Chapter Text
“I'm sorry, he said what?”
Karl's reaction wasn't exactly surprising, seeing as Tubbo had just reenacted everything to him in… excruciating detail. Q had to basically tackle him to the floor in order to stop him from mimicking the act of throwing up on a sidewalk, but luckily he managed before Karl felt the need to ask any… unnecessary questions.
“Exactly what you think he said.” Ranboo filled in, sighing. “Apparently the Syndicate thinks there's nothing we can do.”
“And what about you? Are you four okay? What happened to Tommy?”
“He's back with Ant and Velvet. He’ll manage. We’ll manage, too.”
Fundy had spent the last fifteen minutes punching one of the bags hanging from the gym ceiling. The repeated *thud-thud-thud* noise the action produced served as a grounding force, and was strangely comforting, in a sense.
“Well,” Q spoke up. “I don't know about the rest of you, but I’m not quitting so easily. And you guys heard Tommy, right? At least we’ve got one Syndicate member who's still willing to help us!”
“Ah, yes. The teenaged boy wonder with the scary knife and his funky arachnid companion.” Fundy muttered bitterly, kicking the bag hard. “That’ll do ‘em in, yup.”
“And here I was so sure you’d be with me on this.” Q drawled. “What happened to your gung-ho attitude from earlier today, huh? Are you really gonna let some dusty, old man fuck with your confidence like that?”
“Of course not! I just-” His friend grumbled, stopping the swing of the bag with his fist and crashing down on the mat next to it. “It's complicated. You know that.”
“We do.” Karl reassured. “So don't beat yourself up about it, please. And from where I’m standing? The plan still hasn't changed. Did you hear anything from Fives while you were away?”
“Radio silence.” Fundy groaned. “I'm starting to think the Captain might be holding him hostage.”
“Hey, it's probably just… hectic times over there! Right now… you know, with the recent attack, and all…” Q trailed off, not really sure where he'd been going with the sentence in the first place.
“Yeah!” Tubbo agreed. “The military has to be on high alert with all them criminals on the loose and whatnot! We’ll get to him eventually. I'm sure of it.”
“I hope you're right, Tubbs…” Fundy mumbled, giving Tubbo an apologetic smile. “I think I’m gonna go for a walk, actually. Clear my head a bit.”
“Oh, I’ll come with!” Q offered immediately. “I still have to talk to you about something, you know.”
“Ugh, fine.” Fundy grinned. “At least you won't make yourself sick with your legs.”
He breathed a sharp inhale through his nose. These people were never going to let that go, were they.
“And be careful, okay?” Karl walked up to him, placing a hand against his back. “Keep in mind, we still have no idea where they are. You should keep close to the school, at least. That way we'll be nearby if something happens.”
“Fine, mom.” Fundy smiled and rolled his eyes, but there was no drawl or malice in his voice whatsoever. “C’mon Big Q, I’m not gonna wait for you to catch up if you just keep standing there!”
The February night air was cold as hell, but also crisp and refreshing. He took it in large breaths, watching as white steam puffed out of his mouth when he exhaled, Fundy walking beside him and doing the same.
Neither one of them said a word for a good while, choosing to simply walk in silence. It wasn't until they got to the base of Crater Hill that Fundy finally decided to speak.
“You know, the worst thing is… part of me believes he's actually right.”
“Who?” Q asked. “Your granddad?”
“Yeah.” Fundy muttered out the reply, staring at his boots. “It's the smart and sensible thing to do, isn't it? Leaving it to the professionals, or whatever.”
“Come on now.” Q looked up at the city lights, chuckling. “You're almost starting to sound like me.”
“Heh, ew.” He got a snort and a light punch against his arm in response. “But like, I don't want to. To give him that, you get what I’m saying? And I get it's his son… and he probably knows him better than anybody, but…” He sighed, his voice damp against the dry cold of the night air. “He's my dad, too…”
Another moment of silence passed, before Q decided to break it this time.
“It's dumb, but… I'm weirdly jealous that you… have a dad at all. Which is totally selfish! Believe me, I get that! But all I ever had growing up was a single picture and- and some ring I’m not even sure why they bothered to leave me with.”
“Don't worry, I get it.” Fundy gave him a pat on the back. “But as much as that sucks, trust me, you have nothing to be jealous of. Not when it comes to me, anyhow. I haven't actually seen my pops since I was like, four or five. And the last time I saw him? He scared the shit out of me.”
“Can I…” Q was a bit hesitant. “Can I ask you what he did, exactly?”
“Oh, he didn't do anything.” Fundy explained immediately. “I think that’s what scared me so much, actually. I don't have that many memories of him besides that one, but I do know that just… standing there and looking at me… it wasn't normal. Like he was sizing me up or some shit.” His friend shuddered, making a disgusted “blegh” noise which made them both laugh, easing the mood if only a little bit.
“Guess I should be glad my dad's dead, then.” Q joked. “For all we know he might've been terrible!”
