#quackbur fic

[medium-kat07]

Tumblr quality is SOOOO great. . @eonslice thank you for your wonderful art contribution 👍 I fucking love your art

[swedisheek]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dream SMP Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Alexis | Quackity/Wilbur Soot Characters: Wilbur Soot, Alexis | Quackity Additional Tags: Complicated Relationships, guys youll never believe it they're still not talking about it, it's been almost ten real ass months since i've updated this series, and they aren't talking about it still. i hate them, Mutual Pining, Angst, not as depressing as it could be!, Hopeless Romantic Wilbur Soot, Canon-Typical Violence, Blood and Injury, Insecurity, Emotionally Repressed, Alexis | Quackity is Bad at Feelings, Wilbur Soot is Bad at Feelings, he's trying slightly more than q. but it's not good Series: Part 3 of who knows when the chains will be off (tntduo through the years), Part 10 of minecraft but all these people are sad (ross's dsmp works) Summary:

Wilbur’s alive. Excited and vibrant, less human than live-wire, conducting electricity throughout himself with growing glee. This is why he’s back, he’s sure of it. He needs to make things right.

Quackity’s mouth pulls into a snarl. “Wilbur, hey. What happened to off my fucking property?”

-

The final law of the improbability principle is the law of near enough. This says that if you expand what you mean by a coincidence or improbable event sufficiently, you can make it as likely as you want.

(or, did they or didn’t they?)

HII GAMERS ARE WE MISSING TNTDUO BECAUSE I SURE AM. first fic ive completed in a few months let’s go!!! please read and rb id really appreciate it :]

[edgarallanpoestan]

so. instead of studying for finals (which start tomorrow ahahahah) i wrote a 5k tntdads + tilín and tallulah fic. so. thats how im doing. please read it its past 12:30 im so fucking tired i had 2 exams tomorrow starting at 8 am. sobs.

[benoistthebunny]

heaven only knows, chapter one

pairing:: ::c!quackity x c!revivebur word count:: ::2.1k next chapter synopsis:: ::when one day, quackity has had enough of wilbur's behavior and threatens him, it ends up with one wholehearted love confession, and a very confused quackity.

surrounded by woods, the founder of L’Manberg walked.

surrounded by the wind, wooshing around his ears, he, also thought.

and, lost in thoughts, thinking back to all he’d been doing previously, all his life’s decisions and what went wrong, he hadn’t noticed he was being followed.

that was, until a voice spooked him, at least.

‘i don’t know whether you deserve to love or to die, soot,’ the sharp voice of quackity sounded.

a grin formed on the older man's face, as he took in these words.

‘death. i don’t deserve to live, anyone would see that, taking even just one look at the list of innocent persons I took out. kill me,’ the brunette spoke calmly, having turned around to face his, enemy, who was holding up a gun.

‘die, you say? I could let you live, keep you away from all life known to mankind, force you to insanity. but I won’t, I’m not a monster. meet me in my office. tomorrow, exactly this time. we have some problems if you don’t. not showing up means I’ll hunt down everyone you love, kill them in front of you and finally, i'll kill you. you’d be stuck in an endless loop of death, in limbo, i believe you called it. so, if I were you, I’d make sure to be there.’

the two shared a moment of silence, the younger one having watched wilbur’s face closely, looking for any emotion.

however, he hadn’t expected this reaction: ‘so you’d kill you then? doesn’t make any sense really, how would you kill me if you’re dead already?’

quackity huffed at this: ‘what?’

the other sighed whilst he sent the other a desperate look of, please get the hint already.

but he hadn’t understood the hint and, defeated, the brunette breathed out: ‘you said you’d kill all I love. what if all I love is you, quackity?’

‘quit the bullshit, soot. don’t play your mind games on me, they will not work,’ the younger man yelled out.

wilbur noticed the way the other's confident stance faltered, and the way his finger slowly reached for the trigger, though barely touching it.

when the brit stayed silent, the younger one added: ‘it’s what got us into this mess. your stupid mind games on a stupid drunken night. quit it, neither one agreed to this, to marrying. you were drunk and you made mistakes, I don’t blame you. just cut the crap. stop lying, please. I don’t like being married to you, so we won’t be anymore. I won’t have to take another one of your lies again, not when I’ve killed you.’

‘quackity i know you hate me but i've loved you since, ever since i can remember! and i know this all is forced, but i'd give up forever for it not to be, i'd give up my life if it meant that i'd get to be with you and you'd even slightly love me back! I'm willing to do anything and everything for you, I just, i don't want to lose you. you don't like me, you despise me even, but i just, i can't keep doing this. i can't keep acting like it's all a joke and like i don't care about you. because i do! you mean everything to me. you're the only reason i'm still here and you're the only person i trust! so can you just, please at least act like you don't hate me? please,’ wilbur finally reacted.

'i'm, sorry i didn't know you felt this way,' admitted the younger one.

an awkward chuckle left the taller's mouth, as he took in yet another change of position of quackity's, familiar gun, because now that he wasn't being held at gunpoint anymore, he took in the irony of the situation.

the amount of times that particular gun had been held to his head, should have been worrying to him, instead of feeling strangely safe.

not that he knew quackity wouldn't fire the gun.

hell, he would fire that thing without a reason if it meant he'd get to see the fear on wilbur's face, and he knew that damn well.

'it's okay, really. i don't know how you would've known. i was pretty good at hiding it, if i may say so myself. i know i'm not one to be open about his feelings, but i guess love really does make you do dumb shit. and that, that's what it is. love. i'm in love, quackity.'

he also knew he couldn't stay quiet for too long, because that angered the short male.

