5: Cracks in the Mirror

                                    

                                          

CW/TW: Panic attack, self-harm, blood
Song suggestions: Jazz, Girl Anachronism by The Dresden Dolls for the line "For a few minutes we just stay there...", and In My Room by Chance Pena for the line

Quackity's POV:

You'd think I'd be able to spot a liar miles away, but many people have a better poker face than you'd expect.
* * *
"Is this really necessary, Q? I was with you all night! I couldn't have done anything!" Wilbur exclaims, gripping the back of his chair and watching me as I go through the drawers on my desk.
When I find a mostly blank sheet of paper, I scribble a few general questions down with a dying pen and throw it into a jar with the rest. 
"Yes, I know, but take the past into consideration. Wil, you blew up an entire nation!"
"Years ago! I've... changed!"
I glance up at him, raising my eyebrows. "Okay so let's say you are a better man now. That doesn't fix the shit in the past now does it? And just because you theoretically didn't blow up the casino, doesn't mean you aren't working with the person who did."
He slumps over and groans like a toddler throwing a tantrum. "Why does that mean that we need to have connected rooms then? You're not doing the same for Schlatt or Dream or Karl or Tommy!"
"If I'm going to keep my image up, then I need to keep you on a leash. My reputation is already shattered, and I've got to do something to build it back up," I explain, watching his head lift up and chuckle when his hair falls messily across his face.
"You can tell yourself that all you want, but we all know deep down that it's only an excuse to see me every day," Wilbur chortles mischievously, starting to pace around my office.
"Be glad that you have your own big room," I murmur as I set the record player on my side table to soft jazz.
"You didn't deny it!"
"No Wil, this is professional. It's for... legal reasons."
* * *
"I told you to talk to Tommy! I was with him the whole night," Schlatt grumbles, rubbing the stubble on his chin and setting his feet up on my desk. He gently knocks over the cup full of dead pens onto the carpet with his shoe.
The room reeks of his scent, and just watching him sprawl out in the chair is so infuriating that I can practically feel my face turning red. I can't tell if he's trying to get on my nerves or that's just how he is.
I'm out of my seat, pacing around my cluttered desk, mind racing through the possibilities. "That wasn't my question, Schlatt. I asked why you came, not about Tommy."
"You know why! I told you that I was invited--"
"FUCK THAT!" I snap, shoving my chair aside and holding the back of my head. "The second you get revived you happen to get an invitation from Slime to come to Las Navadas. Suddenly Quackity is successful and has created an empire; an entertainment haven for gamblers, cheaters, and alcoholics. Maybe you want a piece of it? Was Sapnap in your way? Was the explosion just a cover-up for something greater? I mean, you have plenty of reasons to destroy my nation."
"Yeah? Like what?"
"The divorce, Manburg, power, rejection, alcohol?"
"None of us were sober last night. Not even you!"