“I doubt it.” The response was lighthearted, but surprisingly sincere coming from his friend, of all people. “I mean, he was your dad, wasn't he?”
“So? You're Wilbur Craft’s kid, aren't you?”
Fundy just laughed. “Are you calling me a good person, Drumsticks?”
“And what if I am?”
Fundy stopped, rubbing his temples. “Dude. In all these months I’ve known you. When have I not been an annoying, short-fused piece of shit?”
He sighed. “Umm, hello? The day you offered to help me train? When you told us about your family? When you guarded your dad's ghost during the breach on the academy? Right now?”
“Oh come on, that's digging for scraps!”
“Okay. I’m just gonna lay it out on you before we start having another argument and this conversation gets away from us,” Q took a deep breath. “What were you going to say to me? Back at the headquarters? You got cut off by Velvet, and then all that shit happened with the Crowfather, so we never really-”
“What is with you people trying to squeeze sentimentality out of me?” Fundy cut him off. “Sorry, I’m- not in a good headspace right now. I'm trying to work on that.”
“I'm sorry too.” He weighed down on his right, a thin layer of snow creaking under the sole of his boot. “But still, that doesn't answer my que-”
“The point is, I can't do this without you!” Q got his answer blurted right into his face. “I’ve been trying to tell you all day! And it's- it's hard for me because there's still this stupid- stupid voice in my head that's telling me you're scum! That all of you are a-and that I shouldn't trust you! But you mean too much to me now! You, Tubbo, Ranboo, even Karl! I'm-” He finally stopped, chuckling silently as he wiped the tears from his cheeks. “I told you… terrible headspace.”
“Fundy…” Q breathed, unsure of what to say next.
He didn't have to wonder for long, though. His friend wasn't done just yet.
“You said earlier that I… that I sounded like you. Maybe that's proof of it.”
“Proof of what?”
“I’ve been watching you, you know. The way you act around others, the way you handle situations, it's… I guess I got a bit jealous too?” He laughed again, a bit louder this time. “Saying it out loud, it's incredibly stupid. But seeing you stand up for yourself… even if you lost that fight with The Blade, it- I don't know, it inspired something in me? Like, maybe I could be brave like that, too… but then, today…” His friend was holding back more tears, biting his bottom lip and staring at the ground. He took a step closer, distancing the gap between them to place a hand on his shoulder.
“Fundy, look at me.”
He did just that, his eyes glassy and a bit shaking, like they were fighting to stay on his.
“You're… you're already brave enough. You hear me? And in my opinion? You showed those people today. Really stuck ‘em where it hurt. And yes, you’re hotheaded. But that's who you are! And you're just as important to the rest of us as you claim me to be! And… I'm sorry. For saying that I didn't matter to the team. Really, you have no idea how happy I am to hear that you consider me as valuable as I consider you.”
Fundy never interrupted him once. Only kept staring at him with something on the tip of his tongue that never really managed to take shape.
“So let's continue to show those assholes, okay? Please. All of us.”
Fundy was still crying. But he was smiling, too. Which was definitely a good sign, and Q breathed a sigh of relief.
“Guess Tommy was right about the two of us having unresolved issues, huh?”
“Maybe so.” Fundy laughed. “But not anymore! Take that, Syndicate! Am I right?”
“Hey, I’m pretty sure your uncle was adamant about being Team Fundy, wasn't he?”
“Don't cherry-pick our banter, smartass! Also, is that what we're calling ourselves now? Can’t say I’m opposed!”
“Well, it's your folks, isn't it? And if you got something to prove, then we’re all sticking behind you! And don't think for a second that we're not!”
“Yeah… yeah, I'll show them!” Fundy grinned, a notable relief in his voice. “We'll all show those jackasses who thought they could underestimate us! You know, finally saying it out loud feels kinda freeing, somehow. That make any sense to you?”
His smile faltered a bit when Q wasn't answering.
“Hey, you goo-”
He couldn't finish the question on account of a hand being shoved over his mouth.
“Whatever you do.” Q whispered between clenched teeth. “Don't. Move.”
And Fundy did what he was asked.
Because now he saw The Blade too.
It wasn't easy at first, to tell that it was him. Mostly because he wasn't wearing the mask, instead opting for a more civilian look with the hood of his jacket covering most of his face. But still, there he was. Waltzing about on the opposite sidewalk in public like any other god damned citizen. Q felt his own breath growing more and more ragged by the second, white steam flowing out over the front of his face as an ever so hauntingly familiar ache began to bloom behind his left eye socket.
He walked up to where they were.
Took a lightbox out of one of his pockets.
And proceeded to pass them without even sparing so much as a glance.
So they really had no choice, right?
Of course they were following him.
And giving each other one final nod, the two friends turned around in silence.
—
Honestly? Ponk hadn't the slightest idea as to what they were going to do now.