'right. you're so drunk, soot. we need to get you home and get you sober so you can say your final goodbyes,' quackity groaned.

wilbur crossed his arms, as if telling the other he has no right to take him with: 'i want to stay here with you!

'so your way of pushing your luck is by pouting like a little kid, hoping i won't take you home,' the black-haired man asked, a small smile having formed on his face whilst he mumbled: 'idiot.'

and, before wilbur could even react the other had already picked him up into his arms and onto his back, the brunette now piggyback-riding his, well, crush, as stupid as that word sounded.

it had stayed silent for a while, but they both found it was a comforting silence, not an awkward one which, thank god for that one.

'hey quackity,' spoke wilbur, suddenly.

'what,' the shorter man spat.

needless to say the sudden change of, talking, quite caught the brunette off guard.

'nothing, i just, i don't know. i wanted to say that i know you don't feel the same way. never have and never will. you've made that clear and i respect that. i made peace with that, even! it hurts, and it keeps me up at night, but i can live with it,' the brunette struggled to get out.

'i didn't,' the sentence got cut off before wilbur could make out what it was quackity was trying to tell him, but he didn't have to wait long, because the other had quickly found another way to word it, it being: 'whoever told you that, that i don't like you?'

a sigh, before: 'are you serious? you've told me, a lot of times. i always laughed it off but honestly, it made me want to die whenever you reminded me. and you saved my life a lot of times too, just like you are now, but i know you'll go back to telling me all sorts of fucked up things. and as much as i love this, whatever it is we've going on now, i don't want that reminder again. of what we are, i mean. friends. it hurts to see that. just, it hurts when you remind me, when you say i mean nothing to you. so if that's what's going to happen, please don't let it be. just, drop me off, but don't remind me again.'

'i guess i'm, guilty of it too. of lying, keeping feelings secret. i don't know if what i feel, is what you feel for me, but i do know that i quite enjoy our conflicts. it's fun. to me, it brings nostalgia with it, from pogtopia. and, i guess i've gotten used to you being around,' quackity spoke.

'so you just, you like the memories then?'

'no. no, not, not just the memories. well yes, memories, but i guess we make some as well. memories, i mean. our arguments, the things i love so much, they stay with me, they're memories. i don't forget that, soot,' spoke the black-haired man.

a soft laugh: 'i find that hard to understand, quackity. why do you love something that's, it's mean. the things we say and do. how can you love that? the same word i used when i talked about what i feel for you, how do you find that one the best to describe what you feel with these arguments.'

'i don't, i don't know. i guess it just feels safe, in a way? even if we throw mean stuff around at each other it doesn't, feel mean.'

'it feels safe,' wilbur asked, having shifted around on the other's back.

'yes, i think so. any normal argument with anyone else wouldn’t be, but with you it's, i don’t know. it just, feels different.'

'i never meant the things i said. well, i meant the part where i always, jokingly asked for sex because, really it's the only way i knew how to say i love you. but the other stuff, i never meant that. you're not annoying, or stupid, or whatever, really. you're amazing, quackity,' wilbur smiled.

'and again it is, that soot robbed me of my words. what do i say, how do i react? i have no idea,' admitted the younger, chuckling.

'that's, understandable. i know we're both not that good at communication. really, i've been watching you closely and know you're more of an actions speak more than words guy. and i appreciate that, i really do! but really, i know it's hard to have serious conversations for you and, if you want to quit whatever this is, we can, immediately! just let me know and, maybe we can have a stupid argument to make you feel safe or something,' said the other man sheepishly.

'no. no, i want to get all of this out. well, what i can, at least.'

'i do too and, i think i got- no, that's a lie, i didn't get all of it out. god there's so much i have to tell you, but i don't know how to.'

'tell me, then, soot,' quackity whispered.

'i'm so scared that you'll change your mind about us, about me. if there even is an us. and, i know you'll just say you won't, to assure me, i know you will. but you have to realise that, that it's hard. it's hard to believe that when all you ever do is just, make fun of me. but then again, i would love nothing more than to believe it.'

a sigh: 'well, it's complicated.'

'i know it is. so is what i feel. for you, i mean.'

'i see.'

'no, wait. i mean, it's not. well it is, but still. i know what you mean to me, i know what i want from you and i know that all i want is you and, and i'm so in love. it's just hard because, i guess we always had that uh, i guess we just hated each other. well, we had to. i mean, nobody told us we had to, but we did and that's how it always was and that worked. but this is, well, this is new. and i like it but it's scary. so, so scary. i've never been so vulnerable, ever. and i quite like it,' wilbur admitted, 'look, i don't know where you stand with your emotions and feelings but, god i'm so in love with you and i just want everyone to know. i could scream it from the top of my lungs right now, i want everyone to know that quackity is the person i love! but before i, go ahead and get too lost in thoughts, i want to ask, what are we? i mean, is this friendship?'

'truth be told, i don't know, soot,' spoke quackity, 'what, do you want this to be?'

'i wish to be more than friends but, i know you're figuring it out and we can, we can wait however long you need. however long it takes to figure this all out. i can wait and, i will wait because i love you and that's what love does to you. it makes you, well, kinda dumb. but it's an amazing feeling, one that i never want to go away.'

silence.

'i suck at talking, i really do, i'm sorry. but what if, instead of insulting each other, we just-'

'we just what,' quackity asked.

'what would you think if, i proposed the idea of you and and me, together, in a room and just, listening to love songs? it would speak everything i want to tell you, but that i can't say,' spoke wilbur.

