from his parents, consisting of various side dishes you could add rather than one main meal usually.
Usually that wouldn't be too much of an issue but he refused to ask for extras or to pick at the side dishes no matter how much the emperor nagged him on it. He just ate whatever was on his plate before asking to be excused, something he knew upset the elytrian in front of him.
It was even starting to get on Techno’s nerves, the bunny hybrid kicking his leg under the table whenever he rejected an offered dish. Recently the boy had even taken to just shoving more food on his plate, forgoing even asking and ignoring any scoldings from his father.
He was really becoming a massive pain.
Any time he had a good plan or scheme going he always ruined it out of being petty and mean and generally awful.
He couldn't believe he used to be jealous of him.
But the point still stood. He couldn’t keep being hungry, he’d need his strength to actually escape this place and make the run back to his home… so he’d have to accept the emperor’s offer to leave his hiding spot.
He yipped anxiously to himself as he shuffled forwards, feeling vulnerable the moment wood wasn't digging uncomfortably into his back. Phil made a curious noise at this, eyeing him as he slowly but surely inched further out and closer to the elytrian.
Thankfully he shuffled backwards to allow him more space, seeming nice enough to not force him into brushing against his leg in his bid to escape the corner he backed himself into.
The emperor was grinning widely at him, far too happy looking at him actually leaving. A series of light sounding chirps left him as his hands twitched towards him. He eyed them cautiously as he took a step further back.
Phil’s eyes narrowed but he made no comment, smile only lessening slightly.
“Oh that's wonderful! I’m so glad you’re joining me kit” chirps clung to his words “how about you get your chair from the window and sit next to me?”
“I can stand.”
“I’m sure you can but I’d rather you sit by my desk while you eat, it's much nicer that way, isn't it? Don’t your legs hurt from being crammed under there for so long?”
He frowned but nodded. That would be nicer. He reluctantly made his way to the chair he left the other day, his designated pillow still resting untouched on the seat, carefully lifting it up so it wouldn't make an awful scraping sound as he carried it back to the desk.
The emperor was still smiling happily, his wings occasionally twitching with his newfound sunny attitude now that he was out of hiding. His hands twitched against his desk as Wilbur stepped closer, fingers moving to twist the rings on his hand instead of wherever else he had planned.
He sets the chair down gently once he reaches the desk, placing it in its designated spot far from the door. The emperor always puts it there whenever they spend the morning in his office together, very clear in his mistrust of Wilbur being allowed by the door.
It’s not really a shock considering that he had him waste hours of work chasing him and dragging him back into the nest. Well- the guards usually chased Wilbur. Phil just slowly followed behind him with a tired look on his face.
He liked to think he could probably outrun the emperor if he did start chasing him.
With a sigh, he plopped himself down on the chair, grumpy that it did feel much better than sitting on the hard wood of the elytrians office. His tail practically melted against the soft fabric, much happier now that it wasn't crammed into a corner.
He watched as the emperor slowly laid out plates from the tray for him, slightly confused at how his shoulders seemed more relaxed now, as if he was stressed earlier somehow. He frowned. Was his paperwork really that hard?
All he ever seemed to do was sign stuff and shout at servants…
He flicked his ear as he willed the thought away, the scent of food in front of him quickly making his hunger act up again. He could smell a herby, creamy cheese in the cucumber sandwich, the scent promising to be mouthwatering no despite being new to him.
“Now” the emperor's head tilted to the side, still looking far too happy with the situation “how about we enjoy a nice little break together, hm? Just father and son?”
He already regretted leaving the desk.