(Quick forward; this is not really meant to be a long thing; just a sneak peek.)

(HEAVILY based on 'You Were Never Meant To Be A Hero' by @/FlameDraco360 on Wattpad[FlameDraco on Ao3][I really recommend the story{its amazing} if ur fine with Techno and Phil being massive dickheads] with some concepts used from 'Siren Songs and Cherry Bombs' by @/LightIs_Here)

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"Really?" Wilbur muttered under his breath. "A robbery? At this time of night?"

He dropped down silently, landing behind them.

"Hey," he said, his voice cutting through the stillness.

The two figures froze, turning to face him.

"You guys really picked the wrong night for this," Wilbur said, his tone dry.

The one with the crowbar lunged toward him, but Wilbur was faster. He floated upward, just out of reach, before flicking his wrist. The crowbar wrenched itself from the man's hand, clattering to the ground several feet away.

The second figure hesitated, his gaze darting between Wilbur and the alley's exit.

"Go home," Wilbur said, his voice firm. "Before this gets worse for you."

The two men exchanged a look before taking off, disappearing into the shadows.

Wilbur sighed, lowering himself to the ground.

"Well done."

The voice sent a chill down his spine.

Wilbur spun around, his heart racing as Royale stepped out of the shadows, his golden wings partially unfurled.

"Do you always skulk around in alleys, or is that just your thing?" Wilbur asked, his voice sharp.

Royale smirked. "I could ask you the same thing."

"What do you want?" Wilbur demanded, his chest tightening.

Royale tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming faintly. "To talk, as always."

"I'm not interested," Wilbur said quickly, taking a step back.

Royale chuckled softly. "Ah, but you are. You're just too stubborn to admit it."

Wilbur glared at him. "What's your game, Royale? Why are you so fixated on me?"

Royale's smirk softened, his tone almost... curious. "Because you're different, Wilbur. You're not like the others. They cling to their rules, their ideals, their black-and-white view of the world. But you... you see the cracks."

Wilbur clenched his fists. "That doesn't mean I'm going to join you."

"I'm not asking you to," Royale said, his voice calm. "Not yet, anyway. But I see the doubt in you. The hunger. You want more than what they're giving you. More than what this city will ever give you."

Wilbur's breath hitched, the words striking too close to home.

"You want to be remembered," Royale continued, stepping closer. "You want to be seen. Truly seen."

Wilbur forced himself to hold his ground, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I don't need you to tell me what I want."

Royale's golden eyes narrowed slightly, his smirk returning. "No, I suppose you don't. But I wonder..."

He paused, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "How far would you go to get it?"

Wilbur's chest tightened, the question hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

Before he could respond, Royale spread his wings, the force sending a gust of wind through the alley.

"Until next time, Wilbur," he said, his tone light.

And then he was gone, disappearing into the night.

Wilbur stood there, his chest heaving as he tried to steady himself.

The doubt Royale had planted twisted and grew, no matter how hard he tried to push it away.

Words: 527

Not long :P

Hoping to update tcnsan tonight