'i would think, that it's a fantastic idea. and i would think that i would like that, like right now,' quackity said, face having turned red.

'so it's settled, then? you take me to your office, we get drunk and listen to songs,' the brit asked, hope speaking in his voice.

'yeah. it's settled,' the younger smiled.

[ashthefrogprin]

I eat, drink, and sleep these two.

Gay is in, gay is hot, gay it's gonna be

Fun fact! The third one is based on an Actor's AU fic on ao3!

Link of the fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49237564

[fernlessbastard]

A piece based on the FIRST CHAPTER OF MY NEW FIC - "IT'S US THAT MADE THIS MESS" - WHICH JUST CAME OUT LET'S GOOOOOO

[amaliasboyfriend]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dream SMP Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Wilbur Soot/Quackity, Minor or Background Relationship(s) Characters: Wilbur Soot, Quackity, Minor Characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Royalty, Pining, Dancing, Emotional Infidelity, Break Up, Getting Together, First Kiss, Happy Ending, Wilbur Soot Has Daddy Issues, Sally the Salmon is Not a Fish (Dream SMP), Drama & Romance, tommy and sally are the only other onscreen characters, wilbur thinks about phil a lot though, hence the daddy issues tag, Bipolar Wilbur Soot, i wasnt sure if i was gonna tag it that but it informs my choices so Series: Part 13 of prompts Summary:

If Quackity were kinder, he would lend pity to Wilbur and make himself scarce or the kind of angry that doesn’t have Wilbur memorizing the shape of his lips.

Of course, Quackity is not kind. He is categorically selfish, unrelenting in his dedication, a force of nature that bends his wants into needs and closes his eyes to the reality that someone else may not be able to. Wilbur finds himself wanting to bend.

written for @rachelsquill for the art house holiday gift exchange :]

[rachelsquill]

His Gay Ass is NOT Stargazing!!!

Quackity and Wilbur stood atop the Las Nevadas Needle. Quackity was gazing at the beautiful night sky above them, but Wilbur’s gaze wandered elsewhere.

He found himself observing the man beside him.

How long had it been since they put aside their petty squabbles and were at peace with one another? And what’s more is that for Wilbur that peace had developed into a sort of fondness, maybe even more than a fondness.

Wilbur’s heart tugged as he stared at the man next to him. His beanie that he never seemed to leave home without was crooked on his head. His long hair was darker than the night sky. His golden wings shone brighter than all the stars in the sky. The more he observed the man before him the more his heart ached. He sucked up his pride and rested his hand upon the shorter man’s hand, an invitation for more. 

“Wilbur, have you ever danced with someone?” He asked, still gazing at the sky.

Memories flashed across Wilbur’s vision. He recalled dancing in L’manberg beside the fire with Niki, Tommy, and Fundy while Tubbo and Jack sang a song of freedom. He remembered a spark of joy amidst the sadness in Pogtopia when he and Tommy dragged Techno from his potato farm and danced to their heart's content. He thought in fondness about dancing on the beach in Logsteadshire with Tommy. He realized that dancing had always been a time when he felt alive. 

“Wil?”

Wilbur snapped from his pleasant thoughts and looked at Quackity, who was gazing at him expectantly.

“Why? Are you offering me a dance?” He asked with a grin.

“Maybe I am…” He extended a hand out to Wilbur. “Only if you’ll have me.”

Wilbur takes the hand offered to him.

The dance is slow and sweet. Wilbur rests his head on Quackity’s shoulder letting him lead the dance. 

Wilbur feels alive.

[fairyeoll]

▸ KOMUNAL E FOREVER PIRA MINHA PILHA para @qsmprojectt

[keirawantstocry]

Tnt duo playing poker<3 homoerotic banter ensues (is that the right word?)

yessssss homoeroticccc

Wilbur wasn't looking at his cards. All he could look at was the man in front of him, dark hair being pushed out of his eyes and back under the beanie he was never seen without, eyes scanning his cards carefully before glancing at the bet pile.

The dealer was watching both of them.

"Call," Quackity said, folding the cards to his chest and pushing forward some of his poker chips.

The dealer placed another card in the center of the table. Wilbur finally glanced down at the cards. He was going to crash and burn but he wanted to drag this out a bit more.

He whistled, looking up at Quackity who was already looking at him. "You're definitely gonna want to fold after this."

Quackity raised a single eyebrow at him. "Personally I think you'll be the one folding. You can't keep up this act forever."

Wilbur hooked two fingers inside the collar of his shirt and pulled it out, sighing a bit. "What act, darling? This is all me."

Quackity laughed. "Do you really think you're fooling anyone with this cocky attitude? I can feel the desperation for attention dripping off you with every statement."

Wilbur scoffed. "You're one to talk. How many partners have you been through this month?"

Unexpectedly the insult seemed to slide right off of Quackity. "How many have you had? Oh, my bad, I forgot nobody can stand to be seen with you."

Wilbur gritted his teeth and looked down at his cards once more. "Raise."

Both of Quackity's eyebrows shot up as Wilbur pushed forward the last of his chips. He cocked his head and gave him a devious grin. "Ready to fold, amor?"

Quackity visibly shuddered. Interesting. "Don't call me that."

"Why? Like it too much, mi amor? Mi vida?"

"Shut the fuck up. I'm going all in."

Wilbur clicked his tongue. "Ooo, rash decision, querido. Am I getting under your skin?"

"Never."

"Well, at least let me under your clothes then."