Of course they could research. Mimic their own studies. But even if they created a backup, or even an antidote, the original was still out there.
And he’d done it. He’d taken all of it.
They should've been more cautious. Sam told them, time and time again. Why didn't Ponk just-
“Hello, old friend. Reminiscing?”
They looked up with a start. Was it really…
“Honestly?” Velvet yawned, shedding his fur coat onto the floor. “You people should definitely invest in better security. But for now? You and I need to have a chat, Ponkie.”
They didn't say anything back. They just got up, sighed and made a note to go put on some instant coffee.
They had a feeling it was about to be a long night.
—
The air had grown impossibly chilly around Fundy, Q and their target, and continued to grow colder still as The Blade kept leading them through a seemingly endless maze of poorly lit backstreets and empty alleyways. He’d been on his lightbox the entire time, murmuring strings of inaudible nonsense neither one of them could make out, which totally didn't help in easing the tense atmosphere, and was also just plain annoying, if Q had to be frank.
Less and less people appeared around them as the minutes passed, and Q began to seriously worry about finally being spotted by the man. But luckily, he appeared to be too deep in conversation with whoever was on the other end of his call to really give a damn about his surroundings. As petty as it was, Q couldn't help but smile internally. Even a first year at Pandora would've called that out as a rookie mistake.
They rounded yet another corner, and Fundy almost managed to blow their cover by nearly slipping on some ice. Q had planned to stop him there either way though, seeing as The Blade had finally stopped as well.
He turned around, and the two managed to duck behind a container before he had the chance to spot them.
“Yes, Wil. We can… finally speak freely.”
Q’s eyes darted to Fundy’s, who was gripping his tail so hard that it looked like he was about to tear it off.
“Yes… m’ outside the entrance right now… If I was being followed I would've noticed. Believe me.”
Q had to slap a hand in front of his mouth. He was not about to reveal himself doing something as stupid as laughing. Irony had already fucked him over enough for one lifetime.
“I’ve been coming here every day, like you said. No, they haven't done anything, they're just… floating there. Look, this is your business. I don't want any part of it once you've upheld yer end of the bargain.”
A pause followed. Then a low chuckle.
“I hear you’ve got ‘em eating out the palm of yer hand! Good, good… just wish I could be there t’ see it… I hear his majesty's hairline has been receding as of late… didya tell him you could make him a baldness cure?”
Q basically felt the color draining from his own face. It was all so much worse than any of them had anticipated. He looked over to Fundy, seeing his friend realize the same thing. His face morphing into a mask of fear and hopelessness.
“Don't worry, don't worry. I had most of the heavy lifting done myself, but Rome wasn't built in a day, y'know. It’ll be done by tomorrow afternoon, give or take. I’ll make sure to update ya if anything changes.”
He curled in on himself. What were they talking about now-
“Don't underestimate them, brother. We may be few, but together…” another, deep laugh that made Q’s feathers stand on end. “We'll pull the supporting beam right out from underneath their pretty little jenga tower… Thanks for helping with the supplies, by the way. Gotta admit, it was a bit hard finding where Callisto hid everything after she croaked, Arachnea bless her. I do wish she could've seen this.”
The pause, as well as the sigh that followed that sentence sounded… almost sad.
“Well… I suppose she'll get her dues, won't she, brother? Eye for an eye, and what have you. All that's left for ya to do now is stay away from the compound when the TNT goes off.”
He was going to be sick.
Not the compound, please, anything but the-
Then The Blade hung up.
The two stayed there, silent and unmoving behind the container for a good fifteen minutes after The Blade had already left the spot. Neither one of them dared to move a muscle, fearing that even the slightest twitch or noise might expose them still, leaving the city with even less of a defense than it already had. Which wasn't nearly enough.
“He- he got them…” Fundy finally breathed out, his voice cracked and hoarse, like he’d been screaming. “The royals, I… I can't believe he actually got to them… they have the salvation. They’ve had it this whole time.”
“Maybe we shouldn't- assume…” Q didn't exactly know who he was trying to fool right now. “He's probably hiding it somewhere… I don't think they know about-”
“Oh, really?” Fundy cut him off, putting his thoughts into words right as they took form in his mind. “And what do you think the fucker bribed them with?”
Q didn't answer that. Just swallowed something bitter at the back of his throat.
He knew what he had to do now. Fuck the nerves and potential awkwardness of it all, his- fuck, everyone's lives were on the line.
The least he could do was try to save him.
“Come on.” He told Fundy, getting up from the damp concrete. “We're going back to Pandora.”
And as they were running back the way they came, he took his lightbox out and clicked on the familiar contact that still made his chest cramp.
Nevermind the sinking feeling as the dial tone rang in his ear. Nevermind the way he felt like his heart would come spilling out of his mouth when he heard his voice, speaking to him for the first time in months.
“Nik.” Nevertheless, he had to interrupt it. “I need you to listen to me. The entire Ace unit is in danger, and if you don't-”