"Fuck you."

yeahd and then they have gay sex :]

[shrimpchip123]

tiney in cold blood thing from a while back

[medium-kat07]

Tntduo Pride Week 1; Moonlight

“The moon’s really pretty over Las Nevadas, you know?”

“I know,” Quackity murmured, not lifting his gaze from the documents in front of him. “It’s a pity all the light pollution blocks out the stars.”

He wasn’t looking at Wilbur, but he felt his presence (always, always felt his presence) just beside him, watching the moon rise over the city through Quackity’s office window. He wasn’t looking at Wilbur, but he knew he would have the same gentle smile he kept when nobody was looking, in solitary moments where he wasn’t performing as the villain or the savior- just Wilbur. (Just pretty.) He wasn’t looking at Wilbur, but he knew the man’s gaze would trail over to where the smaller duck hybrid sat working, and that he would watch Quackity scribble signatures with a dying ink pen like he was something to be watched. To be adored.

He wasn’t looking at Wilbur, but he would love him, just from his desk.

Not like he’d ever say it.

“Do you ever watch it,” the taller man called.

“Watch what?”

“The moon,” Wilbur murmured. Quackity felt the eyes being taken off him. Wilbur looked out the window again. “The sky at night.”

“Why would I?”

“It’s full tonight.”

Quackity did look up this time, eyes catching on the ragged trench coat before he even glanced out the window to see the pale moonlight light up the city he loved.

“Do you ever leave your office at all?”

“No. Or- yes, of course I do, when I go home.”

“When is that?”

Quackity racked his brain. “I’m supposed to go home at... nine, I think.”

“It’s well past nine, darling.”

Quackity had the distinct feeling of something being crushed in his diaphragm, and he closed his eyes in order to not smile foolishly at the nickname. “Mm-hm.”

“You’re overworking yourself.” 

“Mm-hm.”

“Come over here,” Wilbur sighed. “If you’re not going to go home, just... come watch the moon with me.”

Quackity looked at his eyes, which was hard to do at first, but it got easier as he kept looking. It’s hard to gather the courage to open your mouth underwater, but it’s so so achingly easy to drown.

He was moving before he realized it, pushing his desk chair back with the sound of the dull rubber wheels turning against hardwood. He walked around his desk until he stood next to Wilbur.

The moon glowed (of course it did, it was the moon.) over Las Nevadas. Streets bustled with taxis and buses, and the neon lights left pink and green brightening the night, even with nothing but a shining rock to offer a spotlight over the scene.

Quackity’s eyes traced the skyline. He saw the construction in the northern district, a new hotel to siphon money, and some apartment complexes. Condos. Party Venues. Unfinished construction. Foolish was on his back about the material prices and fiberglass inflation, and Sam kept asking him about the tax charges and lawyers for multiple lawsuits. Not to mention the arcade down the street that was rapidly losing customers and the ballroom someone keeps sneaking lead plates into-

“Q,” Wilbur prompted, brow furrowing. “Q, hey.”

Quackity startled, looking towards him with bristling shoulders.

“Stop thinking about work, man,” he laughed, although the usually melodic sound was cut by his smoker’s lungs. “They’ll be fine without you for a few seconds. Just... look at the moon.”

Quackity huffed, turning again to look out the window.

The moon was full, he noted. A perfect circle over the jagged skyline. Though the neon of Las Nevadas was bright, some desolate rooftops and darkened streets still managed to receive some of her light.

Quackity felt a soft smile inch onto his face.

He did love the city he’d built. Right from the ground up.

“The moon is pretty, isn’t it?” he mumbled.

“It doesn’t shine as bright as the sun,” Wilbur reminded him, as though it would cause Quackity to rethink his opinion.

“But it’s easier to look at,” Quackity sighed. He wasn’t watching the moon anymore.

Wilbur met his eyes carefully.

“I’ve missed you, Q,” he murmured. Casually, gently. With his hands in his pockets and his head tilted slightly, those same smudged glasses not high enough on the bridge of his nose to cover practically gold eyes.

He said it as though it was some kind of confession, and Quackity kind of hoped it was.

“I... missed you too, Soot.”

“Do you...” the dead man said slowly, “...want me to go home?” His eyes cast downward. “I am banned, after all.”

Quackity worried at the cuff of his sleeve for a bit. “Do you think you should?”

“It’s... not like I have anyone waiting for me.”

“You want me to pity you, then?” Quackity chuckled playfully. “Is that your angle?”

Wilbur grinned. “Oh, maybe.”

Quackity rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “I suppose nobody would mind if you stuck around for a day or two.”

Quackity tried not to grin when Wilbur brightened instantly. “Really?”

“Yeah, fine,” the smaller said. “Don’t steal anything.”

“Steal everything, got it,” Wilbur joked, making Quackity laugh again.

Wilbur looked out the window. Over seconds, his smile morphed into something softer, the same one Quackity recognized. The real one. The glowing one.

“You shine, you know.”

Wilbur glanced at him. “...what?”

“When you smile like that,” Quackity sighed. “You shine.”

Wilbur studied him for a moment, seeming taken aback. 

“...Not as bright as the sun, though.”

Quackity leaned against the window sill. “But just enough to look at.”

[swedisheek]

if you stretch out your hand, i think you can reach mine / s3 quackbur / 500 words

“why the hell are you still here, wilbur? what do you get from this?”

wilbur blinks owlishly, like he’s never considered that quackity doesn’t know. his features are often harsh and radiant in the sun, but now, dusk draws his lines softer. the gentle pink of his lips, oddly, reminds quackity of monet’s water lilies a little.

“you’re my muse, quackity.”

quackity scoffs.

“what, are you writing ballads for me in your shitty little van again?”

wilbur steps closer, hands fidgeting, like he doesn’t know where to put them.

“no, no, that’s all in the past. but you- you keep me going, quackity. you stoke the embers. all i’m trying to do is pay your kindness back in full.”

quackity sits with that for a moment. wilbur’s eyes are moonlit pools as he watches him, something wild and strange darting beneath the surface.

“you’re a fucking weird one, soot.”

wilbur laughs quietly at that, the barest passing of breath, scared to disturb the air between them.

“you always did like oddities, didn’t you?”

now it’s quackity’s turn to step forward, meet him halfway so their chests almost touch.

“and you’ve always liked to be a funny little trinket.”

wilbur breathe-laughs again, close enough now that quackity feels it brush his cheeks.

“you aren’t, though. you’re not a conversation piece, you- you’re a human, wilbur! i’m sick of you acting like you’re just a character in some bullshit show and everything you do has to be an attention-getter or have some huge fuckin’ meaning! be a goddamn person!”

the with me goes unsaid. wilbur seems to hear it anyways- of course he does.

“i’ll be your fucking muse! sure! whatever! just tell me what that means, what all of this means to you. and then i’ll leave you alone.”

wilbur is silent, eyes cast down. quackity sighs, mumbling to himself about how he should’ve known nothing would change, wilbur never changes unless it’s for the worse, and-

“it means-“

wilbur’s voice drops into the air, like a pebble in a pond. quackity turns to look at him, and wilbur visibly tenses.

“goddamnit, quackity, you- you know what it means.”

“say it.”

“i- it means. well. uh. i think i loved you. and i want to try that again. am- am i- can i try that again?”

and really, what else can quackity do about that. wilbur’s lily-petal lips are as easy to kiss as they’ve always been, tasting faintly of orange, and he drinks it all in, beneath the waxing moon.

his hands meet wilbur’s wrists against the railing, warm on warm on cool marble. when he presses down gingerly with his thumbs, he feels wilbur’s heartbeat beneath the delicate skin there, jittery, attention-high.

cover mountains in sand, but somewhere, even now, there’ll be snow. it’s been years- a decade, for wilbur- and still, this. this being their bodies together, this being the warmth, this being wilbur’s hushed breath across the planes of quackity’s face, cold wind on desert sands.

[house-on-neibolt-st]

is making my c! quackbur coffee shop au set in a cat cafe too much???

[benoistthebunny]

heaven only knows, chapter two

pairing:: ::c!quackity x c!revivebur word count:: ::3.3k previous chapter sypnopsis:: ::the confused quackity that wilbur had made him into after confessing his feelings, agreed to hang out for a bit and, he realised wilbur wasn't all that bad as he'd thought.

just as the two had promised each other they'd do, they arrived at quackity's office in las nevadas.

the owner of the building was searching through his pockets for his keys, whilst the other took in said building.

it was big, tremendous, if you will and, despite having been there quite some times it still managed to take away wilbur's breath.

it was just one of those things that, never stop to amaze one and to think quackity lives here, was, unblieveable.

'welcome,' the younger forced the brunette out of his thoughts.

quackity looked at wilbur, who was completely off guard and if he'd wanted to, he could of killed him right then and there, and te brunette wouldn't even have seen it coming.

he really, thought he was safe here.

and perhaps he was, quackity just, wasn't sure if he still wanted wilbur around or not, and if this confession of him really made a difference.

the older man in question just, smiled, for a while, before realising an answer was probably expected and responded with a faint 'thank you.'

some way, now that the brunette knows what he does about - well, after what happened, it was different to look quackity in the eyes.

it was, better and felt more comfortable, as if the pair truly got to see each other's true colours for the first time.

quackity involuntarily chuckled at the late reply, before having signalled for wilbur to come inside.

it was an understatement to say he was excited, excited to see what today would bring.

to be honest, no words could describe how he felt currently.

it was like a whole new emotion had erupted right then and there.

he was scared, that maybe wilbur had thought all of this out to try and put his own gun to his head, but also curious, because what if that didn't happen, what then?

would it, mean he was, really in love with quackity?

the brunette had smiled throughout the quick moments of silence, holding debate within himself of whether he should step foot inside or wait until he'd be asked to do so.

'jeez this, this is awkward. i'm so sorry i told you i'd be excited! and nervous but, i think that's obvious and, well i've never- you know what, nevermind what am i even trying to say this is so stupid i'm sorry i don't wanna fuck up i'm so scared-' the man got cut off.

'hey, don't worry okay? awkward or not, it'll be fine. we'll figure it out as we go, soot. now, come inside, will you,' quackity spoke calmly.

he didn't really know how he kept his tone so steady, but whatever he tried, it had worked.

because inside he was, pretty much ready to explode, he was a mess and, the constant silent battles in his mind of if this was all a big trick or he'd really just been confessed to by the wilbur soot, wasn't helping at all, either.

'that seems like a good start of things, yeah,' wilbur joked, which made the other chuckle in return.

it hadn't really been the joke that made him laugh though, it was more, wilbur's smile and the way he'd looked at the floor in an awkward manner.

okay, yeah, maybe it was obvious he was head-over-heels in love.

how hadn't quackity noticed earlier?

the black-haired male ended up grabbing the brunette's hand, interlocking their fingers and pulling him inside.

he immediately broke contact, though and, made up an excuse in his mind, said that he needed to shut the door.

because it was true, wasn't it?

he, needed to lock the door and couldn't do that whilst holding wilbur's hand and, besides, it was just to pull the other in, that he grabbed his hand.

meanwhile the older's mind was running at high speeds.

his heartbeat was, well he's not sure if it was still healthy at this point because, holy fuck it felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest and, holy fuck, his fingers, they touched quackity's fingers and, god did that feel good.

wilbur didn't know how to react, just nodded when the shorter pulled away to lock the door behind them and honestly, though he looked fine on the outside, he was malfunctioning on the inside because shit, that really just happened.

turning around from the door, the shorter fiddled with the lights for a while.

half of his brain was figuring out which switch was the right one for the dim lights, the other half focused on wilbur.

finally finding the right one, he turned to the other who, seemed to be taking a quick glance around his office.

'music,' he finally asked the brit.

the brunette's eyes widened and his head, ever so slightly shot upwards: 'yes! i uh, i made you a playlist, with songs that remind me of you! it's stupid but i mean, it's there, and now i told you and there's no going back so, do you wanna maybe listen to those songs? they're love songs! obviously,' he excitedly told the other.

quackity smiled softly.

he didn't, quite get how it was that soot made him so happy, so easily.

but, he wasn't complaining.

at least a part of him wasn't.

the other part though, wanted to run away from this whole situation, before he got himself tangled up in another mess as was his marriage with sapnap and karl.

pushing away his troubled thoughts, he nodded and replied with a quick, 'sure,' voice laced with emotion.

after he'd walked over to his desk, the young man pulled out a new-ish looking mp3 player, quickly dusting his hands off in an entertaining manner, to get rid of the qlight awkward tension.

'just connect your phone to the radio bluetooth, and it should play,' quackity explained, his heartbeat growing faster just because he's in the same room as him, and he smiled at the younger's earlier try of getting him to laugh.

stupid, sure, but wilbur made him feel all kinds of stuff and he's honest to say that, though he had no idea why he experienced them, he'd gotten so used to these emotions.

god, the taller must have looked like an idiot, smiling so widely as he connected his phone like he'd been told to do.

wilbur's hands were softly shaking as he pushed play on the first song.

the first notes began playing and, even if he wouldn't have looked to put the playlist on he would've immediately recognised the song: 18, by a died-down band named one direction.

'listen to the lyrics, they, they apply to me. well, my feelings for you, i think that's put better, really well,' the older spoke softly.

'alright,' quackity smiled.

he had ended up choosing to sit down on the carpet, next to wilbur's legs whilst they both listened to the lyrics intently.

unable to force down the smile growing on his face again, the black-haired let it be and just, enjoyed.

oh, if only the other knew what was going on in his mind currently.

it was definitely a mess.

his insides were screaming, pushing his body to its limit in happy.

he, was a mess.

wilbur caught himself staring at quackity as he, sat down on the chair next to the other and listened to the song with him.

the other looked perfect, absolutely fucking perfect.

holding his knees up to his chest, with his eyes closed and that peaceful smile on his face, it was an amazing sight to see.

the brunette didn't believe it, that this was really happening, that this was real.

until once again he was confronted with a touch, so soft that it felt unreal but, it was real, for sure.

'get down here, idiot,' the younger laughed once the song was finished, meanwhile trying to pull the taller man down.

the shorter continued to laugh as he tugged on the older's arm.

the brit also let out a small chuckle, eventually falling onto the soft carpet as more soft fits of laughter erupted from the two.

once calmed down, quackity turned to the other and stared at him for a moment before having asked, 'what song's now?'

'treehouse, by alex g! I love the song, it reminds me of us, in a way. of what i wish we would've been growing up, more. just, listen and you'll get it.'

it went silent as the two men waited for the song to start playing - mere seconds felt like an eternity for wilbur, as he realised quackity never let go of his arm.

he was still holding it while he, now rested his head against the walls of his own office.

it's cute, sure, but it's doing things to the brunette's mind and oh god, is this normal?

why does he want to kiss the other man?

that's stupid, he doesn't want that he's just, he's waiting and it's driving him insane, that's all.

he's never been a patient man, after all.

the black-haired man sat patiently, having tried to listen to the song's lyrics but his mind has other plans.

he hardly got one word in before his attention turned to wilbur.

he'd only noticed now, that the two of them had been sitting pretty close.

his mind raced, so badly that he swore his head started hurting.

with the hand that wasn't attached to the other's arm, he fidgeted with the carpet patterns because, that usually helped calm him down.

and, without thinking, rather before he could bring himself to think, he interlocked their hands again but, this time, he didn't pull back.

wilbur's chuckles filled the room and that truly, along with the music, was probably the most peaceful thing quackity had ever experienced.

the brunette felt like he was sweating so much and, suddenly he became aware of every little movement between the pair.

did he move his legs?

god why'd he do that, that looked stupid.

and why'd he breathe so loud, the other must have thought he's such a pathetic little boy, can't breathe normally.

he's not, he's just, he was so in love and it hurt, it hurt to want someone so close to you, to want to feel someone's body so close to yours, but you know it's not possible.

and on top of that, it never went away.

he wasn't impatient, he just really, really wanted to kiss the other.

as the song slowly came to an end, the shorter looked over to his, friend, his smile sweet and pure.

'i loved that song,' he slowly spoke, 'one of the favourites i've heard as of yet, not counting in how i've only heard two so far."

quackity chuckled, inching only so much closer to wilbur to the point where, his body felt like it could power down or malfunction any second.

oh, how he wished he could finally put his feelings into words, make up for the silences and disagreements, but did nothing ever come to mind.

'what? but, you've heard so many of them how can you remember them all,' wilbur yelled out in utter confusion.

'jeez you should become an actor,' quackity chuckled.

'i wish,' the brunette sighed, 'i don't think there's enough place for that around here, all everyone does is make countries and fight. i've dreamed of becoming an actor since, well forever. really it's basically all i used to live for, the attention, all eyes on me. but, i don't think people would appreciate an actor out here, in the real world, of all things.'

'maybe. but if you would try and do something like that, i pinky promise you I'll be your biggest fan! i'll be all the eyes in the theatre,' said the shorter.

the two interlock pinkies, before the brunette spoke: 'if you don't scream my name every time i walk by if i decide to go in on that, you lose a pinkie, you know that right?'

'who says i won't applaude you all the time and scream how great you are if you do?'

the pair both burst into laughter again, their hands having slightly brushed each others.

they continued to giggle and crack, oddly funny jokes during the ads, neither one of them having noticed the way they both subconsciously moved closer.

the awkwardness of before seemed to evaporate, disappear in thin air and, as the next song began playing that familiar, comforting silence took over again.

'hey i know this song! marlboro nights, no? i think i heard you singing those lyrics once!'

'that is, very correct, you're so smart,' wilbur semi-sarcastically said.

'hey what does that mean,' quackity asked, crossing his arms, having looked up at the brunette.

'nothing,' laughed the other whilst putting his arm around quackity's shoulder and ruffling through his hair.

'you're so stupid,' the younger male said, playfully rolling his eyes.

'and you love it!'

the conversation died down and the song in question played in the background as the two of them listened joyfully.

smiles plastered onto their faces that never faded, the quick glances they took at each other, everything about this moment was wonderful.

quackity wished more than ever he could frame this moment, this situation right then and there, and to keep it in his pocket forever.

wished he never had to move from his spot ever again.

he leaned back some more and in the motion of doing so, he accidentally made contact with the other's shoulder again.

he didn't move and, neither did wilbur.

the both internally screaming, with the somehow calm-ish music playing in the background sure was a funny thing to imagine.

'i like this,' the brunette suddenly spoke, 'i know we're enjoying the silence and all, but i'd just like to tell you that, jesus i wish i could keep this moment in my pocket and-'

quackity had cut the other off by putting his finger over wilbur's lips.

it stayed like that for, about 20 seconds, before the younger explained himself: 'best part of the song. besides, i know what you mean, no need to waste your words on trying to explain the unexplainable. there's no words for what this is, or for what i feel. it's something you just understand when you feel it, no?'

wilbur slowly nodded, not even having been able to take in half the things the other said because holy fuck, he was touching his lips, the ones he wanted to be kissed on, by quackity.

the pair looked at each other for a while, both of their heartbeats having increased rapidly and, the both of them looked away at the same time, having laughed quickly to hide away the unspoken awkwardness of the situation.

the tension they had created was still in the air though, waiting for an invite to spread again.

and, as the next song played through the small device, filling the room, quackity leaned his head back onto the wall, quickly having picked up on the way the older tapped his fingers to the beat of the music.

he smiled softly at this.

'scrawny by wallows,' the brit whispered, 'amazing beat.'

quackity smiled brightly: 'why are you whispering?'

'i don't know,' whispered wilbur, chuckling softly, 'i find it's more peaceful.'

looking over at the other, he was met by the sight of a smiling male, once again with his eyes closed.

'you're really pretty.'

quackity broke into a nervous fit of laughter, before whispering a faint: 'what?'

'hey, it's true! you have a really nice face and, i like the way your eyes compliment your black hair poking from under your weird beanie that i love yet hate, and i love the way one of your mouth's corners is longer than the other, it makes you you. you're really unique, really pretty.'

the shorter smiled nervously.

'thank you, you're very pretty yourself.'

his face beamed.

'why thank you, your majesty,' the brit replied, having left the two in loud hoots of laughter.

somehow and some way, quackity had accidentally slid off the wall and, onto wilbur's shoulder.

again.

both having laughed even louder at this now, quackity lifted his eyes to look up at the taller male who was, already looking down at him.

that, made them laugh again.

god, the brunette's laugh was contagious.

and the song sure did match the moment.

definitely a core memory, quackity thought.

'you really can't get enough of the action, huh,' wilbur teased quackity.

'shut up, you can't get enough of ME,' the shorter said, playfully hitting the other on his thighs.

'sure, sure. whatever you say babyboy,' wilbur chuckled.

'oh, shut up!'

the room was filled with laughter and jokes, the tension from earlier having slipped out the window.

another song played and, quackity seemed to know it from somewhere, but he couldn't pinpoint it.

he just decided to, leave it be.

he was still resting his body against the other's shoulder, neither of them having dared to move.

and so, his stomach tightened.

'soot,' the black-haired male suddenly yelled, causing the other to jump up a little, which made the both of them laugh, after a second of having looked at each other in pure shock.

'oh my god, soot,' quackity barely was able to whisper through his laughs, 'dont tell me you're a swiftie too!'

'i'm sorry to disappoint, quackity,' wilbur whispered in return.

'oh em gee, samesies,' the other half yelled, half laughed.

wilbur doesn't think he's ever laughed this hard: 'you're so dramatic!'

and with that, desperate to get his mind off of him, the black-haired male quickly made point to decode the lyrics.

during all that, wilbur began to hum the song that had been playing currently.

the other pretended to not have noticed but, he had noticed.

he'd noticed it pretty easily.

and, in his opinion, the humming that came with was better than the music itself.

wilbur suddenly realised quackity had been staring at him, having made the man stop in his tracks for a second: 'what?'

'nothing, i was just looking at you!'

a smile formed on the brit's face and his gaze, it felt so unfamiliar.

it was love, the shorter had later realised, when thinking back about this moment.

'what's with you now,' quackity asked.

'nothing, i just, i really like this and, i like that i like this!'

'that doesn't make any sense, what do you even mean by t-'

'shh,' the brunette softly shushed the other.

before quackity was able to complain, he felt a pair of lips on his own.

the heat in his body seemed to turn even hotter and spread all the way from his feet to his fingers, which he slowly twirled in wilbur's hair.

the other's lips felt soft and, it fit so well together.

it felt almost as if, his lips were sculpted to fit his.

all thoughts left the younger's head, all he could get himself to do was laugh, once the other pair of lips pulled away.

for a moment, the two stared at each other, foreheads pressed together and light chuckles having escaped their, no longer virgin mouths.

wanting to stay in that moment forever, the short male didn't move and, neither did the taller.

they just, sat there, admired each other for a moment, minds wandering back to how they'd gotten in this situation, this mess.

this mess, this absolute chaos of feelings.

but a pretty mess, nonetheless.

'this, probably seems like a stupid thing to ask, and i totally get it if you don't want to go in on my question, or if you think it's weird, but can i mabe, hug you,' quackity slowly asked.

in the moment he seemed so unsure of, everything.

'of course,' spoke wilbur softly.

the older pulled quackity into a tight hug, having rested his arms on the other's waist and drawing circles on it with his finger whilst the shortest out of the two just, rested his head on wilbur's shoulder.

'i've never, ever felt so safe with anyone, i really, you're just- thank you.'

a soft chuckle escaped the other's lips as he, unknowingly pressed the black-haired a little closer to his chest: 'and you're just, so welcome.'

[marrow-and-bone]

Title: Major Malfunction Pairings: Quackity/Wilbur, Quackity/Schlatt Rating: Explicit Words: 10,700 A gift for @regicidal-optimism, as part of the @mcytblrholidayexchange Summary:

“I just think it’s a little ridiculous, that’s all,” Wilbur says around a mouthful of hash brown. “I mean the theater of it, you know? The spectacle.” “Of course it’s a spectacle," Quackity says. “We’re launching a fucking rocket.” “We launch rockets every day. This one just so happens to have people sitting on top of it.” “I’m not a chump for being excited about this,” Quackity says, setting up all the familiar defenses. “It’s a big deal. It’s a big deal every fucking time.” “I never said you were a chump, Quackity, let’s not be dramatic.” Quackity’s eyes stay on the road, but he can hear the eyeroll in Wilbur’s voice. “I only said that it’s depressingly mundane.” “For you, maybe," Quackity says, and swallows down the rest.  or Quackity and Wilbur are Space Shuttle flight control officers for NASA in the 1990s.

There's also a playlist (course there is) on Spotify | on YouTube

A selected list of sources (below the fold)

Videos

Space Shuttle Abort Modes Explains the different abort modes for the shuttle, when they would be used, and generally how they work.

Mission Control Practices Launching Discovery Interviews with flight controllers, and footage of both the main control floor and the backrooms 

STS-51L - Launch Flight Directors Loop Includes audio and video from the Mission Control Floor during the Challenger launch, explosion, and immediate aftermath

Columbia Breakup in real time Compiles footage from various sources and includes annotated diagrams of the systems which failed.

Inside Mission Control During STS-107 Columbia's Failed Re-entry and disaster No commentary or shuttle footage, audio and video of the flight controllers only

STS-107 Re-entry live NASA TV coverage of the Columbia accident Includes Public Affairs Officer commentary

STS-71 launch & landing TV coverage of a shuttle launch from 1995

NASA RTLS Launch Abort Simulation - Discovery with Orbiter visuals added Audio from a simulated shuttle launch abort at NASA Johnson

Commercial Crew Progress Status Update 2013 presentation describing NASA’s commercial crew program and its progress at the time

Podcast is Not an Option, Episode 73 (with Gary Jordan) Interview with present-day Public Affairs Officer 

Space Shuttle Flyout Series: Launch Directors Interviews with launch directors from NASA Kennedy, as well as footage of the firing room floor 

Articles, documents, and diagrams (not including wikipedia we all know about wikipedia already)

Rogers Commission Report on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident excerpted and adapted in the text of the story (see page 198)

Transcript of Mission Control flight loop for Columbia's final flight

Challenger timeline includes transcripts of audio from the NASA Select broadcast as well as the flight controller loops

Space Shuttle: Orbiter Processing from Landing to Launch  (PDF)

Going boldly: Behind the scenes at NASA’s hallowed Mission Control Center

The Final Count Down: A Review of Three Decades of Flight Controller Training Methods for Space Shuttle Mission Operations (PDF) includes a diagram of the control floor and descriptions of controller positions

Mission Control Center: The Heart of US Manned Spaceflight Operations this is the personal website of a former Flight Dynamics Officer [FDO] flight controller, the layout is a little wacky but there’s good stuff in here

Launching a Shuttle: NASA Countdown to Blastoff focuses on Launch Control at the Kennedy Space Center

Space Shuttle Propulsion Systems (PDF)

Building on a Mission: The Houston Mission Control Center

SPACE SHUTTLE EAST COAST ABORT MODES FOR HIGH INCLINATION LAUNCHES (PDF)

A McDonald’s menu from the 90s